It used to be that every time a senior citizen had a medical question, they had to call multiple different offices to get the help they needed. What was often a simple need turned into a complicated and frustrating experience. This left many people not seeking out the help they needed with medical questions and left them vulnerable in medical emergencies.
Personal alert systems are changing the way people receive healthcare. Not only can they be used in a medical emergency, they can also be used when patients experience minor symptoms or other emergency situations that they want help with. They can connect instantly with an operator who can let them know if the symptoms seem minor or if they might require urgent medical intervention.
Benefits of Modern Personal Alert Systems
Older medical alert systems remind us that someone has fallen, and can’t get up. This memorable commercial for an early version of a medical alert system highlights the need that many older adults have for help in an emergency. According to a Health.com article, personal emergency response systems can provide help for the 1 in 4 seniors who experience dangerous falls and for the 1 in 5 who get a broken bone from those falls. Modern systems connect through cell phone systems, internet lines, and even landline phone lines. These modern systems provide easy access to medical and other urgent help when needed. Here are 7 ways that these personal emergency response systems are revolutionizing senior healthcare.
Offers Greater Independence
Helping older adults stay independent as long as possible is one of the best things you can do for their health. Independence improves mental health and can help seniors long-term. Helping people stay in their homes with minimal assistance should always be the goal and with personal emergency response systems, this goal is possible. Greater independence allows people to get out in the world on their own terms, connect with friends and family, go for walks outdoors, go grocery shopping alone, and even see new things. The independence people gain by using a personal alert system benefits their mental health in tangible ways as well.
Improves Safety
One of the concerns people have about living alone is safety. In the Health.com article, they talk about the different things you can do to improve safety at home. Once an environment has been cleared of fall hazards, a medical alert system can provide an additional measure of safety. Additionally, these personal alert systems can be used in other emergencies such as a break-in or weather event. If they need help because their home is flooding or a tree fell on the front door, they can reach someone immediately through the personal emergency alert system.
Gives Peace of Mind
When you know you can always reach someone, it gives peace of mind that you can get help when you need it. Needing to rely on phones being within reach, or someone looking in on you can leave people feeling anxious and overwhelmed. Personal emergency response systems allow users the ability to access help at the touch of a button. And because these systems are wearable via necklace or bracelet, it means they don’t need to worry about where they left the device. This peace of mind is invaluable for caregivers and family members who don’t need to constantly be checking in on their loved ones. They can trust that if a fall or other emergency happens, that help will be there quickly.
Uses Advanced Technology
Newer medical and personal alert systems don’t rely 100% on phone lines. While some do, there are other options available. The Health.com article has reviews on several alert systems to help seniors in an emergency situation. Advanced technology allows these systems to connect through phone lines, internet lines, and even cell phone towers. While they are not cell phones themselves, they use advanced technology like in a cell phone to connect them to an operator when you push a button. Some of these systems offer GPS tracking and automatic fall detection. They also provide increased cybersecurity to protect against attacks. These newer alerts can mean people get help instantly, instead of waiting.
Easy Access to Medical Intervention
Waiting less time for medical help can mean the difference between life and death. With a personal emergency alert system, seniors can get help at the touch of a button. Instead of needing to find a phone number for a doctor’s office, wait through automated phone menus, and get redirected to the wrong person, people can click a button and get help from an operator in an instant. These easy-to-use services make it simple for seniors to get help if they are having chest pain, feeling dizzy, or having other medical symptoms.
Provides Assistance in Other Emergencies
What happens if your home gets broken into? What if there is a major weather event? Even in non-medical emergencies, people can use personal emergency response systems to get the help they need. Because these alert systems can be worn, they can be used anywhere. If there is a car crash, someone can click a button to get help. If they fall on a sidewalk, they can use their bracelet or necklace button to get assistance. In a weather-related issue, where they lose power or if something damages their home, they can use a personal emergency response system to get help.
Reduces the Cost of Healthcare
Healthcare costs continue to rise as people age and have more complex medical needs. Using a personal emergency response system can reduce the cost of healthcare by providing assistance when needed. They also help people feel more confident to stay in their homes longer. This reduces medical costs because living at home is often far less expensive than living in care facilities. For less than $75 per month, and as low as $20 a month, seniors can get the peace of mind they need and have lower overall healthcare costs than they would without a medical or personal emergency response system.
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