Also known as a personal emergency response system, a medical alert system is meant to notify a monitoring center and a relative if an emergency is needed. Medical alert systems are ideal for older adults who live alone, are at risk of falling, or have a history of falls.
They’re also beneficial for vulnerable adults taking medications that can cause serious side effects and seniors with a history of seizures or other medical problems that may result in disorientation or falls. Below are the reasons why older adults need a medical alert system.
- Variety of options
As technology evolves, medical alert systems are also advancing to meet all your needs. Medical alert systems can be in-home or wearable. You can find pendants and wristbands that you can while at home or on the move. Some are equipped with technologies like GPS to trace the exact location of a loved one in an emergency. Considering the number of medical alert systems available in the market, you can rely on guidelines like Lifeline Canada’s guide to compare and pick a system that best suits your needs.
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- 24/7 assistance
Time is of the essence in emergencies. Monitoring centers track medical alert systems 24/7, making it easy for them to act on emergencies as soon as they occur. Select a company that offers round the clock monitoring and has excellent reputation and faster response times. The systems can even dispatch responders or family members you have previously identified.
- Medical records
Communication is essential, especially for older adults with underlying medical conditions like allergies, stroke risk, or diabetes. Some falls, medical emergencies, and other health issues may affect a senior citizen’s ability to communicate. A medical alert system allows you to keep a record of your loved one’s medical history, and it also ensures that seniors receive first aid care based on their medical history to fatalities or negative medical impact.
- Easy to use
Medical alert systems are designed with ease of use in mind. The majority of them can be worn around the neck or on the wrist, and a two-way communication channel can be opened with the push of a button. The operations center, with help of the GPS in the medical alert system can then send assistance immediately to the senior’s location.
- Peace of mind
Constantly worrying about your aging loved ones can be stressful. Investing in a medical alert system allows you to know that they’re being monitored every second of the day. For the older adults with the fear of falls or other emergencies, the system gives them the confidence to live freely because they know their safety is taken care of.
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- Medication reminders
Today’s medical alert systems come with options to remind seniors when to take their medication at different intervals in a day. Others monitor toxin levels such as carbon monoxide.
Endnote
Monitoring older adults can be difficult and stressful, especially when you can’t be around them round the clock. Invest in a medical alert system to have your aging relatives monitored 24/7 and know how to choose one that suits their needs.