Things to Consider When Choosing a Medical Alert System

May 28, 2018

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Safety is a major concern in the old age, and there are many ways we can work to ensure our safety or that of our senior loved ones. These ways may include keeping in touch with friends in relatives on a regular basis, leading a more active and healthy lifestyle to prevent or defer the ailments of the old age, or a medical alert system for emergencies.

When you are sick or weak, there is a high chance of you falling ? and in this case, you need immediate help. This can become a particularly serious problem if you have no one else around to help you. If you are a senior living alone, the chances are that you might fall, and no one will ever know what or when it happened.

If you are at risk of losing consciousness or going through a medical emergency, then a medical alert system may be something you should invest in. This system will let your doctors know right away when something happened to you.

What is a medical alert system?

Medical alert systems have been around for 40-something years and are fairly popular gadgets amongst the elderly that live alone. These devices look like any regular kind of wearable jewelry ? such as a pendant or a wristband ? the only catch being that they also have a button that connects to your landline or mobile phone.

Long story short, when you fall and can?t get up, you press that button. This button will send an S.O.S-like signal through your phone to the emergency line ? which will send the doctors straight in your direction.

Most companies nowadays also add a microphone to the device, allowing you to talk to the operator and tell them exactly what is wrong. The system will work exactly as a mobile phone that you will be carrying on you at all times.

Key Questions to Answer

Before you start looking for medical alert systems for yourself or your loved one, there are several key questions that you need to ask yourself. This will affect the functionality of the device ? and it will also most definitely influence the price that you?ll have to pay.

Should it be home-based or mobile?

Depending on where you plan to spend most of your time, you can choose between a home-based system and a mobile one. The home-based one will connect directly to your landline, alerting the dispatcher if you fall when you?re at home.

On the other hand, if you go for the mobile-based unit, it will also incorporate a GPS system. This will enable you to use it even if you are away from home ? which is the better option for those who don?t spend their entire day at home and lead a more active lifestyle.

Should it be monitored or not?

A monitored system will connect you directly to the dispatch center at any time of the day or night. On the other hand, if you choose a non-monitored option, you will be connected to a friend or someone on the emergency list. The latter is the least expensive option, since it carries no monthly fees.

Should it have fall detection?

Sometimes, people that fall have no way of contacting the dispatch system ? simply because they lose consciousness. This is why some systems add a fall detection feature that automatically contacts the dispatch center once a fall is sensed.

Sometimes, a medical alert system is necessary to ensure your well-being. Depending on your lifestyle and the extent of your illness, some options may be more suitable for you than others ? which is why you need to choose wisely.

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