Safety can be a huge concern for families and friends of seniors. People talk a lot about lowering your fall risk. Yet regardless of how much we prepare for the risk of falling, the reality is that nearly 3 million seniors are sent to the emergency room due to falls each year. Injuries, loss of independence, and even death can occur following a fall. Depending on how and where you fall, you could end up lying there for quite a while before you’re found. Fortunately, many seniors and their families decide to set up a medical alert system for this very reason. Choosing a medical alert system can be tricky, so it’s important to know what they are and how they work.
Medical alert systems can come in the form of necklaces, bracelets, or wristbands. Each has a little button on it, which you can press when help is needed. Regardless of which style you choose, these handy devices come with an alarm base which is set up in your home. This article from Aging in Place gives us a guide of what they are and their features.
Should you need help for any reason, pushing the button on your device will alert the system and call for help. You can even choose who you want to be called in case of emergency. It could be anyone from a neighbor, family member, or 911. If you’re worried that you or your loved one may not be able to press the button, this is not a problem. There are models that come with a “fall alert”. This means that it will automatically detect when you fall and can call for help without needing any prompting.
So who should be considering a medical alert system? Any senior who lives independently is a great candidate for one. In addition, many assisted living facilities require their residents wear one. As we age, we are not as strong as we used to be. Our balance and muscle tone naturally decrease, therefore raising the chances of falling. In addition, if you have fallen once, your chances of falling again doubles.
We could talk all day about working to prevent falls. There are many wonderful tips and tricks to reduce your chances of falling. However, we can not completely prevent falls for seniors. Medication side effects, illnesses, and the natural effects of aging all play a part. But by choosing a medical alert system, your family can have peace of mind and you can remain safe.