The Benefits of an Emergency Alarm for Elderly People

A medical alert system is a great option for those who live alone and want to stay independent. It can also be helpful for those with chronic diseases and those who have a history of falling or injuries.

It’s important to test your home alarm system regularly to make sure it works properly. This includes testing all doors, windows, and sensors.

Safety

Many elderly people suffer from decreased hearing ability, so it’s essential to choose smoke detectors that can be seen as well as heard. Look for ones with strobe lights or bright LEDs and extra-loud alarms, like the Kidde Intelligent Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector for Seniors.

If you decide to invest in a personal alarm system, it is important to choose one with 24x7 professional monitoring. This ensures that the user can be connected with emergency services quickly. The device will send a signal to a 24/7 help team who will communicate with the user’s designated emergency contacts or their local emergency services directly.

Some personal alarm systems also come with fall detection, which is an essential feature for elderly people. This is because falls can be life threatening for this group of individuals. Thankfully, most modern personal alarm systems now offer this feature, so it’s worth looking into. You can even get a GPS locator with some systems.

Peace of Mind

Many elderly people use personal alarms to help them feel safe and secure at home. These devices can detect falls and send a signal to a 24/7 help team that will contact emergency contacts like family members immediately. This can save a lot of time, and it also reduces the stress that comes with experiencing an accident at home.

In addition, some systems can offer a lock box for seniors that allows emergency medical personnel to enter the house without having to break in. This is an excellent option for those who have a hard time answering the door to strangers and can be used as a supplement to a smart doorbell or security system.

A recent study found that purchasers of alarm services, compared to nonpurchasers, experienced positive impacts in terms of receiving more rapid assistance after an emergency and feeling safer and more active around their home. However, the cost of alarms may be a barrier for some prospective fallers who are at precontemplation or contemplation stages of behavior change.

Reduce Stress

A medical alert system provides peace of mind for seniors living alone and their families. Often, family members and caregivers are overwhelmed by the responsibility of checking up on elderly parents or grandparents every hour of the day to make sure they are safe. They may also experience financial and time strain due to their caregiving responsibilities. Having an emergency alarm is a simple way to alleviate these stresses and improve family relationships.

Medical Alarms Volunteers aged 65 years and over who had sustained a fall were sought for a qualitative study to gain information about their experiences of owning and using a personal alarm. Thirty-one volunteers were interviewed and four subgroups of older fallers identified; the first group used alarms effectively and were advocates for them, the second group did not use an alarm because of cost but were receptive to doing so, the third group owned an alarm but did not use it, and the fourth group did not own an alarm but would be willing to do so.

Cost

There are a number of different medical alert systems on the market. Each one offers its own unique features. For instance, some devices include a waterproof pendant alarm that can be worn in the shower or during a bath. Others are designed to detect falls and epileptic seizures.

A medical alert system will typically cost $20 to $75 a month, depending on the device and its features. Some companies offer discounts or coverage through Medicare, AARP, and local area agencies on aging.

Bay Alarm Medical is a leading medical alert system that offers at-home landline and cellular systems, as well as mobile GPS help buttons and smartwatches. Their emergency response systems are backed by a 24/7 monitoring center that receives customer calls and dispatches help immediately. They also offer a wide range of add-on devices and features, such as fall detection and an online caregiver portal.