As an estimated 73 million baby boomers plan to retire in the next 10-to-15-years, along with other elderly and aging populations, it is vital to find ways to help senior citizens manage their daily lives safely and as independently as possible. The Institute on Aging reported that, as of 2010, nearly one-third of the population, or 11.3 million senior citizens, lived outside of nursing homes and care facilities, making it imperative to look into options that allow for instant emergency contact in urgent situations.
Medical alert systems are valuable tools that allow your aging parent or another loved one to live independently while having the ability to reach out for help in an instant in case of a fall or other health emergency.
What Is a Medical Alert System?
The market is brimming with options for medical alert systems, which are alarm systems that emit signals, whether the user presses a button or the alarm is triggered automatically, that the user has had an accident or is in some situation that requires urgent attention from someone outside their home. Many medical alert system companies work with call centers that feature staff members who are medical experts to assess the situation and summon emergency personnel to attend to the user right away.
While many people think of medical alert systems primarily for those who suffer falls, there are many lifesaving scenarios the user might face. Anyone living alone who suffers from an illness, injuries, or other vulnerabilities, can benefit from medical alert services. Any accident or serious health event can leave someone unable to contact emergency services, thereby greatly reducing the response time and potential for a positive outcome.
What Is the Value of Buying a Medical Alert System?
If you are wondering whether purchasing a medical alert system for your elderly family member is the right choice, it might help explore the value other users find when investing in this critical health tool.
Here are the top benefits families find when find the right medical alert system.
1. Easy to Use
You and your loved one might find the idea of setting up a medical emergency response system overwhelming at first, but there are many different companies and models from which you can choose. Today, manufacturers focus on making these systems user-friendly for the user and family members. Many come with a fairly intuitive set-up process, no matter your generation or degree of tech knowledge. You will find a step-by-step manual and a tutorial in your manual.
The most common process users encounter is:
- Plug the base station into a power outlet
- Connect a landline or VoIP cable
- Test the system
With most systems, once you have performed the set-up process, you can contact emergency responders in an instant with the press of a button. Even better, some medical alert devices feature a design that monitors your activity 24/7/365 and sends an alert to responders if it detects what it perceives as a medical emergency.
2. Affordable
A medical alert system offers you value for your investment, especially when it comes to long-term care. If you cannot afford to place your loved one in a nursing home or hire home nurses, they might need to live on their own longer. In that situation, they might prefer living in their family home or small apartment versus living with family. Further, you might not have the room or adequate accommodations to invite your loved one to live with you. In any case, investing in a medical alert device means you don't need to worry about hiring nurses or moving your parent to a strange new setting. They can live at home, which saves money for everyone.
Additionally, there are several affordable medical alert systems on the market today, so you can shop around to find one that fits your family's budget. The maximum price for your base system should be around $50, while your monthly fees start around $20 per month.
3. Peace of Mind
Your aging loved ones don't want you to constantly worry about them and their well-being while you are away from them. With a medical alert device, you can rest easy knowing someone will be there for them right away in case of an accident or sudden illness. Whether you live around the block or far away, your parents will get the care they need.
4. Maintain Independence
If your elderly loved one wants to remain independent, a medical alert system will allow them to do that, rather than rely on an in-home nurse or moving to an elderly care facility. Your parent can feel comfortable and confident that they can push a button and summon assistance. You can also take comfort knowing that someone will know if there is a problem right away and respond appropriately.
5. GPS Tracking
Many medical alert devices now feature GPS tracking, making it easy to pinpoint your loved ones' location no matter where they are if they have a health emergency. Your parents are likely to want to go out for walks or trips to the shopping center from time-to-time. They can have a health emergency anytime or anywhere, and with GPS, medical emergency responders can track their location and find them quickly when away from home.
6. Easy to Conceal
Your parent probably doesn't want to broadcast that he or she is wearing a medical alert device when going out to dinner or other social events. Many devices are so small that the user can stow them in a purse, bag, or pants pocket.
Enjoy These Values and Others When Investing in a Medical Alert System for Your Aging Loved One
Medical alert devices have made many advances over the past several decades to help attend to aging loved ones during emergencies. Using these devices is the ideal way to help your parents age independently and affordably while you feel safer knowing they live on their own but aren't all alone.
