Senior Medical Alert Systems

Many Kinds of Senior Medical Alert Systems are Available

There are many senior medical alert systems you can sign up for yourself, or for a parent or other aged or disabled person who needs such a service while living alone.

I can't tell you absolutely which one is best for you. I can say that my mother had Lifeline the last six months of her life, and it seemed to work well. The only problem was her own reluctance to wear the neck strap all the time. Short of gluing it on, I don't see how any service can guarantee a senior will wear it as they're supposed to. Before she went into the hospital for the last time, we ordered a bracelet unit for her to wear on the hope she would be more inclined to wear that.

I've heard of services that will call a family member or care giver first, before 911, because there are false alarms (people may accidentally set off the alarm by turning over in their sleep).

Senior Medical Alert Systems Must Get 911 to the Scene Fast

If a family member is living close to the senior, that may be okay, assuming they're always at home.

But what if they live thirty minutes away? (Or a thousand miles away?)

What if you live close by but your mother just happens to roll over in her sleep while you're watching the midnight show at the local theater? What if you are one of the few heretics (along with myself) who doesn't carry your cellphone every place you go every minute of every day?

What if even a five minute delay could mean the difference in life or death for your loved one?

The way Lifeline and, I'm sure, others, work is that when the button is pushed, an operator comes on, speaking through the unit's speaker. They'll ask the senior if everything is all right.

If the senior says they're fine, it was just a mistake, then it can be reset.

If the senior sounds as though they're in distress, or doesn't answer at all, then the operator does call 911. Family are also notified but, let's face it, at that point an EMT is more important than your closest family member (unless they're a doctor or nurse).

But if the senior set off the alarm accidently, you don't want 911 to be called for a false alarm.

Unfortunately, at This Stage of Technology, the Senior Themselves is the Greatest Weak Point of Medical Senior Alert Systems

If my mother were still alive, my biggest worry would be her not being able to press the alarm due to stroke, unconsciousness, or plain inability to reach the button. Lifeline now comes with an AutoAlert option that calls for help when you can't. You'll have to ask them how that works, however.

When a senior citizen starts to go downhill, they start to fall. This doesn't always mean a broken hip (though it could). It can put them into a helpless position even if they're not injured. My mother, for example, fell to the floor and was not injured, but also could not get up.

Falls can also involve head injuries, and obviously these can be quite serious. My mother hit her head the last time she fell, and it was very scary. She actually was only superficially injured, but it was a sign of worse problems.

And of course head injuries can daze a person or even knock them out, so they can't, or don't recall how to, press the button.

Investigate the senior medical alert systems available, then choose the best one for your aged loved one.

Next: Medical Alert System -- systems for your elderly and disabled loved ones.