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Each year more than 25% of elderly people have at least one fall. In 90% of the falls, there is no major injury, but half the time the person is unable to get up, according to an article in the New England Journal of Medicine. Worrisome enough, now consider that a number of these seniors live alone. “Often it is not the incident itself that creates the long-term negative effects, but the delay of treatment that often begins a long and protracted deterioration in quality of life for the senior,” says Harry Kipp, president and CEO of 1-800-MED-ALERT, INC. The Newport Beach-based company, along with a handful of other known organizations, offers an emergency response system that allows elderly individuals to seek help, even if they are unable to crawl or walk to their phone. “If an individual has a medical life-threatening emergency, they may of course dial 911, providing they are able to reach a telephone,” says Kipp. “When our service is activated, the subscriber is connected to our emergency response operators who can determine the nature of the emergency and dispatch the appropriate help. That may mean dispatching paramedics, or it may involve calling a neighbor or family member to provide assistance.” At the press of a button, either on a base console connected to the user’s phone line or via a small, wireless, waterproof pendant or wrist band, contact can be made with an emergency operator within seconds through a sensitive two-way speaker phone. The unit, which also contains an automatic voice gain feature that increases the volume when necessary, allows the operator to hear the individual from almost anywhere in the home. If the operator is unable to make voice contact, emergency personnel is called and dispatched. Assistance is further expanded through pre-programmed information, which allows the operator to quickly access data on the user, such as location, medical history and who should be contacted in an emergency. In the majority of cases, the operator can assist the elderly with their needs without the use of emergency response personnel. “The most common call from our subscribers would not be termed a medical emergency, but would be more accurately characterized as a compromised situation,” says Kipp. “That is, the subscriber finds they need some assistance because they have fallen and are unable to get up, or they need assistance with some type of activity of daily living. The neighbors and/or family members are usually able to provide the assistance the subscriber needs.” Oftentimes, though, the purchase of such a service comes late in the age-progression planning process, says Kipp. Most of the company’s subscribers, who are females in their late 70s, have already experienced an incident where they were unable to get help and are returning to their home after an extended rehabilitation process. He recommends that families plan ahead, rather than being caught in a reaction mode. Besides immediate assistance, some emergency alert systems come with additional features that bring peace of mind to families. The American Red Cross Lifeline, for example, allows caregivers to program in reminders for their loved one, such as when to take medication and eat meals. The cost for an emergency response system typically runs between $30-$46 per month. There is also usually a one-time activation fee that averages $50-$73. The benefits cited range from increased peace of mind and confidence to fewer hospital admissions as well as the ability to live independently for a longer period of time. “Our goal and mission is to help individuals maintain the highest quality of life possible, while remaining in their own home for as long as is safely prudent,” says Kipp. RESOURCES The following is contact information for organizations that offer emergency response systems nationwide. 1-800-MED-ALERT 359 San Miguel Dr., Suite 109 Newport Beach, CA 92660 800.633.2537 www.1800medalert.com American Red Cross, Orange County Lifeline 601 North Golden Circle Dr. Santa Ana, CA 927705 800.959.6989 www.oc-redcross.org Lifefone 16 Yellowstone Ave. White Plains, NY 10607 800.882.2280 www.lifefone.com St. Joseph Hospital Health Watch Emergency Response Systems 5777 West Century Blvd., Suite 1005 Los Angeles, CA 90045 888.565.7377 Source: County of Orange, Office on Aging Sandy Bennett is associate editor of OC Family Magazine. |
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