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The population is getting older and that means more and more vulnerable people to care for. In a recent report, it’s expected that all baby boomers will be older than 65 years old by the year 2030.
With home care nurses needing to tend to an increasing number of elderly people and more nurses needed to follow up these millions of visits and to prevent them happening, they have less time to spend with each patient.
What do you do when there is no-one there to look after them?
Medical Alert Devices
Medical alert systems can be lifesaving tools. If an older person experiences a fall or any other type of medical emergency, they can press these devices to receive emergency medical care. This means that they can live an independent life during the times when you can’t be there.
The National Council on Ageing stats say that one in four people over 65 have a fall each year. What happens if these people can’t get up to call for help? In these scenarios, having a medical alert system makes a huge difference. But which one to choose is a much harder question.
With hundreds of models available, some expert advice is needed. We’ve listed some of the most popular names in medical alert systems. If anything piques your interest, just click on the links below to know more from the manufacturer’s website.
Appearance
To some extent, the device you may want to recommend to a patient depends on what kind of piece they want to wear. Some prefer a pendant like the My Identity Doctor.
Others may prefer a device they can wear around the wrist, such as those offered by Bay Alarm Medical, which some experts have called the best medical alert system you can buy.
Both of these devices, however, are very clinical looking and some people worry that it will make them look old and helpless. Some retirees prefer something more subtle and discreet. As such, a number of companies offer medical alert devices that have been disguised as jewelry.
Service
With most of these devices, users pay monthly for the service. However, each service has different features. The number of emergency contacts someone can have differs per package. Some devices, like the Medical Guardian Medical Alert Systems, have additional features like GPS trackers.
Some services will call a patient or their emergency contact on the landline or mobile when they fall. Others, like the Medical Care Alert system, have a communication device built in, providing instant communication as soon as the button is pressed.
Price
Prices vary wildly according to how much coverage someone needs and what additional features are needed. Plus, insurance companies will cover some but not others of these devices and features, so shopping around is definitely recommended.
Which Should You Choose?
Medical alert systems will definitely be useful for some of your patients and for your peace of mind. However, the exact ones you should buy will depend on what features are needed and what kind of device the user wants.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sally Perkins is a professional freelance writer with many years of experience across many different areas. She made the move to freelancing from a stressful corporate job and loves the work-life balance it offers her. When not at work, Sally enjoys reading, hiking, spending time with her family and traveling as much as possible. Check out her comprehensive and full review of the best medical alert systems HERE.
