Tuesday, 30 December 2008
Medical Alert Products for Elders
Darlene Costner, who blogs at Darlene’s Hodgepodge, has recently returned home after a few weeks in rehab following a hospital stay. At Thanksgiving, she broke her hip when she fell in her home where she lives alone. Deeply in pain, it took her several hours to reach the telephone to call for help.
Most single elders prefer to remain in their homes as they get older, but it is a hard fact of life that more than a third of people 65 and older suffer a fall or injury at home each year. For many, like Darlene, the telephone is not nearby.
Undoubtedly you have seen the ubiquitous television commercials for a medical alert product featuring former U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. C. Everett Koop. Until Darlene’s accident, I hadn’t given the service much thought. Now, I realize any one of us, no matter how active and vital we think we are, could find ourselves in need of emergency help with no telephone within reach.
With the tradition of resolutions upon us as the new year approaches, perhaps this is a good time to consider a medical alert service. It could save your life.
Below are links and some notes to several of these services. I am making no recommendations of one over another and if you decide to purchase a service, please do your due diligence in researching them. I don’t know why, but I feel like this is a service that is ripe for rip-offs. Here is a good page of questions to consider before purchasing a medical alert system.
Life Alert
This is the service Dr. Koop promotes. The equipment, similar in all of these services, is a pendant worn around the neck which communicates with a base unit in the house that calls the service when a button is pushed. There is no pricing listed on the website.
1.800.360.0329 for more information.
LifeStation
This works similarly to Life Alert and the equipment can be worn as a pendant, wristband or on a belt clip. It is priced from $27.95 to $29.95 depending on whether you choose to pay monthly, quarterly or annually.
1.800.884.8888 for more information.
MedicalAlert
Like the two above, this is equipment you wear and can contact the service with a single push of the button. Cost is $29.96 per month.
1.800.800.ALERT for more information.
MedicalHomeAlert
This appears to be the same company as MedicalAlert directly above and although the telephone number is different, the webpages are nearly identical.
1.800.800.0213 for more information.
LifeGuardian
Same service as the others with a wider variety of payment plans, rental and purchase, ranging from $19.95 per month to $39.95 per month. This service is top-rated by AARP if that means anything – I’m not sure. There is no phone number, but you can request an information kit here.
RescueAlert
Pricing plans range from $18.95 to $28.95 or a lifetime subscription for $749.95 which sounds like a lot but is really only 25 months at the highest monthly price and 39 months at the lowest monthly price.
1.800.688.9576 for more information.
There are others, but these appear to be the major services in the U.S. I’m sorry I’ve not included any for Canada, Europe, Australia, etc. but I’m sure if you Google around, you’ll find some.
For so many years, we are young and certain (or overconfident) of our physical capabilities and, for me anyway, it is a hard to come to terms with the possibility of being helpless. But all it takes, as Darlene found out, is one mis-step and a fall. Do consider this kind of service, particularly if you live alone.
And do stop by Darlene's blog to give her some encouragement. Her recovery is coming along, but it's taking awhile and she tires quickly.
[At The Elder Storytelling Place today, Susan Gulliford explains The DIY Painting Miracle.]
Posted by Ronni Bennett at 05:32 AM | Permalink | Email this post
Comments
This is a tremendous post with very helpful information. I've had a curiosity about medical alerts and now I know a whole lot more.
We ar all very happy that Darlene is on the mend!
Posted by: Granny Annie on Dec 30, 2008 7:38:17 AM
People who are interested might want to check with their local hospital or aging unit for their county. Sometimes they have suggestions, coupons, or even ways to help pay for the service for low income folks. Our hospital coordinates with one of the lifeline services.
Posted by: Nan on Dec 30, 2008 7:54:55 AM
We were thinking about something like this for the in laws next store. We're usually here or working upstairs and there are two of them, but I would like to hear if anyone has recommendations for any of these for the future.
Posted by: zuleme on Dec 30, 2008 8:03:55 AM
You have done a tremendous service with this post Ronni. Falls can occur at anytime and any age. If one lives alone, this is a great investment, not to mention, peace of mind. Many of these services also offer medication reminder calls, and a call each day and a pre-determined time to make sure the recipient is ok.
Posted by: NancyB on Dec 30, 2008 8:05:40 AM
Ronni, this is good information...One hears of many such instances (sadly)...As a retired fireman, I can say that people in our age group should consider havinng some type of alert device if they live alone !
Posted by: "Mike" on Dec 30, 2008 9:17:31 AM
Thanks for the useful info, Ronni.
Posted by: kenju on Dec 30, 2008 10:30:20 AM
You can find an expanded discussion on this subject in The New York Times blog The New Old Age.......... "A Call for Help."
This is a wonderful blog......and the 'Comments' are very helpful too.
Thanks Ronni for bringing this topic to everyone's attention.
Posted by: Marion Dent on Dec 30, 2008 10:40:52 AM
An important post to consider. Of course, one of the drawbacks is the need to activate it - someone who falls and knocks themselves out won't be able to. But that's true of most solutions I can think of, and all that I've seen.
One thing I've heard is "just use a cell phone" (since it has more uses than medical alerts). I'd like to argue against that as a sole solution. Some years back, my aunt - still then in good health - was cleaning her gutters and fell off the ladder. She broke her back. Her cell phone flew from her pocket and she spent tortuous hours pulling herself over to the phone (and probably injuring her back worse, if I had to guess) to make that critical call for help. She succeeded, and she has recovered amazingly well, but she might not have been so lucky. If it had gone over the side of the deck instead, for example, it would have been out of the range she could have made it.
A medic alert device that is a piece of jewelry seems a much better bet, although I admit I would stick to necklaces personally. (Bracelets are hard to fasten one-handed, and if you can slip it over your wrist it could get away as my aunt's phone did, it seems to me; and what on earth do you do with a belt clip when you wear clothing that has nowhere to clip it, or if the clip lets loose?)
Posted by: Laura on Dec 30, 2008 10:50:52 AM
Lots of helpful information about medical alert products in this post
Two of my friends have that system. I'll start asking questions and take action.
It's a small amount of money to pay each month considering how helpful it can be. Peace of mind too.
Thanks Ronni for getting me thinking about it.
Posted by: millie garfield on Dec 30, 2008 1:25:27 PM
Yes, a great resource to find the best services in your local areas would be hospitals, visiting nurse assocations and of course your local area office on aging. For a list of those in NJ visit,
www.njfoundationforaging.org
Posted by: NJ Foundation for Aging on Dec 30, 2008 1:56:15 PM
As it turned out I didn't have time to research medical alerts when I selected one. I was determined to have one the second I arrived home and the Social Services director made arrangements for a salesman to meet me at my home the day I was discharged.
I have the RESPONSE LINK with a monthly fee of $34.95 and no installation charges. When researching the cost be sure to find out if there is an installation fee.
I have a pendant that can be worn as a watch, if preferred. I wondered if you would be able to press the button on a watch if the other arm was broken; there fore I always wear the waterproof pendant, even in the shower.
There is a monitor on my night stand with two large buttons. I can press the red one for an emergency or the gray one if I just want to test my system or have the operator call one of the two designated people. If, for example, someone has a panic attack and needs someone to come you would press the gray button. When either button is pressed there is an immediate response from the system's 24 hour operator. You can hear her all over the house and if you are able you can tell her what your emergency is. She will immediately dispatch the appropriate help. If you are unable to answer, she will immediately send help if there is no response.
I think one issue you should consider is how far the alert is activated. Mine should reach my mail box, which is about 150' from my house.
My roommate in rehab fell by stepping back one night and broke her back. She laid there for 22 hours before being found. This is a nightmare no one wants to experience. When I fell across the room from my phone my first thought (when I could think again) was, "I wonder how long it takes to die."
I strongly urge anyone living alone to do their research before it is necessary and make arrangements to get an alert system.
Posted by: Darlene on Dec 30, 2008 2:22:00 PM
I think I laid an egg. ;) I always had trouble with laid, lain, lay. The message is the same though.
I also want to point out that cell phones can fail. A real alert system is fail proof. The only problem is, of course, if you are unconscious. I don't have an answer for that.
Posted by: Darlene Costner on Dec 30, 2008 4:21:24 PM
Darlene writes:
" A real alert system is fail proof."
I don't think are any "real"
alert systems, economic systems, or medical procedures or anything else for that matter. If you're thinking that you need an alert system get the best you can afford and try to figure out some kind of back up like a friendly neighbor or a smart dog.
Posted by: on Dec 30, 2008 5:55:56 PM
Great post with so much good information! For anyone like Zuleme, who lives near in-laws, you might also consider a simple gadget from Radioshack that we had for my mom. She wore it around her neck. I think it was a type of doorbell. If she pushed the button, while I was asleep, it would ring in the next house and wake me up. We chose this devise rather than pay a monthly fee, but I can see how any elderly person who lives alone could really benefit from a real alert system, even if it is an added expense.
Posted by: Alexandra on Dec 30, 2008 6:22:51 PM
Great, objective post. All of these companies offer reliable support - any of these systems will give all family members more comfort and peace of mind.
Posted by: Bryan on Dec 30, 2008 10:28:08 PM
My MIL had a device she wore around her neck rang all four of our phones plus two of our neighbors' phones. My husband got it at Radio Shack. He tested it from time to time to make sure it worked and changed the battery when necessary.
She used it twice: once when she took a bad fall and once when she thought she had had a heart attack.
She lived next door but was alone at night, and this was an extra bit of security for her.
Posted by: Hattie on Dec 31, 2008 12:46:33 AM
I am 60, but I have dizzy spells, and I have been contemplating getting one of these for some time -- as well as equipping my mother in her eighties with one. $749 for lifetime coverage sounds like a bargain. Of course, if I remembered to slip my cell phone in my pocket and take it everywhere with me -- even to the bathroom in the middle of the night (no pockets in my pajamas, though) -- I would not need a medical alert. I think I would want to take off the alert gadget at night, too, and forget to slip it on if I got up. It seems like someone ought to invent a mini phone that dials only one number -- 911 -- and that can be offered for a much lower price since the 911 services are already in place and require no special service center. Good column. So glad I'm not alone in considering one of these.
Posted by: TropiGal on Dec 31, 2008 8:23:39 AM
TropiGal, I leave my medical alert pendant on all night. It is not at all uncomfortable and I am not even aware of it. It hangs by a soft cord and is very lightweight.
Posted by: Darlene on Dec 31, 2008 2:55:27 PM
Speedy and Complete Recovery Wishes are extended to you Darlene....Excellent Information, Ronni....
Posted by: Sheila Halet on Jan 1, 2009 11:51:05 AM
There are companies that offer Medial Alert systems without a monthly fee. Here is a link to one that I bought from.
http://assistivetechnologyservices.com/nomonthlyfeemedicalalertsystem.aspx
Posted by: Kerry Anderson on Jan 23, 2009 1:37:58 PM
The information about medical alert services is very helpful, but a word of warning. After researching some of these companies for my mother who is 86, I found some very shady operators. One of those on your list has been sued by the California Attorney General for deceptive sales practices and was even cited in Congressional hearings as an example of abuse. Shop carefully! A good resource if you want to compare features, see some of the legal problems these companies have been in, and get an FTC consumer report, is http://www.lawserver.com/medical-alerts. It only rates a few of the big providers, but it is objective and has useful warnings. Consumer Reports doesn't offer any ratings or reviews for these companies, unfortunately.
Posted by: Sam on Feb 13, 2009 4:10:14 PM
