If you or a loved one is living at home but may have a medical emergency at any time, you should be making use of Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS). PERS have many benefits and options that should allow almost anyone who doesn’t need round-the-clock nursing care to stay at home rather than go to an expensive nursing home.
There are a lot of features and options available for PERS, and it is important to understand your choices before making a decision. This guide will assist you in understanding what PERS can and can’t do, as well as how to have your own alert system installed.
People Who Should Have a Personal Emergency Response System
There are many people who are at a higher risk of having a medical emergency. Elderly, severely disabled, and critically ill patients may not need round-the-clock care, but be at a higher risk of falling, having a stroke, or having cardiac failure. These people can stay at home as long as someone is able to attend them immediately in an emergency. This requires a PERS connected to monitoring of some type.
Disabilities and Severe Illness
People with disabilities and severe illness should really have at least a fall alert monitor. These individuals are at a higher risk of tripping, sliding, or falling. They don’t really need anyone to care for them, they just need someone notified if an accident does happen. This is exactly what PERS is for.
And you don’t have to feel alone. There are around 24 million people in the United States with a total disability.
Elderly and Nursing Home Expense
The biggest advantage to aging in place is that you will save vast amounts of money. Even if you hire a nurse to come in once or twice a day to take vitals or perform other medical tasks, it will still be cheaper than paying for a nursing home. Nursing homes cost an average of $245 per day.
Benefits of Aging in Place and Staying Home
There are many other benefits of aging in place. Most seniors who stay at home are less prone to depression, illness, and tend to live longer lives. Here are some other common benefits of aging in place.
- Comfort: You will be much more comfortable, relaxed, and happy if you are surrounded by your own belongings.
- Slows Advancement of Memory Loss: May be beneficial for both Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.
- Strengthens Social Network and Emotional Support System: Constant contact with family, friends, and religious groups.
- Maintaining Control: You can set your own schedule and do things in your own time.
Questions to Ask Yourself Before Choosing a PERS
You want to make sure that your loved ones are protected, but you also want to spend no more than you have to. Here are some things to consider before checking into medical alert system providers.
- Do you want a home-based or mobile system? Do you want your loved one to be able to call for help when they are not inside the house?
- What kind of monitoring, if any, do you want? Do you want to be able to monitor yourself through your smartphone, or would you like a monitoring service alerted in an emergency?
- Do you really need a fall detection feature? Many companies offer fall detection features so that a fall sends an alert, even if the button is not pressed. These are good safety nets, and don’t cost a lot of money. But sometimes you can get a lot of false alarms, especially if the individual frequently loses their balance but doesn’t actually fall.
What Does a Personal Emergency Response System Do?
A personal emergency response system (PERS) features are designed to allow people at risk of injury or another medical emergency to get help promptly, whether or not they are able to talk to anyone. There are a lot of components and features that you can choose from, depending on your needs.
- Fall Detection Pendant: Sends an alert when you fall, even if you don’t press the button.
- Emergency Alert Button: Can be placed in bathrooms and other at risk locations. One press summons assistance.
- Bed and Chair Sensors: These sensors can help you monitor your loved one’s activity for signs of distress. For example, if they lay in bed too long, you know you need to go check on them. If they stay sitting for long periods, you may need to attend to them as well.
- Monitor Movement Activity Around the Home: With the help of sensors, as well as other optional security features, you can monitor activity in the home 24/7 from your smartphone. You can monitor whether doors are opened or shut, if they get in the medicine cabinet, etc.
There are also some additional features that you might consider. These are more optional, but they can also be extremely helpful.
- Instant Notifications: Even if you are getting a monitoring service, you can set up the system to notify you of certain events or activity.
- Mobile Monitoring: You may be able to monitor all activity while on the go. This is becoming a very common feature. It also eliminates the need for a service, which means you’ll save quite a bit of money.
- Professional Monitoring: If you do want professional monitoring, it will cost a set amount per month. You may have to enter into a contract for one to three years. If you aren’t sure you will need the services that long, make sure your contract is for a shorter term. The cost per month could be higher.
PERS Integrate with Your Security System
One of the best advantages of new PERS is the ability to integrate it into a security system. When you have a security system installed, it allows you to protect your loved one, not just from accidents, but from fire, burglary, or theft. This is especially important for disabled, ill, and elderly people because they may not be able to defend themselves.
A basic security system for someone in this situation should include:
- Alarm control panel
- Window and door sensors—You can also get glass break sensors for all windows.
- Motion Detectors—At least one on each of the exterior doors. You can add them to every room if you like.
- Video surveillance and doorbell—Record who comes to your door and use the live video to decide if you will answer.
How We Can Protect Your Loved Ones
Legends Security is a certified Aging in Place specialist. We can take many steps to make sure that your loved one is safe. We can install a home security system, as well as a personal emergency response system, that are fully integrated with monitoring sent to your mobile device. We can also add the following services:
- Professional Monitoring Services
- Additional unobtrusive indoor video surveillance, sent to your phone
- Assist you in creating an emergency plan
If you would like us to consult with you about your loved one’s needs, please contact us at any time. We will be happy to work with you to find suitable, reasonable, helpful solutions within your budget.
WE ARE OPEN!
Everyone is working together to fight COVID-19. Our offices are closed, and most employees are working from home. However, there are some instances in which you really need a technician. While we are taking every precaution, we are still willing to come to your home to service or install your security and PERS systems.
Our technicians will practice social distancing and avoid shaking hands or touching things in your home unnecessarily. We will also be disinfecting all tools that customers touch routinely between service calls.
When we arrive at your site, our technician will ask you if you have been exposed to COVID-19, or coronavirus, or if you have been ill. If there is a chance that you could have or been exposed to C19, your service call may be postponed.
If you aren’t sure whether or not we can come to your home safely, or if you would like to set up service for a later date, contact us today and we will work with you to find a solution
