Are you a senior living in your own home in Alabama? Should you consider a medical alert system? As a senior are you concerned about health-related emergencies, especially a fall? Then a medical alert system could play a crucial role in providing emergency assistance and perhaps even save your life. Be aware that these life-saving technologies usually involve tools such as a wearable pendant, lanyard, bracelet, or phone app and include an emergency call button.
So how do these medical alert systems protect Alabama seniors who choose to use them? The alert device that the medical alert system provides can, when activated during a health crisis, send a signal for immediate medical assistance. Depending on the system, it can:
Automatically contact 911,
Connect the senior with a live agent from a care control center through a two-way intercom, and
Respond with a swift and appropriate response.
Is there anything more that can be included? In most circumstances, the answer is “yes.” To further bolster the effectiveness of medical alert systems, we would like to share a few essential add-on features to further protect seniors:
1. Include voice extenders. Home-based alert systems, which are different from mobile systems, require the wearable alert device to connect to a central plug-in unit that operates like a speaker phone. When the call button is pressed, a medical dispatching agent communicates with the senior through the unit. Voice extenders enhance communication by enabling both the senior and responder to hear each other clearly from anywhere in the senior's home.
2. Include wall buttons. Wall buttons serve as supplementary alert devices placed strategically in potentially hazardous areas, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and at the bottom of stairs. Similar to fire alarms, pressing a wall button triggers contact with an emergency dispatcher through the home unit.
3. Include voice-activated wall buttons. An innovative variation of wall-mounted alert buttons, voice-activated wall buttons enable injured seniors to call for help by repeating an emergency password or phrase twice in rapid succession. Additionally, they come equipped with long, vertical pull cords that automatically connect to an emergency monitoring agent when pulled.
4. Include a lockbox. This simple yet invaluable no-tech feature does not necessarily have to be purchased from a medical alert company. The lockbox contains a key to the senior's front door, secured with a combination lock, and is clearly visible to emergency responders. This aids responders in gaining swift access to the senior's home during a health crisis. The lockbox combination, along with detailed health information, can be securely retained and communicated to emergency responders by the medical alert company.
By considering these essential add-ons for medical alert systems, seniors can significantly enhance their safety and ensure timely access to critical medical assistance when needed. These features provide an additional layer of support, peace of mind, and rapid response during emergencies.
We know this article may raise more questions than it answers. At the end of the day, legal planning is not just for you. Instead, it is for the ones you love most. If we can answer any questions for you on putting this estate planning in place, please do not hesitate to let us know. For more information, please reach out to our office and schedule a time to meet.