Best Medical Alert System for Seniors

Introduction

A medical alert system is a personal emergency response system that helps ensure a fast response to elderly people when they suffer a medical emergency such as a fall.

Medical alert systems are usually a small, low weight device that is waterproof and is easily activated by older users by just pressing a button. Typically, seniors wear this device around their neck or as a wristband to ensure it’s always to hand when they need it.

You may also discover some unexpected benefits of using a medical alert system that can be helpful for you and your elderly relatives that we’ll discuss later.

Monitoring for Disabled Adults and Children

Many seniors with mental and physical problems, especially adults on the autism spectrum or with Alzheimer’s disease, may need care all the time. This can be very challenging for caregivers who work hard to meet all the demands of looking after someone as well as their own lives.

In this situation, a medical alert system can be helpful in many ways. 

You will get added protection from the medical alert systems and, of course, peace of mind too when you have to leave someone on their own.

Medical alert systems have a speedy response time, and there is 24/7 access to medical support that is guaranteed to take care of seniors’ needs should the worst happen.

Medical alert systems can help seniors who are forced to live alone and independently. It is not easy for a caregiver to give constant vigilance all the time, so a medical alert system is best recommended in this case.

Geolocation Monitoring

Some medical alert systems come with built-in geolocation. This means you can easily track the location of the elderly wearer should they wander off or become lost. This is, unfortunately, very common in patients with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Outpatient Monitoring

When an elderly patient is released from the hospital or any surgery center, they are often in a more vulnerable state. When they are well enough to return home but still require some looking after, a medical alert system is a great way to give both them and you some peace of mind should they become ill again.

Some medical alert systems can even monitor the patient’s vital signs, such as pulse rate or blood sugar levels, and provide an alert to the medical center should these measurements reach a set threshold.

Even if there is no such system to call for help, the information that is collected is critical. This health data can be used by doctors and specialists to understand the condition of the patients more accurately.

This information helps to gather insight into the frequency, severity, and also for the onset of these symptoms. Doctors can better understand and easily adjust the treatment when required for the patients.

Medical Alerts for a Variety of Conditions and Severities

Medical conditions come in many forms that may limit the patient’s dexterity or mental agility, and the same goes for medical alert systems too. You will find a wide variety of devices available that break the mold of the classic button on a necklace model. There are different systems available that are made to cater to different needs, medical severity, and for users with wearability problems. 

One such medical alert system is designed to monitor the wearer for suspected seizures and also for levels of carbon monoxide in the room.

Types of Medical Alert System

A typical medical alert system is simple and easy to operate a health monitoring device that is ideally used for seniors who live alone and are suffering from the usual ailments that elderly people suffer from, such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and osteoporosis.

Basic Alert

The main features on a basic medical alert system are voice communication, along with remote call answering, adjustable volume controls, and a reminder to carry out a monthly test call.

This typical alert device includes a speaker with amplifier, sensitive microphones, and an emergency button on a necklace or wristband.

When the user presses the alert button, it automatically sends a telephone call to an emergency response center.  

The response center is available 24 hours a day and is manned by highly trained people who can guide and respond quickly for positive assistance. The center dispatches local medical personnel, ambulance, police, fire, or other services as required.

Fall Sensor

There is a fall sensor that is available with any of the medical alert machines, which helps to recognize a fall or with other accidents. These sensors can be placed in locations where a fall is likely, for example, next to the bed or armchair. When the elderly person has a fall, it automatically notifies the call center who can talk to the patient and ask them if they need assistance.  

Power Backup

Of course, there’s no point in having a medical alert system if it doesn’t work during a mains power outage. Most alert systems have a battery backup as well as an alert if the battery is running low.

The Benefits of Medical Alert Systems

The main benefit of a medical alert system is the peace of mind of knowing your elderly loved one is only a single button press away from emergency medical care.

In the case of many medical conditions, speed is of the essence. Victims of stroke, heart attack, or falls stand a much better chance of recovery if they are tended to quickly.

A Sense of Security

A recent study showed that medical alert systems help users and their families feel a sense of comfort and security. But it is not just a feeling, as it is also reported that medical monitoring systems drastically decrease mortality rates by up to 60%.

Recommended Medical Alert Systems

Alert1

This device is designed for seniors to help them live safely and without depending upon anyone in their own homes.

It offers many features that help to protect seniors in their home:

• Wall-mounted emergency button
• Surge guard
• Wristbands that are made of durable, waterproof silicone
• Necklace activator

The alert1 medical activator is in the form of a necklace that makes the emergency button easy to access and always to hand.

Medical Guardian

Medical Guardian is known to be one of the leading providers of medical alert systems for seniors, and they offer six main packages.

• family
• classic
• home
• mobile
• freedom
• active

Usually, people recommended the medical guardian because it has fast response time, and the average is about 28 seconds from the moment of pressing the help button to the moment the operator answers the response.

LifeFone

LifeFone is designed to give independence and safety to seniors. It is used by hospitals, doctors, and caregivers with premiere national health services.

LifeFone responds quickly and is always reliable. The other advantage is that the spouses can get free monitoring coverage. These LifeFone products include in-home medical alert systems and the mobile alert devices that can be quickly and anytime be accessible.

MobileHelp

MobileHelp provides a wide range of medical alert systems that are helpful for a variety of medical needs of elderly people. MobileHelp is an FDA-compliant service that does not require a long-term contract, and there are no hidden fees either. This makes it ideal for a short term or temporary need, for example, after a hospital visit when a full recovery is expected.

MobileHelp gives standard in-home units, GPS location services, fall detection, and a smartwatch option.