Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Consider Getting a Medical Alert System

They Really Do Save Lives

Our parents are the most important people in our lives, unfortunately, as they age, they become more prone to an injury or a health-related issue. Since we cannot be with them 24/7 due to our busy lives, it is always a good idea to have a safety net during the times when they are alone. That’s why a medical alert system is such a great investment.

Here are the top 5 reasons why you should consider buying a medical alert system for your aging parents, and if they are not enough to convince you, we also included a real success story where a person’s life was saved due to having a medical alert system.

And the Reasons Are…

1. Real-time notifications and quick discovery. If a medical alert device is activated, emergency personnel such as ambulance, fire and police will be dispatched to your parent’s location immediately. Important family members will also get notified in real-time. New GPS features even allow emergency personnel or family to see where exactly the loved one is.

This is especially important in critical situations where immediate attention is required, such a stroke or a heart attack, because strokes for example have a window in which they can be aggressively treated to minimize or counter the effects of interrupted blood flow to a person’s brain.

2. Falls. Falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries, according to CDC.gov, among people who are 65+. This is quite shocking, but 1 in every 3 adults falls every year and fall death rates in the US have increased by 30% from 2007 to 2016 for older adults.

Here are some more chilling statistics for you:

• One out of five falls causes a serious injury such as broken bones or a head injury
• Each year, 3 million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries
• Over 800,000 patients a year are hospitalized because of a fall injury, most often because of a head injury or hip fracture
• Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI)

Falls can lead to life-threatening brain injuries, broken and fractured bones, and many other types of serious injuries. That is why it is absolutely critical that medical attention is received immediately in case of a fall. Having a medical alert system will ensure that your loved one can receive help fast and precious, potentially life-saving time won’t be lost.

3. Medical Records. Certain types of emergencies can affect the ability of first responders to communicate with your loved one, and knowing their medical history can be extremely important, because aging parents can have certain types of medical problems such as risk of a stroke, allergies or diabetes. First responders will get this vital information because the medical alert monitoring station will have this on-file!

4. Your Peace of Mind. Concerns for our parents tend to increase as our parents continue to age. Having a medical alert system can give you a peace of mind knowing that your loved ones are monitored 24/7 and that help is readily available in case anything happens. Many seniors have a fear of falling, or some other health concerns, and so having a medical alert system around gives them confidence as well. They can enjoy their day, and not stress out as much, knowing that help is an “alert” away in case something happens.

5. Ease of Use and Comfort. Gone are the days when medical alert systems were bulky and cumbersome. Fortunately today’s designs are quite comfortable and portable, and can be easily worn on a neck or even a wrist. They are also waterproof and have a backup battery in case the main one dies. Your parents also don’t need to find their mobile phone (which we all often misplace), and they don’t have to memorize any numbers. All it takes to get the help they need is a push of a button. That’s it. Very simple. The new medical alert systems can even work with cell towers and can go anywhere where there is cell reception.