Assisted Living versus Living at Home

According to a nationwide survey in 2000 conducted by AARP, 95% of American seniors in the age group of 75 or older stated that they prefer living in their own homes as opposed to an independent care facility or a retirement home. Research proves that even those living with chronic diseases, illness’ or disabilities, living at home is the best option for an elder’s mental health and wellbeing.

A medical alarm device is an option seniors can consider instead of moving out of their home to an assisted living facility. For seniors that already live in a professional care facility, a medical alarm or some type of medical alarm device can also be extremely useful. These products can be used alone or along with the care giving services provided by the assisted living facilities.

There are many elderly persons living alone that need constant care and have daily caregivers. There are 54 million caregivers in the United States caring for a relative or elderly parent. Sometimes the emotional and physical toll it takes on caregivers and the elderly is enough to make them want to turn to other options.

When assessing the pros and cons of living in an assisted living home versus living at home, moving to an assisted living facility isn’t always the best solution for those who just need a little extra help around the house.

Although seniors that live at home or in an assisted living facility can usually get through most of the day on their own, they sometimes need assistance with daily activities like bathing, medications, food preparation, etc.

While living in an assisted living facility, they can still enjoy limited social activities, make their own decisions, and interact with others in their age group. Independence and self-sufficiency with privacy is an important factor. Most assisted living facilities provide very minimal care but most offer a comfortable apartment living space with security 24 hours a day.

These residences are a popular alternative for seniors that can no longer live on their own without regular assistance. These facilities tend to be more like a home and less like a nursing facility. More than one million elderly persons are living in assisted living facilities. The problem with these figures is that as the demand for more facilities rise, so will the abuse statistics, the shortage of nurses, and some assisted living facilities may even take on people that they can’t adequately care for. Therefore, not only will those issues rise, so will the numbers of fatalities and depression.

The old saying, “there is no place like home” holds true to this situation. Most elders would rather stay in their own home for as long as they can, instead of moving. Security and independence is a main factor here. If they are living in their own home, they can be mobile, do shopping, cook, attend to household chores and continue socializing.

In situations like these, medical alarm devices can be extremely useful. They are small water proof personal emergency medical alarm pendants that are monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They are wireless so they can be worn as either a medical alarm necklace or medical alarm bracelet. When the subscriber wearing the medical alarm pendant presses the emergency button on the pendant or the control panel it automatically notifies the list of contacts that was chosen upon subscribing at the same time continues to notify emergency medical services if needed. Medical alarm devices not only have the basic features of two way communication, 24 hour access but response time in just seconds. Most services offer add on services of medication reminders, meal reminders, health checks, daily wake up calls and wellness checks. All these added features can be reassuring in an emergency situation.

Moving can be the most stressful event in the life of an elderly person. Giving up their home of many years sometimes makes them think they have given up independence and self dignity. Physical conditions decline, activities become limited, frustration and anger can replace the peace and joy of ageing gracefully. Living in an assisted living facility can become lonely for people used to independence and doing what they want on their own. Adapting to others and building a whole new social live is sometimes difficult. We need to think of these concerns as our loved ones start to age. A simple solution like a medical alarm can help seniors age in peace, enjoy the independence they desire and have the peace of mind that during an emergency, assistance is just a push of a button away…

 

[ No Comments ] Posted on 06.27.08

Medical alarms are not just for seniors. Medical alarm can benefit children

A medical alarm is just as useful for children as seniors and the disabled. Seniors and the disabled are not the only people that can find a medical alarm useful. Medical conditions and ill health can affect a person of any age.

Children are as vulnerable as the elderly. Between work and earning a living, we are often forced to leave our children at home in the responsibility of a caregiver for extended periods of time.
A medical alarm is a wonderful way to ensure that our children’s health needs get top priority. When children get home from school, sports and other activities, they tend to forget the things that we are usually there to remind them of. A medical alarm can be programmed with medication reminders and meal reminders round the clock.

It’s a parent’s worst nightmare when children are in an accident – whether it is in a sporting event, walking down the street, riding a bike, or at home. In such situations, a medical alarm can provide the peace of mind that if our children need help, it can be summoned quickly.

Children’s medical needs: Asthma, Diabetes, broken bones, heart and lung diseases, and many more can also benefit from the use of an emergency medical alarm. Children need to fit in today’s society. So a medical alarm needs to be stylish and sophisticated where children don’t have to worry about being teased or feeling left out. A medical alarm today can not only be worn as a medical pendant, it can also be worn as a medical alarm bracelet, as a medical alarm necklace or be tucked safely in a pocket for easy access.

When setting up the medical alarm system, you leave instructions about whom to contact first in the case of an emergency. When the button on the medical alarm pendant or its wireless base station is pushed – regardless of the day or time – it radios the call center for help. When the button is activated, the call center has live two way voice response to assess the call to determine if an actual emergency is taking place. At this point, it is determined which number off of the list to contact first. This minimizes the possibilities of prank or mistaken calls.

Children and their parents can enjoy the benefits a medical alarm. It enables gives them an independent lifestyle while making 24 hour emergency services available within the push of a button. You can regain a parent’s peace of mind knowing that medical attention is just a push of a button away. Medical alarms provide peace of mind that our children are one step closer to personal emergency response during a medical emergency.

[ No Comments ] Posted on 05.28.08

Medical alarms: Protect your loved ones with Medical alarms

Medical alarms, also called medical alarm systems, are personal emergency medical alarm devices that are monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They give protection for seniors or home bound individuals with health issues and peace of mind to their caregivers.

A medical alarm is a small wireless device that can be worn as either a medical alarm necklace or medical alarm bracelet. Small and compact, a medical alarm is easy to use as and water proof, so there is no need to ever take it off.

Seniors that are in ill health, weakened state or just coming out of surgery can benefit from subscribing to a medical alarm system. Available on short-term and long-term care contracts, medical alarm devices provide independence when it matters the most without sacrificing safety.

How a medical alarm works: When the subscriber presses the emergency button on the medical alarm pendant or on base control panel, it sends an alarm to the call center through the telephone line.

The base system has live radio response, which enables the operator at the call center to interact with the subscriber during an emergency till medical assistance reaches. All his is done wireless through existing telephone lines and there is no need for extra wiring or extra charges for telephone service.

You can set up the base system anywhere in your house. Medical alarms are flexible because regardless of where you are in your home you are protected. During an actual emergency, you can either contact the company’s response center or the list of numbers provided or can dial 911 immediately.

Medical alarm systems from ResponseLINK include two-way communication between you and the emergency response center, 24 hour access and 30 second response time. They also provide additional add-on subscription services such as; medication reminders, meal reminders, health check reminders, wake up calls, and many more features that provide extra security. Medical alarms can be set up to do daily wellness checks, to ensure that your loved one is safe at all times.

Some private insurance companies even reimburse the cost of emergency medical alarms. Check with you insurance company since all companies are different and require pre-certification.

Medical alarms have come along way over the years. Senior medical alarms offer convenience, independence and safety. You can rest assured that the medical alarm system is doing all it can to protect our loved ones when you are not available. It could save someone you love during a real emergency.

[ No Comments ] Posted on 05.28.08