If you are taking care of aging parents, you may need to buy appropriate equipment to help make their lives bearable. One of the pieces of equipment you must buy is the alert device. This is a device that sends signals to a monitoring center or alerts the elderly when it is time to take medicine, exercise, or even have meals.
Such devices come in handy in helping to mitigate the risk of living alone. A medical alert device can be helpful if the elderly have a medical condition that is likely to cause an emergency. They play a role in connecting users to medical service providers or their loved ones.
Before buying medical alert devices, ensure that it connects to the installation center seamlessly and can be installed easily. Also, find out how often the device gets tested and who receives the emergency call.
But not all medical alert devices are suitable for the elderly. The right type should come with features that serve the intended purpose. Therefore, selecting those that can benefit your loved one is vital. Read on to see what to look for when shopping for a medical alert device.
Where The Unit Will Be Installed?
Deciding where the unit will be installed will depend on various factors, including whether the elderly are home-bound or move from one place to place. It also depends on the part of the home where the elderly spend most of their time.
If they spend a lot of time in the sitting room, it must be installed there. If they spend most of their time in the bedroom, the device should be installed in the bedroom. But if they are active and go out often, you need to buy a device that runs on WiFi and GPS.
How do They connect To The Monitoring Center?
Traditionally, alerts are used to connect to monitoring centers through landlines. However, landlines are unreliable and are being faced out. So ensure to buy a device that can connect to a cellular version.
The device should assist even when the elderly are in the bathroom or the field.
Features
The high technology involved in making medical alert devices more effective. They come in different designs and may be as small as a watch or a pendant. Also, the devices are waterproof, meaning that the elderly can wear them even when taking a shower or swimming.
So going for those with WiFi and GPS capabilities could give you better service. Also, consider buying devices that use multiple sensors and those that come with detection technology that can send an alert when there is a potential fall.
The Cost
The costs of medical systems vary depending on the manufacturer and the features it comes with them. In some cases, users are charged an activation fee plus a monthly charge. So you may need to find out whether you will be charged an activation fee before buying it.
Also, most companies charge on a monthly basis and may require that you sign a yearly contract.
Who Receives The Alert?
A medical alert device should help the elderly immediately press the emergency button. So before you buy one, check where the alert center is situated, and the amount of time it may take before a response is received.
Also, a call center with translation capabilities for loved ones that communicate in different languages could be helpful.
A response center should be staffed with trained dispatchers capable of taking appropriate actions as soon as they receive an emergency call. The center should have a monitoring center and use wearable devices to communicate with the caller, caregiver, or customer emergency action.
How Often The Device Does Get Tested?
Before you buy the alert device, you must check out how regularly the company offers testing of the device on its effectiveness in communication. Some companies test devices monthly, while others test them every month. Select those that test them weekly.
It ensures that the device will be working when your loved one asks for help.
The Company
Of course, there are many reliable medical alert companies out there. However, you will need to evaluate each of the companies before selecting a device you can use.
Check out if the company is transparent in providing details about the fee they charge, return policy, and pricing. If the details are not available online, talk to a representative to get the info. It saves you from dealing with shady companies.