Which senior medical alert system is best?
subru
16 years ago
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sushipup1
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agotinab_gmail_com
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
Need Recommendations for Medical Alert System
Comments (9)Do you have a Consumer Reports subscription? I checked my online version and in July 2015 they did a comparison (and an update in Sept 2015). They did not do the typical ratings but the article offered a lot of good information about choosing one. ...........................CONSUMER REPORTS: This is from the article : "What to look for in a medical alert System" It works for a user's specific disability. For example, a stroke survivor may need a device he or she can activate with one hand. It offers a choice of a wristband and/or neck pendant. Cords worn around the neck can pose a strangulation risk; wristbands may irritate those with skin ailments. It includes help buttons that can be wall-mounted near the floor in multiple rooms in case the user falls and isn’t wearing the pendant. It offers multiple choices for whom to contact if you need help, from emergency services to a friend or relative who lives nearby. It has a battery backup in case of a power failure. The base station can be contacted from anywhere on your property—even in your yard or at your mailbox. The company has its own monitoring center, in the U.S., and employs its own trained emergency operators (rather than contracting that function out). The monitoring center has been certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a nonprofit safety and consulting company. Choose the right medical alert system All systems (listed in alphabetical order, below) offer daily 24-hour monitoring services. All come with a waterproof neck pendant and wristband with a battery backup. Some offer a GPS mobile feature, which works when you are traveling away from home. Some also offer a mobile 911 phone, which places a call to local 911 services if you're out of your normal service range. It carries an additional fee. Some offer an automatic fall detection system, but they say it cannot detect 100 percent of falls, and the companies charge an extra fee for this service. Tip: As you shop, ask for quotes in writing because prices and services may change. .................................. Since the comparison is over 18 months I won't include the chart - it included 6 companies and they might not all be in your area. But the information above may help you select one. Several reviews mentioned that many have long term contracts that may be difficult to cancel. The user needs good wireless in their home. I wonder if your local Emergency Response service might be able to suggest one. Maire...See MoreTell me about medical alert bracelets
Comments (27)As part of my job, I teach and provide medical oversight for more than 1,500 EMT & Paramedics. Especially if someone is confused or unconscious, they will check for medic alert tags. However, EMT & Paramedics are not likely to take the time to call a special number. @ jmck, if someone is truly allergic to aspirin (not just some "upset stomach"), they should not be given it during a "heart attack." Jewelry is often banned in sports because it gets caught on things and causes serious, sometimes life and limb threatening, injuries. Can write critical info on index card, and put it in a pocket. (We check pockets when people are confused or unconscious.) There are also medic alert shoe tags....See MoreAny medical alert recs?
Comments (16)"Some things to think about that my older friends found out. If there are too many calls to 911 in this area there was a charge for each one and that charge was expensive." Don't these devices call the security company, not 911? If so, surely the person on the other end is trained to know what to do and when and what resources are required. A device is hardly worth the additional expense if all it is is a cell phone....See MoreIdle medical chit chat...re seniors
Comments (45)Many task forces both nationally and internationally say our use of mammograms are not proven to improve survival any more than skin checks. Our country mandates so many “popular” screenings because the industries that profit by the testing are allowed to lobby for it. our gold standards are based only on how much gold they can make. All other countries independently use data and facts collected by unbiased professionals to support their choices rather than might and money. Our screening recommendations are lobby based and political not anything to do with result based rational. We cure less breast cancer with our early screening than the uk, with out using aggressive screenings, do. Same with colonoscopy recommendations. read my link above. Emotions and money rule our medical screening not science. . edited to add, our preventive schemes are a big reason our country will likely never offer universal health care. Insurance companies know this, drug and testing industries know this and politicians know this. universal health care can not afford to sustain screening with unproven benefits and our American mentality erroneously believes they are needed by all to save lives when that is proven to be false....See MoreCastymiss
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