Your home is where you retreat to for rest, comfort, serenity, rejuvenation, privacy and more. It’s a refuge from the noise, chaos and dangers outside. But the home is also the place where many medical emergencies occur. Slips, falls, choking, drowning, cardiac arrest, stroke, traumatic brain injury and many other hazards at home take the lives of thousands each year.
It’s especially risky for people who live alone, which is why a growing number of people are installing medical alert systems. Here’s a look at why you should turn to the best medical alert systems to keep you or a loved one safe at home.
1. Convenience for All Ages
When most people think about medical alert systems, they likely think about senior citizens living on their own. It makes sense, given that many elderly people have conditions that place them at a higher risk of experiencing a medical emergency at home.
But whereas seniors are the primary users of medical alert systems, they aren’t the only ones who can benefit from this technology. Persons who are injured, recovering from illness or have a physical disability can be more secure when they have a medical alert system.
2. Peace of Mind
When taking care of your loved ones, leaving the home can often bring stress and anxiety whenever you leave. Nobody wants to leave their elderly, ill or loved one with a disability on their own, unattended.
However, the realities of life, such as the need to earn a living, means these loved ones are often left at home alone. In these cases, a medical alert system can give you peace of mind. You know that if your loved one has a health emergency, there is a reliable way that help can reach them quickly.
3. Independence
Few things give us a burst of self-confidence more than knowing you don’t have to depend on friends and family to live your life. It’s something many people in good health take for granted. For the elderly and infirm, knowing you are not a burden to your loved ones is important.
With a medical alert system, you can retain your independence when at home without jeopardizing your health and safety. And loved ones don’t have to be on-call at all times.
4. Affordable
Some people rule out getting a medical alert system due to a belief that they are prohibitively expensive. While this may have been true in years past, the explosive rise in the power, ability and availability of this technology over the past decade has brought in a variety of affordable options.
You no longer have to sign long-term contracts or pay hefty equipment fees, in many cases. In fact, some medical alert systems don’t even require activation fees. This drop in price is only going to continue, meaning that almost anyone can have a medical alert system in their home, for a good price.
5. Reliable
Given the life-saving role they are designed to play, medical alert systems are built to be highly reliable. In fact, they are in many respects more reliable than having a human caregiver. A nurse or other caregiver can get tired, fall asleep or require breaks. That’s not something you need to worry about with a medical alert system. They are on 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
That being said, medical alert systems are not infallible, so the degree of reliability will vary from one system to another. Check out product reviews and consult with your doctor to confirm you are getting your money’s worth.
Get a Medical Alert System That Is Right for You
Before you procure a medical alert system for you or your loved one, map out your needs. Evaluate the individual system’s capabilities and shortcomings, as well as how much you are willing to spend. Armed with this information, weigh several different medical alert systems to find the one that’s most likely to work for your circumstances.
