Eddy Health Alert has introduced Medical Alert System and MobileAlert — state-of-the-art emergency response systems that are designed to enhance the safety of seniors or disabled individuals in the Capital Region who wish to live independently in their homes, or who want an added level of safety while on-the-go.
The traditional Medical Alert System now features wireless technology that offers the latest interactive two-way medical emergency monitoring in and around the home. A new cellular base station plugs into an electrical outlet in the client’s home. A landline phone is no longer required for connection.
For seniors who are more often on-the-go, a new model called MobileAlert is equipped with the latest GPS technology and uses a satellite-based system to pinpoint the location of the user and transmit their unique ID. The MobileAlert unit can also travel with the client anywhere in the United States.
“An emergency can quickly turn into a tragedy,” said Michelle Mazzacco, vice president of Eddy Health Alert and Eddy Visiting Nurse Association, the leading provider of in-home health services in the region. “The risk of permanent disability rises dramatically each minute a stroke victim is left unattended. More than 20 percent of the 1.6 million Americans who suffer heart attacks die every year because they did not get the help they needed in time.”
Both the home-based and mobile systems work by immediately sending a signal to the response center when a button is pushed. A trained operator will make a direct connection to the patient to assess the situation. A family member, neighbor or loved one is first contacted, and emergency services are dispatched, if needed.
A fall detector feature is also available on both systems that is capable of automatically detecting a fall, so even if the client is unable to speak or push the button, help can be dispatched to the client’s location at home or on the road.
“When it comes to a fall or some kind of medical emergency, seconds count,” said Kathy Leonard, manager of Eddy Health Alert. “The simple push of a button on the Medical Alert System or MobileAlert can help ensure that your loved one is safe, or send help to the home or location quickly if needed. With these systems, families never have to worry that their loved one is alone and unable to call for help when needed.”
“Every year, millions of older Americans suffer unintentional falls, the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults,” said Mazzacco. “In fact, one in three seniors ages 65 and older fall at least once a year, resulting in lacerations, hip fractures, traumatic brain injuries, heart attacks or permanent disabilities – all injuries that can threaten their ability to live independently and increase their risk of early death. Eddy Health Alert systems can offer peace of mind for the individual as well as their families that help can be summoned at a critical time, whenever it is needed.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, less than half of the older adults who fall will talk to their health care providers about it. Furthermore, reports show that in 2013, 2.5 million nonfatal falls among older adults had to be treated in emergency rooms, while about 25,500 older adults died from unintentional fall injuries. The direct medical costs of falls, adjusted for inflation, were $34 billion.
Medical alert buttons can be worn as a waterproof pendant or wristband. The Medical Alert System costs $31 per month, and the MobileAlert System costs $38 per month. For more information or to install Eddy Health Alert, please contact (518) 833-1040.
