[This piece was written by Kathy Leonard, Manager at Eddy Health Alert.]
Every year, millions of older Americans suffer unintentional falls, the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, 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.
Reports show 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.
For independent seniors, the ability to summon help at the time of a fall is critical to keeping an emergency from turning into a tragedy. A medical assistance alert system can offer seniors and their families the peace of mind that help is just the push of a button away.
Eddy Health Alert, offered through St. Peter’s Health Partners, features the Medical Alert System and MobileAlert — state-of-the-art emergency response systems 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 enjoy getting out and about, 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.
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, 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.
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, please call (518) 833-1040.
