Monitoring systems for the elderly became the punch line to several bad jokes in the 1980s when a commercial with arguably poor acting debuted. An elderly woman falls, presses a button and says, "Help. I've fallen and can't get up." Generally, these sentences should be written with exclamation points, but the commercial conveyed little to no excitement generated by the act of falling. Instead, the poor woman was made fun of.
Unfortunately falling down when one is alone is no laughing matter. It is scary enough losing control over one's own body, but losing control over one's own body and not having anyone around who can help to rectify the situation is absolutely terrifying.
Whether we recognize it or not, we are all dependent on someone to provide us with the things we need. Unfortunately, the idea of independence is deeply ingrained in the American culture that no one really stops to question what it costs us to believe in independence when we no longer have it.
One way to prolong independence for those who are older is with the use of monitoring systems for the elderly. These systems are a convenient way to make sure that those who are older can enjoy their freedom for a little longer. It also provides Peace of mind for the children involved in the elderly parents' life who may want to make sure that they are safe and able to live in their own home for as long as possible.
Many seniors have a difficult time in giving up their freedom of living in their own home and moving to an assisted living facility or needing to have home health care. Having a system that they can depend on to push a button for emergency response crews can save their life. If there is an emergency problem such as a heart attack or falling down the stairs, the difference between a 5 minute response from emergency crews and 2 hours from a child that stops by to check on their parents could save their life.
Some people only have contact with the outside world once a week or less often. A broken leg or broken hip may signal that person's demise. With no way to get to a phone and no way to call for help, the person could lie on the floor in pain for several days before succumbing to a lack of water or food.
Monitoring systems for the elderly can save that person from the agony and the psychological problems such as fall and the time spent on the floor in an effort to stand. With the press of a button, help could be sent to get that person to the hospital and ultimately, back on his or her feet again.
There are many different systems that a person may choose from. Some prefer the simple push-button system that will alert emergency crews while others can choose a cell-phone type device that not only aids with emergency response but can program in reminders for medications and other things.
It is important to look at all of the benefits and features of the different systems to find the one that is right for you or for your loved one. Working together can make it easier for both parties to address their concerns. For a loved one that is starting to have memory problems, using a device that alerts for medications and an alert if a door is open is a great idea. If your loved one is past this point in mental decline, you may need to speak about a more advanced monitoring system to help them stay safe. Protecting your loved one and providing them with the independence to live at home is what a quality monitoring system will be able to offer.
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