Thursday, September 5, 2013

Dependency on Medical Alert Systems in People With Disabilities


Medical alarms make a big difference in the lives of people living with disabilities senior citizens and those who have special needs. Medical alert systems are also known as medical alert systems or a (PERS) personal emergency response system, developed to help relay signals in case of medical emergencies. People living with disabilities or impairment require attention most of the time and sometimes it is not possible to have someone overlooking their affairs all the time. In such moments, a medical emergency can mean life or death for this person. Many senior citizens who reside alone are primarily the ones who use these gadgets along with those living with disabilities.

Components of a medical alarm system

The average medical alarm system consists of three components, which are the personal help button, the Base station unit and the monitoring center. The help button is typically a means of a wireless transmitter wristwatch or pedant and it triggered in case of emergencies. When the person activates the button, a signal transmits to the base unit that dials a predetermined number automatically, to an emergency response hub.

Risk factors

Many risk factors contribute to the need for a medical alert system. They include old age; typically, a person aged above 65 years who lives alone is at the risk of falling and breaking limbs, people who use mobility assistance gadgets like walkers air lifts wheel chairs, people who suffer from sensory loss in hearing or visually impaired or other cerebral defects require the use of medical alarms systems. If a person has more than one of the listed characteristics then they should consider using a medical alarm system for their medical security.

In the occurrence of an emergency, the last thing that the individual wants to deal with is the use of a complicated gadget. This is the reason that medical alarms designs are simple for ease of installation and use in case of emergencies. Additionally they are also faster to use than one would use a telephone, this is because people wear them around the wrist as a belt or around the neck like a necklace. Consequently, this makes them easy to access unlike using a phone.

Domestic accidents are typical and when they occur, they can be fatal. However when immediate help is available these disasters are easily avoidable. Senior citizens who also have disabilities are at a higher risk of domestic accidents. For this reason, medical alarms are invaluable in their lives.

Advantages of using medical alarms

The other major advantage and a selling point for medical alert is that the people who answer the emergency calls on the other end are trained to handle medical emergencies and offer the required help. The medical alarms providers file user information to ensure proper precautions and care in case of an emergency.

You will note that one of the reasons that senior citizens prefer to move to an assisted living facility instead of living in the comfort of their homes is that they are afraid of medical emergencies. Most of them who live alone realize that in case of an emergency, their life would be at risk. Nonetheless, others feel independent enough and they are comfortable living in their home as long as they have a medical alarm that they can use when need arises.

Features and cost

Like with all other consumer products, medical alarms also differ in their features and cost. The difference may come in because of standby power, setup time, options for payment and other minor differences. The best thing would be for a consumer to do a thorough research on the gadgets before they purchase a medical alert system.

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