Better Senior Health Requires Better Medical Services and Products

For most older adults, the growing emphasis on maintaining an independent, mobile and secure lifestyle is a primary goal as seniors “age in place”.  As elder adults are living more independently than ever before, the need for effective and affordable healthcare services, medical equipment and family member caregiver support has never been more urgent.  As a result, personal medical alert systems are being recognized by consumers and medical professionals alike, as an affordable and effective personal monitoring technology that allows seniors to stay in their home while providing a first alert response during an unexpected medical emergency.

The Senior Community Is Healthy & Growing

According the the United States Census Bureau, the senior adult population (age 65+) will double in size over the next 25 years.  This upward trend started in 2013 and will continue to expand and gain momentum through 2038.  Concurrently, older adults are living longer, are more active and as a result, are leading more independent lives than at any time in our country’s history.  Modern medicine, better and more effective healthcare, and adopting more healthy lifestyles (i.e. diet, exercise, mental health) are key drivers to why seniors are living and saying independent.

4 Key Reasons For Using An Emergency Medical Alert System

Reason #1: Senior Lifestyle. 

• Individuals that live independently and/or alone (i.e. during the daytime or 24-hours daily) either in a primary residence, a family residence or independent living community, require emergency medical monitoring as they go about their daily activities.
• Persons who require assistance with standard tasks such as meal preparation, bathing, dressing, making phone calls and light domestic chores or projects.

Reason #2: Senior Medical Conditions.

• Older adults who intake 2 or more daily medications and/or prescriptions.
• Persons who experience dizziness when navigating a chair, sofa and/or bed.
• Individuals who have been hospitalized or admitted to an emergency room or clinic during the past 12 to 24 months.
• Seniors who have recently recovered from a surgery and/or are returning from short-term rehabilitation or are in the process of physical therapy.
• Persons who suffer from a chronic or debilitating ailment (i.e. vertigo, diabetes, stroke, heart disease, arthritis)
• Elder adults who are partially or fully hearing and/or visually impaired.

Reason #3: Senior Mobility.

• Persons who have experienced their first fall or critical fall (requiring medical treatment).
• Seniors who experience recurring or repeated falls or are anxious about falling again.
• Individuals who have problems negotiating steps and furnishings; standing up and down.
• Older adults who employ canes, walkers and other medical mobility devices for better balance and travel.

Reason #4: Senior Anxiety and Stress.

• Seniors who are experience regular feelings of anxiety about falling when alone.
• Older adults who feel they are incapable of reaching the phone or contacting a neighbor in the event they fall and can’t get up or experience a sudden injury or medical emergency.
• Individuals who may be experiencing forgetfulness; memory loss or early-stage form of dementia.

The ‘4 Key Reasons’ detailed above are considered drivers or qualifiers in order to identify and gauge the risk level of senior adults to the need of employing an emergency alarm system that can monitor users and dispatch emergency medical assistance right to their location.   There are several types of systems, for home and for travel, that can be specifically tailored to a senior’s lifestyle and medical needs.