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The fear of falling can significantly affect a senior’s quality of life. Fall detection devices provide a sense of safety and peace of mind to aging adults as well as loved ones. If a user falls, the device will send an alert to a monitoring center or 911. A representative will call the person to figure out whether they’re injured and need help. If someone has fallen at home, they may not be able to get to their phone or speak clearly to ask for help. Fortunately, a medical alert device can detect falls and automatically notify emergency response centers. This allows a trained representative to contact a loved one or caregiver, and also helps prevent false alarms. Some fall detection devices use accelerometer sensors to measure motion, while others use a combination of different sensors to improve accuracy. These include a gyroscope, which tracks rotation, and a magnetometer that measures magnetic fields. Most medical alert systems offer fall detection as an add-on or a separate device, but some, like the Medical Guardian Mini Guardian, have it built-in. When an accident sensor is activated, it contacts a monitoring center, where a Life Safety Consultant will try to contact the person. This feature is particularly important for people who may be unconscious or disoriented after a fall. A trained rep will ask if the person is okay and if they need assistance. A major concern for many seniors who have fallen is the possibility that they will fall again and become incapacitated. This is why medical alert systems that offer two-way communication can be a good choice. They allow older adults to press a button on a wearable pendant or wristband to talk with a monitoring center representative. This representative can then call a loved one or first responders to get help. The rep can also check in on the person to make sure they are okay. This feature is not available on all medical alert devices, but it is a great option for seniors who are concerned about falling. It may be worth paying extra for a system like Medical Alert that offers this technology. In addition to having the best device range (up to 1,400 feet), it has the lowest cost of any company we reviewed ($25 a month for at-home service, $5 a month for fall detection). The system also provides medication reminders and can notify loved ones when the user takes their daily doses. Three million older adults go to the emergency room for fall-related injuries each year, and falls can be serious. A medical alert system can help prevent them by sending a signal to a monitoring center if a wearer is unable to press their device button themselves. Medical Alert offers a few different systems with fall detection, including its in-home units and its mobile GPS system. https://personalmedicalalarm.com/ A month-to-month plan starts at $58 per month and includes both the device and the service, but you can save a few dollars per month by paying annually or semi-annually.
A fall detection device will automatically call a response center or your emergency contact if it senses a movement. The device will then ask the person if they’re okay and if they want help. If they say they’re fine, the device will not call 911. While devices that use accelerometers can detect most falls, they can’t detect all of them. That’s why most companies also offer a device with a barometer to detect changes in air pressure. This can also detect movements that might be mistaken for a fall. While the technology is great, it’s important to keep in mind that there are some false alarms. This is why many medical alert systems encourage people to test their devices with family members. This way, they know what to expect when the device is activated for a real emergency. The good news is that false alarms are relatively rare, and most of them are caused by accidental activity such as putting the device down or misusing it. |
