Thinking about purchasing a medical alert system or medical alert devices? Designed to give you or your family access to emergency help when you need it, it’s a wonderful way to give yourself peace of mind and be ready for anything.
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has always strongly recommended the use of medical alert devices for seniors designed to keep seniors living independently and safely. But with the many different types of medical emergency alert devices (as well as the range in prices), you might also be wondering if it’s really worth the investment. In this article, we’ll review some of the reasons why it’s certainly worth it, as well as how to select the best medical alert device for you.
Peace of Mind for Everyone
Simply put, one of the biggest reasons to get an emergency or personal medical alert device is peace of mind. Whether you’re an older adult looking to live independently for longer, or you’re a caregiver interested in keeping an eye on a family member when you’re not around, quick access to emergency services can be life-saving.
Elderly Family Members
As we age, it’s natural to lose some mobility. You might be weaker than you once were, and you might be less social. Friends and family may live far away or be otherwise occupied with work and school. Do you have a plan in place for medical emergencies? If you were to slip and fall — one of the leading reasons that seniors end up in the emergency room — how would you get help? With a medical alert device for seniors at your fingertips, you don’t have to worry about this.
Similarly, this can give other family members and caregivers peace of mind when they’re not around. They’ll know you have access to help when you need it, and some medical alert devices (like Rescu) also automatically notify your emergency contacts so they know what’s going on. Your family member can continue living independently for much longer, keeping them comfortable in their home and delaying the need to move to a care facility.
Family Members With Medical Concerns
While medical emergencies can happen to anyone, medical alert devices are especially handy for those with specific needs and concerns. Examples include those who:
- Have been recently hospitalized and have limited mobility
- Have serious allergies
- Take medications that might cause dizziness
- Have any difficulty walking or moving around
- Have other medical conditions, such as epilepsy, arthritis, or high blood pressure
Why spend your time worrying about the worst-case scenario? With medical alert devices, you’ll be prepared and able to dispatch help immediately if anything were to happen.
Hearing-Impaired Family Members
For the hearing-impaired and deaf community, medical and emergency alert systems are incredibly important. With Rescu, for example, you can add critical information to the app — including a pre-registered address and your medical history — so emergency responders have immediate access to it. No talking required, just fast and efficient help when you or your family member needs it.
Military Families
Medical alert devices are also very helpful for military families, allowing a deployed family member to still be connected and aware of anything going on in the home. With Rescu, if a family member dispatches for help, you’ll automatically receive an SMS text message so that you know what’s going on. Knowing that any call for services you make will automatically trigger a notification to your contacts near and far adds needed peace-of-minded to your emergency planning.
Your Entire Family
Of course, medical alert devices aren’t just critical for older adults and those with health concerns — personal medical alert devices can be a lifesaving tool for anyone in your family.
If you have kids spending time alone in your home while you’re at work, for example, access to an alert system will give you a much-needed sense of security. It’s easy for them to request help if anything were to happen, and you’ll be automatically notified as well. It can also be helpful for babysitters and other caregivers of young children.
Plus, with an app like Rescu, it’s more than just for medical help; users have access to fire and police in addition to EMTs, so you’re covered for any type of emergency.
Combining With Your Home Security System
For total peace of mind, a medical alert system like Rescu is the perfect companion to your home security system. You’ll have the strength of a fully monitored system, with the power to get the emergency help you need when you need it most. You can send responders to check on home alarms even when you’re outside your local calling area, as well as silently send for help if an intruder enters your home. Whatever type of emergency you and your family encounter, you’ll be ready..
Emergency Help When You Need It Most
Finally, it’s important to be aware of seasonal dangers in the Fall and Winter particularly. As we spend more time indoors, for example, there’s a greater risk of fires caused by electric heating devices and candles. According to the National Fire Protection Association, home fires occur more in the winter than in any other season, and heating equipment is involved in one of every six reported home fires, and one in every five home fire deaths. Winter storms can also bring snow and ice, creating a dangerous environment for those with (and even without) mobility issues.
Be Prepared with Rescu
With the reasons listed above, you can see how helpful an emergency and medical alert system can be. When an emergency strikes, every second counts.
While traditional medical alert devices include wearable devices, there are some major limitations when it comes to wearable medical alert devices. Namely, they’re expensive and may even require a long-term contract.
With Life Alert, for example, the minimum investment needed for the service for the base plan total just under $2,000 before adding on any further options. If you add on a shower button, that price goes up to $2,580 over three years, and adding the GPS function brings that total to $3,402 over the same period. Life Alert also requires a 3-year minimum contract, which is a long time to be locked in.
The Rescu app is a different take on the idea of medical alert devices, allowing you to use an app on your mobile device to contact emergency responders. With just two taps on your phone, Rescu will immediately dispatch your choice of medical, fire, or police to your saved location – all without the need to talk to the dispatcher on the nature of your emergency.
For full dispatch functionality, Rescu Prime is only $7 a month, or only $59 a year with no contract terms. This includes immediate ambulance, fire, and police dispatching along with friend/family notifications and the ability to add pre-existing medical condition information to be sent along with the dispatch. It’s total peace of mind at an affordable cost, which has made it an easy decision for many of our users.
easy decision for many of our users.
Learn more about the life-saving Rescu app, available for iOS and Android!
