Best Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS)

Top 5 Best Medical Alert Systems

After much research, here are the best medical alert systems on the market today:

• Medical Guardian: Best for Active Seniors
• MobileHelp: Best At-Home Range
• Aloe Care Health: Best App for Remote Caregivers
• Bay Alarm Medical: Best for a Tight Budget
• Philips Lifeline: Best On-the-Go System

Older Adults Have a Higher Risk of Falling

Three million older adults are treated in an emergency room (ER) every year for some type of injury related to a fall, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Worse yet, deaths due to falls are the leading cause of injury death for Americans 65 and older. Fall death rates rose 30% in the previous decade, and the CDC predicts that by 2030, seven fall deaths will occur every hour.

The National Institute on Aging reports that falls by the elderly can occur due to poor eyesight or hearing, or by having slowed reflexes. Some health conditions contribute to falls as well, such as diabetes and heart disease, as can certain medications.

Not every fall results in an injury — about 37% of those who report a fall require medical attention. That’s about eight million fall injuries each year, a number that’s expected to climb to 12 million in 2030.

Because falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults, it can be extremely beneficial to have a personal emergency response system capable of summoning medical assistance to the home. However, PERS equipment has other advantages as well, in and outside the home. Depending on the system and its monitoring options, you can obtain assistance even while on the go. This provides a greater level of independence and assurance on vacations, while running errands, or otherwise outside the primary residence.

Benefits of a Personal Emergency Response System

Personal emergency response systems not only summon medical responders, many of them also notify caregivers and loved ones. Some systems are capable of helping older adults track medication, monitor the air quality of their home and more. Here’s a closer look at why a personal emergency response system might be right for you or a family member.

PERS Are More Affordable Than In-Person Monitoring

A nursing home, assisted living facility, or private in-home care deliver in-person monitoring, but they are almost always more expensive than a personal emergency response system.

The Department of Health and Human Services reports that the average cost of a nursing home is $225 a day (or more), assisted living is generally around $119 daily, adult day health care is roughly $68 a day, and home health aides typically earn somewhere in the vicinity of $20.50 an hour.

Older Adults Retain Greater Independence

A personal emergency response system provides comfort that help is quickly available if needed, while allowing older adults to do many things on their own. Nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home care aren’t bad, but they often remove at least a portion of someone’s independence.

Immediate Response, Anytime

About 20 percent of falls occur between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m., according to a World Health Organization (WHO) study. Even if the person who falls is able to summon help from someone else in the home, it may be difficult to rouse others in the house when a fall occurs at night. Personal emergency response systems, on the other hand, provide 24-hour monitoring and an immediate response by emergency response agencies such as the fire department.

Greater Peace of Mind

Most older adults prefer to stay in their current homes for as long as they live. This may be cause for concern for family members and friends, especially those who live far away. One way for everyone to have peace of mind in this situation, particularly loved ones of older adults living on their own, is to use the services of an emergency response system.

Simple To Use

Every PERS device is a little different, but many offer easy-to-use wearable devices that require nothing more than the push of a button to connect with an urgent response agent. In cases of falls or where movement is otherwise limited, this enables the older person to get help without having to crawl or otherwise find their way to a phone.

Help at Home or on the Go

With continued advancements in mobile PERS technology, personal response systems are no longer for use just inside the home. Depending on the system and its monitoring options, you can obtain assistance on vacation, while running errands, or otherwise outside the primary residence.

Why Cellphones Aren’t the Best for Personal Emergency Responses

One could argue that cell phones offer the same type of protection as personal emergency response systems minus the additional cost. However, if you call 911 from a cell phone, first responders may not be able to pinpoint your exact location. Wireless 911 communication is improving, according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), but operators may still heavily rely on callers for information, something that may not be possible in an emergency where an older adult is unable to give precise directions.

If the phone’s buttons are too small or difficult to push, they may not be easily accessible in an emergency situation, especially for hands that are unstable or if eyesight is poor. Other factors that may limit mobile phone accessibility include whether the phone is charged, or if it is even nearby during a medical situation. For reasons like these, it’s often better to go with a physical personal response system.

What to Look for in a Personal Emergency Response System

Once a decision is made to sign up for and use an emergency response service, the next step is to decide which type of system is best for your own situation and needs. While there are several available on the market today, most can be placed in one of these categories.

1. Two-way personal emergency response system with 24/7 monitoring by a response center.
2. Two-way personal emergency response system, unmonitored, but calls 911 or another number.
3. Two-way personal emergency response system with speakerphone pendant, monitored or unmonitored.
4. Cellular personal emergency response systems, unmonitored, calls 911.

As you can see, some systems are managed by a call monitoring center and others are not, requiring additional action from the wearer if something occurs. However, all of them call 911 (or another number) in the event of an emergency.

Optional Medical Alert Features

Most personal emergency response systems are capable of doing much more than summoning help. Some features may be included, others may require additional fees.

Fall Detection

This type of PERS unit will automatically make a call when a fall is detected. It analyzes both unusual misalignments of the body as well as acceleration of movement, essentially sensing if the body moves too fast or is in an awkward position.

Advantages of this type of system include being able to obtain emergency assistance even if the person is unable to push a button. Plus, these types of medical alert devices are generally waterproof, so they can still be worn in the bath or shower, an area where we’re more prone to slips and falls.

Disadvantages of fall detection devices are false alarms or instances where they may not detect a fall, which could occur in a slower, sliding type of fall. This option also tends to cost more and could potentially provide a false sense of security.

Smoke, Fire, Carbon Monoxide Detection

Certain personal emergency response systems also provide services related to home systems security monitoring that covers the immediate environment for smoke, fire, or elevated carbon monoxide levels.

If you do choose this option, you want to select a service that automatically alerts an emergency responder to increase the level of safety this feature provides.

Medication Compliance

More than half of adults surveyed by the National Community Pharmacists Association in its most recent report failed to take their medications as prescribed to treat their chronic conditions.

This can be avoided (or at least greatly reduced) by using a personal response system that provides medication compliance features.

Some systems provide actual dispensing devices that alert the elderly when it is time to take the medications and then dispense the pills at the push of a button. Others send reminders or use timers in an effort to improve adherence to medication regimens.

Fitness and Activity Monitoring

Whereas some activity monitoring devices are used to ensure that you’re getting the necessary amount of physical exercise for maximum health, activity monitoring for older adults with wearable personal emergency response systems helps ensure they are moving around freely during the day.

That’s why such monitors are sometimes called inactivity monitoring services, because they help identify if movement has stopped and there’s a problem, even if the alert button has not been pushed.

This type of monitoring could require the older person to check in at predetermined times throughout the day, with an alarm sounding if they don’t. Others rely on motion detectors to help determine whether movement is occurring in the residence, or whether it has stopped.

GPS Monitoring

If emergency preparedness is desired outside of the home, systems with GPS can provide this type of coverage by connecting to a cellular network. This enables the wearer to have access to help in any location where a mobile phone can pick up a signal.

How Much Does a Personal Emergency Response System Cost?

A basic home-based system runs in the range of $20-$40 a month. More expensive systems go up to $70 a month or more, and may include features such as fall detection. Companies sometimes offer discounts particularly if you: pay in advance, belong to AARP and other organizations, or take advantage of special offers.

In addition to the monthly fee, companies may charge activation or equipment fees, and offer add-ons such as warranties and protection plans. If you decide not to keep a system, some companies impose cancellation. replacement or fees.

Top-Rated Personal Emergency Response Systems

Choosing the best system possible requires factoring in cost, ease of installation, portability, battery strength and average response times from the company’s emergency response center, to name just a few points.

We’ve put together this list of the best medical alert systems to give you some insight on each system and help you find the best one for you and your situation.

GreatCall Lively Wearable Fitness Tracker with...

The easy-to-use Lively Wearable App features fun daily challenges to meet your step goals.

$49.99

LifeStation Mobile 4G LTE Medical Alert System -...

$34.99

Last update on 2022-05-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Medical Guardian shows up again in this category, with its Classic Guardian offering reliable, attractively designed equipment and some useful extras for a reasonable price—including a base station and pendant and wristband wearable devices—for a reasonable price. Medical Guardian also offers some useful extras (for an additional charge), including automatic fall detection, lockboxes, and wall-mounted signaling devices. If you’re in the market for a basic system, the Classic Guardian is worth considering.

MobileHelp Classic is the company’s cheapest at-home plan out of its six choices. It has a 1,400-foot range, waterproof help button, and simple setup steps. MobileHelp offers some of the best health and activity tracking in the business, giving you power to customize your personal emergency response system how you see fit.

An alternative for those who want a personal emergency response system and built-in vitals monitoring is the MobileVitals Duo system. Get updates on blood pressure, weight tracking, and more with every plan. The system works at home or on the go.

Aloe Care Health Essentials comes with one high-tech Hub system and one comfortable help button to wear. Both are easy to set up and simple to use. Voice activation means you can call the 24/7 monitoring center simply by speaking. We love the Hub’s air quality and temperature checks, and the motion sensors can send movement alerts to the mobile app.

There’s no question that cost is a consideration when it comes to medical alert systems: many seniors are on fixed incomes, and many also want the most basic and easy-to-operate system they can get. Bay Alarm Medical’s In-Home Medical Alert system checks off both boxes. This system provides a base station (a landline connection is standard; a cellular connection is available for an additional fee) and a pendant wearable device with a 1000 foot range. At around $20 for the basic system, a $10 additional fee for fall detection means that users can get this vital extra feature at roughly the same price as other companies’ cheapest options. What’s more, the Bay Alarm Medical base station is portable, so a user can travel to a new location—for a vacation, say—without hassle, and without any additional fees.

As mobile technology gets more common, more companies are providing lightweight, go-anywhere devices for people who want a medical alert solution that travels with them. The Lifeline GoSafe2 stands out among these devices: it’s a waterproof pendant small enough to wear anywhere, even in the bath or shower.

How to Choose the Best Emergency Response System for You

How do you take all of this information and choose the best emergency response system for you or someone you love? The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) says to consider the following:

• The services you want the system to provide. Which type of system do you want and what do you want to monitor and track?
• Is the particular company available in your area? If you’re unsure, it helps to ask your local Area Agency on Aging or senior facility.
• Where the system will be used on a regular basis. Depending on whether you use the system at home or on the go, or both, you may need to consider battery life, range of the device, and whether it needs to be waterproof.
• How the service handles monitoring and response. Ask about average response times and how calls are routed to emergency responders and family members.
• Get all contract details. Ask about associated fees and be wary of long-term contracts or complicated cancellation policies; also inquire about discounts, tax deductions related to the service and whether your insurance will cover the costs.

You may also want to consider the company’s level of customer service. When you call them, do representatives answer your questions quickly, intelligently, and courteously? This can go a long way, especially if you want a company that you can easily work with in an emergency!

Final Personal Emergency Response Systems Considerations

After choosing the emergency response service best-suited for your situation and needs, the only thing left to do is set it up in a way that offers you the most efficient emergency help possible. This begins with choosing the person(s) you want the monitoring agency to contact (other than first responders), along with their contact information, if a medical emergency occurs.

Ideally, you want to identify more than one person in case the first person on your list isn’t available to take the call. Create a list of people who are aware of what they should do in an emergency, so you can keep your loved ones informed.

It’s also extremely important that they know your complete medical history. To make this easier, create a simple list of the medications you take (and their dosages), any allergies you may have, and other medical conditions that they could share with emergency personnel.

Personal medical alert systems systems serve a valuable purpose for the elderly by providing a number of benefits to those who use them. While there are a lot of different options available at varying price ranges, selecting the best system and service for you can help dramatically in the event of a medical emergency. Hopefully, you’ll never need to use it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Other Medical Alert Guides and Medical Alert Systems That We Have Reviewed

• Best Medical Alert Systems
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• Best Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS)
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• Best Medical Alert Bracelets for Seniors
• Best Medical Alert Systems with GPS
• Medical Guardian Review
• Aloe Care Health Review
• MobileHelp Review
• Bay Alarm Medical Review
• Medical Alert Review
• GreatCall Review
• LifeStation Review
• LifeFone Review
• Philips Lifeline Review
• MobileHelp Smart Review
• Alert1 Review
• ADT Medical Alert Review
• Apple Watch Medical Alert Review
• GreatCall Lively Mobile Reviews
• Rescue Alert Medical Alert Review
• Life Alert Review

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Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/falls/index.html
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/prevent-falls-and-fractures
https://acl.gov/ltc
https://www.who.int/ageing/projects/1.Epidemiology%20of%20falls%20in%20older%20age.pdf
https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/911-wireless-services
http://www.ncpa.co/adherence/AdherenceReportCard_Abridged.pdf
https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/home-care/info-2017/medic-alert-systems-options.html
https://www.ncoa.org/article/get-the-facts-on-falls-prevention