Medical alert systems (or personal emergency response systems) are excellent devices that allow older adults to stay in their homes (safer) and remain as independent as possible. Preserving this new technology is difficult, and knowing the right questions to ask is even harder! If you have not seen our Round Up health alert system, you should check it out and provide feedback (especially if you have had experience with any of the recommended manufacturers). Currently, the focus is on medical alert systems, which are called "Top 10 questions to ask when evaluating medical alert systems." So without further adieu ... Here is our list of the top 10 (please drop the drum):
1. Does this medical alert system support VOIP telephone services (voice over the Internet)? If you have a Comcast or Verizon cable at home, chances are you can also use them for your (home) phone service. If so, you are probably using a VOIP plan (as is the case with Vonage, another major VOIP provider). Many of the traditional providers of medical alert systems recommend checking with your home (VOIP) telephone provider to find out if they offer local 911 (and other) services. Therefore, remember this and ask *. (* Note. Alert providers will be aware of their compatibility with major telephone service providers.)
2 What is the range of my alert system? MOST of the main providers of a medical alert system has the following components included in their “systems”. A base station and a pendant of some kind (necklace - worn on the neck, belt clip, or wrist watch, such as a device. MOST of the pendants should communicate (without wires) with the base station that is connected to your home phone line., You need know the range of this suspension to the base station. Usually this range covers most houses of normal size and is in the region of 400-600 ft. After installation, be sure to check the range inside (and outside) Home.
3 Does anybody install this for me, or do I do it myself? Many manufacturers have sales / marketing representatives who will come to your home and install / test the system for you. They usually charge one at a time for this service, so ask about that fee in advance! If all they do is send you an alert system, make sure that you have enough literature (on and off) to help you set up and test. Always check your medical alert system before using it.
4. Do I need a land line to use this medical alert system? In most cases, the answer will be YES, but there are a few exceptions. For example, the MobileHelp Medical Alert System has a small handheld device that connects to AT & T Wireless for outdoor use (at any place covered by AT & T). To use your pendant (small necklace) device around the house, you still need a land line. In addition, the Wellcore Personal Emergency Response System has the ability to interact with some cell phones to expand the range of its devices outside the home.
5. Who services your call center, where are they located, and what is the average response time? Well, this is a bit of a loaded question, because “outsourcing centers” have become a trend that many, many companies are using. Honestly, I found great service from call centers around the world, and the only thing you need to be alert about here is PERFORMANCE.
6 Does the medical alert system have other services? Some medical alert systems come with additional services, such as drug reminders, glucose monitoring reminders, and the like. It is good to know what other services may be included in the purchase of your services, so make sure you ask what is included.
7 What happens if something goes wrong with my equipment? Most of us hate reading small print. I urge everyone present to read the “terms and conditions” of 5 or 6 medical alert devices that you want to evaluate (it gives me a headache, even thinking about it again). Therefore, I would like to suggest to anyone who decides on a particular device; What happens if your system goes down? Did someone come out to fix it? Will they send you one more? Need to send back a dysfunctional system? etc. In addition, one more thing ... when you have narrowed down your choices, read the fine print by reviewing the terms and conditions of a particular provider on your sites.
8. Does the medical alert system include automatic drop detection? Medical alert systems have come a long way in the last 5 years. Modern systems can detect when a user has dropped automatically. This is all in advanced algorithms designed by brilliant engineers and built into small devices that save lives every day. These intelligent systems can distinguish (in most cases) between when someone really fell, and when someone decided to sit abruptly. The Big Three, which (currently) offers automatic drop detection, are Halo monitoring systems, Wellcore and Philips Lifeline personal emergency response with automatic notification.
9. Do I buy these devices or rent them, or or? Returning to my previous sentence on reading small print ... Find out (ahead of time) whether your equipment is or not. What happens if you no longer require equipment? What happens if you damage the equipment?
10. What is my total annual cost? It comes down to "tax tax" ... How much does it cost me every year (total cash outflow). Enough said.
