Karen* lives alone, and although she has two sons that live within 20 minutes driving distance, she spends the majority of time alone in her apartment in a semi-rural town. Karen is battling cancer, and dealing with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), arthritis, obesity, neuropathy and is over 62 years old.
After battling cancer for about two and a half years, (a cancer with a 5 year life expectation) her health is gradually weakening due to inactivity to the point that difficulty breathing and weakness are becoming increasing problems plus numbness of the toes and feet (neuropathy) are creating the "perfect storm" for a potential fall hazzard.
All of these factors make Karen a perfect candidate for a Medical Alert device. The brutal reality is that Karen has a very high likelihood of serious problems from a fall, which is the leading cause of fatal and non fatal injuries among those aged 65 and older.
According to the CDC, over 15,000 persons aged 65 and older died in 2005 as a result of injuries related to falls. Clearly, time is of the essence when it comes to fall injuries. Internal bleeding from organ injury and bone breakage are major concerns in addition to pain and suffering. Immobility following a fall could potentially last for a day or more without a Medical Alert device.
With these factors in mind, Karen and anyone in a similar situation should seriously consider the benefit of a medical alert device and the potential complications of not having one after a fall. While the price of such a device/service may seem expensive, the cost of not having one in the event of a serious injury or downturn of health may be devastating.
Is a medical alert system right for you? Keep in mind that there are two primary types: monitored, and unmonitored. The monitored systems typically cost around $29.00 per month for the service with no upfront costs while an unmonitored system has an upfront cost of around $270.00 but no monthly costs. This means that the unmonitored systems are essentially paid for after the first year of use while the monitored systems require the monthly fee for as long as you use them.
A major reason to use a monitored system, however, is that you can have access to a monitoring service for less urgent situations. For example, say a suspicious person is at your door. You can use the medical alert system to contact the monitoring service before you answer the door and have them listen while you determine who is there and what they want. With an unmonitored system, you don't have this option.
Either way, if you can afford it, consider the value of a medical alert system in your life today!
*Name is changed for privacy
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