Mathilde Lacombe

Medical alerts have evolved significantly from the last generation of emergency response technology that came with large bulky devices and poorly defined connectivity. Modern medical alert systems have features that would be hard to imagine even in a couple of years time, but they can also be overly complicated preventing the senior from making the best decision for their protection.

Realistic expectations based on knowledge and limitations of today’s medical alert systems can help seniors pick harness devices that really accurately reflect their needs, rather than falling prey to marketing gimmicks, which can sound almost unbelievable.

The knowledge is advanced enough that anything from old technology, or friends stories from years ago, will not be applicable to today’s systems. Here’s a little discussion on what seniors should potential expect, when they choose (if they choose) to actively search medical alert systems today.

Speed of Response Times Have Improved Immensely

The first version of models, that were built to automatically connect an emergency calls to emergency medical dispatch (EMD) really did improve emergency equivalency. Today monitoring stations can accept emergency alerts, in seconds, instead of minutes, and often within (verbally) with the user in seconds as well. The techniques used for the detection emergency calls and dispatching them, have improved speed and efficiency. More and more alerts are being relayed to trained personnel with close to instantaneous communication, versus other “devices”. Many of the criteria for evaluating emergency responses are going to depend on location.

Another realistic expectation is upon calling 9-1-1 you will first declare or alert early for help and then begin to provide as much regularity location place and good medical history in smooth instructing responders where is a safe place for them as possible. Actual response time is driven by too many discerned variables than you defaulted on luck or bad luck and those supportable realities fall even beyond medical alert systems capabilities.

Battery Life and Safety Options Have Grown Enormous

The battery for medical alert systems for seniors Canada has grown beyond any reasonable expectancy for medical alert systems able repeatable. Today’s devices boast battery lives between days and weeks – dependent upon usage and features – which is light years away from historical systems dying just a few hours when unplugged.

Waterproofing has become a standard feature, not an option. So, seniors can wear it in the shower, or in daily activities, where to this point, is where accidents often occur, wearing a medical alert pendant 24/7 was often one of the greatest risks we have seen with old style medical alert systems, as they could not be wet.

New devices are coming with a primary backup power source and method of communication, so these devices will function during a power outage or communication failure. A lot of the new medical alert systems are or will switch to cellular, landline and/or internet, if the primary communication method fails, so you still communicate in the case of an emergency.

So although technology has made great advances, it does not remove the necessity of basic maintenance. Seniors need to charge their device regularly, test their systems, and replace their equipment once the end of life is reached. The technology is very reliable, but not maintenance free.

GPS and Mobile Capabilities Work, But Not Without Limitations

Mobile medical alert systems with GPS tracking now provide outdoor coverage that previous systems could not provide either. These systems usually give you a location close enough to get an emergency responder to you, even if you are in a place that is not familiar to you.

GPS will generally provide fairly good performance if you are outside and in sufficient open space or geographical area. GPS will generally work in most indoor areas, and spots. There are going to be some limitations with GPS, so the expectations will produce some optimal surprises and some less than optimal surprises. The urban environments with high rise, underground, and possibly rural environments with little to no cellular coverage can obstruct updates to GPS and cellular coverage.

Battery life is exceptionally important on devices with GPS because if location is on, and cellular communication is also powered, it can drain a lot more energy than home devices. Older adult using mobile devices, need to continue to monitor and assess if they are sparingly using charging strategies – extracting from home. Fall Detection Technology is Improved but Not Perfect

Automatic fall detection is one of the biggest advancements of medical alert systems, allowing help to call even those people who cannot press buttons due to a physical injury, or loss of consciousness, etc. Fall detection today uses much more advanced algorithms than in the Old Days have fewer false alarms, and more accurately detect real falls.

Still, seniors should view fall detection as a supplementary backup to manual activation (it should never be a replacement for manual activation). Fall detection is effective with many fall types (non-example that can mislead fall detection) but does not cover all varieties of falls, the ability to detect falls, and determine which falls, need emergency service, and which falls do not.

Integrations and Smart Features Add Value

Most medical alert systems will likely connect to mobile devices, smart home devices, and health monitoring apps to provide additional safety capabilities, other than just emergency response. Many of these integrations may include medication reminders, health trend tracking, and family communication as part of the overall wellbeing.

Voice activation for emergency calling through smart speakers or phones can also be another way to request help through those dynamics even if wearable devices are out of reach. Smart features also provide an alternate method to back up communication capabilities but add to overall system reliability.

However seniors should still expect, the reality is that all of these features have the same working of primary emergency care and response. The reality is that smart features are not meant be the primary method of reliable emergency communication, instead of safety.

Set Realistic Expectations

Modern-day medical alert systems do a great job of dispatching emergency services with information accuracy when seniors request help. If features provide reliable communication with accuracy of location, and dispatch of emergency services, makes lives more reliable in critical health emergencies.

First responders have credibility and emergency services, nor can they replace sound judgment when a living individual determines to pay for emergency assistance. Yes, things improved, but do not make progress; world methods do provide emergency service value.