Life Alert Necklaces vs Other Emergency Devices: Which is Better for Seniors
Emergency alert devices specifically for seniors come in a wider variety of options than most people realize. Everyone sees a life alert necklace that can hang around a neck and most people think that is the only option. Not true. Life alert devices come in many different styles and technologies to help get help when it’s needed most.
The different types of emergency devices all have their different advantages and disadvantages when it comes to real-world emergencies, so while one type may be a perfect fit for one senior, it might be completely wrong for another senior’s lifestyle, health condition, and personal comforts of wearing the device.
Understanding the differences is key to families being able to select the emergency devices when it comes to older adults that the seniors will actually wear and use instead of ending up in a dresser drawer which usually happens because it was not comfortable or convenient.
The Pendant Style
Life alert pendants, such as a life alert necklace for seniors in Canada, remain popular and with good reason, as they are very straightforward, not easy to accidentally activate, with a telephonic interface that is completely familiar for someone with simple uses for a medical alert device. It hangs off the neck at vest or chest level, and can be reached in time of medical emergencies or falls.
Most styles of the pendant are also waterproof, which means that they can be worn in the shower where many accidents occur. The 24-7 wearability really helps to fill the gap of safety, because time taken to put on the alarm just to get into the shower which is a gap in time where emergencies can occur.
The weight or visibility of the pendant/necklace could be potential disadvantages for some users. For those older adults that do not normally wear jewelry, wearing a necklace pendant could feel bothersome or they may forget to put it on after taking a shower. The dangling pendant or necklace can get caught / hung up on clothing and furniture and may cause a minor irritation which later discourages the device from being worn consistently. Older pendant models that utilize a base station have their limitations in range. Users must stay within approximately 300 feet or several hundred feet of their home base station for the device to function, limiting its ability to provide potential protection in the home while playing in a garden or walking in their neighborhood.
The wrist or wristwatch style of wearing a device is an advantage in that it is commonly understood by the elderly person as it is a wearable device that has been previously used by or is a familiar concept as a wristwatch or fitness tracker is worn on the wrist.
This emergency wristband device, sized like a wristwatch, will potentially serve multiple purposes as it may include a heart rate measurement, address step count, monitoring medication reminders, and in addition an emergency response applications. The combination of any of these functions may equal the same cost for a senior wanting emergency response measures together with overall health care when combined.
Increased battery life is a more significant limitation with wristband devices because they generally have significantly more electronics compacted into a small space. Like many wristband devices, many devices need charging daily or weekly and can have a gap in protection if a senior forgets to charge the device.
GPS-enabled Emergency devices
GPS-enabled emergency devices provide security outside of their home and are beneficial for seniors living an active lifestyle. In the recent past, seniors may have traveled with, traveled without, or still regularly travel outside of their home with the base station or when the home is under supervision. These devices utilize cellular networks for communication, eliminating the need to be in physical proximity to home equipment.
The ability to determine one’s location allows emergency responders to find seniors quickly, even when they are not in familiar locations. This particular advantage is extremely useful for seniors who are experiencing the early stages of memory loss, and might get lost during activities.
Smartphone-Based Solutions
Singular emergency buttons installed on mobile phones, or through mobile apps can offer more advanced and sophisticated features, such as: video calling emergency operators, sharing their location automatically, and using their own contacts and medical history. However, smartphone solutions are limit- ed to seniors who are tech-savvy senior who regularly carry their phones.
Smartphone solutions do not create additional ‘things’ to wear or charge for the senior. The best-case scenario is that if seniors carry their phone everywhere, they will have a form of an emergency button everywhere their mobile phone goes. They do not need to think twice about taking another electronic device and what to do to prepare their phone for emergencies.
A difficulty with smartphones arises in situations where the senior is experiencing a medical emergency and may have diminished fine motor control and/or their sight is impaired. The size of the buttons or the touch screen interface that worked well in everyday life can create barriers to pushing the appropriate button or dialing 911 when having a stroke or heart problem, or when trying to call for help after falling. Phone battery life, combined with the tendency of some seniors to leave their phones in another part of the house entirely, causes coverage gaps in a safety plan. Because many seniors don’t carry their cellphones on their person throughout their homes, their protection may be limited during different tasks or activities of daily living.
Clip-on emergency devices are a second option for emergency devices. Clip-on emergency devices can be attached to clothing, belts, or waistbands, to serve as a middle ground for those wearing a necklace / bracelet or other combination of wearable devices. Clip-on emergency devices are clipped onto clothing and remain close to the body without having to exhibit wearing patterns consistent with jewelry.
Clothing compatibility issues also arise with clip-on devices for many seniors. Seniors who routinely wear dresses, or robes, or who do not wear clothing that is appropriate to attach a clip-on device to, may not find these devices practical for daily wear or use.
The chance of forgetting to wear the clip-on device is more than the worn type device primarily because it requires conscious and decision-making practices, to attach the clip-on every time they get dress. This additional step may lead to gaps in coverage as routines can become disrupted.
Automatic fall detection is another major precise technology advancement to wearable and other device options. Automatic fall detection can find help even if a senior is unable to press buttons due to injuries or unconsciousness. Although algorithms for fall detection are continually refining, manufacturers and device variations produce varying rates of false alarms. Some systems indicate a fall when a senior sits quickly, or drops an item, while other systems fail to indicate the accident for a fall due to patterns that did not match the pre-programmed algorithm of a fall.
The best emergency device is different for every senior and is related to a seniors lifestyle, physical capabilities, and comfort level with technology as a whole. There are both different solutions for seniors who are active and frequently travel, and for seniors who rarely leave their homes.
Many emergency device company provide trial periods to allow people to try different styles before determining reoccurring payment or contract. A hands on, real-life experience may illustrate wear or use patterns familiar with making advantage contribution in determining if the device works with their clothing style, life style, obligations, etc. A trial period provides as experience that surface designs etc. that once will not come to mind before the trial is demonstrated some proof in the assistance needed.
The effectiveness of all emergency devices are also bound on developed safety protocols, and planning, to strengthening the determination of how, as a component to a safety plan, emergency devices or some alternative. In familial assistance, and check-in, participants should have discussions around modifying environment with clear emergency-notification-check-in procedures (beyond notifying emergency personal). Emergency device(s) must remain part of the safety protocols. The method for receiving help is important, but the style of emergency device is not matter if they will wear, or use to receive assistance during an emergency, and which is beyond looking at pendants, look-alikes, juicy focus on any type, or coordinate any devices for those, but also taking unique participants who will, each and always, will use the emergency device(s), and helping will obtain help include or not include students, staff and or emergent others, visitors “whatever applies,” etc.
