Why Use A Medical Alarm?

Medical alarms contribute to a safe environment in the home. The most common use for medical alarms is as a safeguard for the elderly especially to help deal with falls. Steps can be taken to reduce the chance of accidental falls but they can never be completely eliminated. Using a medical alert allows an elderly person who falls to summon help at once. Because of that it puts everyone's mind at ease.

Medical alarms are much more convenient and safe than simply relying on using a phone. A person who falls, or perhaps slips in the shower or tub, may not be able to get up to reach the phone but he or she will be able to reach the medical alarm which they carry on their body. Medical alarms are designed to be extremely easy to use - all you have to do to activate the alarm is press a button.

In addition, medical alarms are not simply useful for falls and other accidents. They can also be vitally important in a medical emergency e.g. a flare up of arthritis, a heart attack, a stroke, an allergic reaction or breathing difficulty. Most medical alarm companies keep each client's personal information on file. This enables the operator handling the call to look up any medical conditions and other relevant information about the client. This ensures that proper care and precautions are taken when responding to medical problems.

While senior citizens are the main users of medical alarms there are other types of people who can also benefit. For instance, someone who has been injured and who is unable to get around easily. Expectant mothers, handicapped people and diabetic patients can also benefit from using a medical alarm.

Setting up a medical alarm system in the home before an accident or medical emergency occurs is the best solution. It can save lives or prevent an accident turning into a more serious problem. To decide whether a medical alarm is required it is necessary to assess the risk factors involved. Two or more risk factors may indicate the need for a medical alarm. Here are the major risk factors to consider:

• do they use devices to assist mobility e.g. walkers or canes?
• have they a history of falls?
• are they unable to get up by themselves after a fall?
• are they physically frail?
• do they have trouble getting around?
• are they more than 75 years old and do they live alone?
• do they need to take several medications daily and do they have problems managing their medication?
• do they have problems with balance, vision or hearing?
• do they feel unsafe at home?
• are there home safety hazards that cannot be corrected?
• do they suffer from anxiety?
• are they at risk from a serious medical condition?
• have they been in hospital within the last 12 months?

A medical alarm can give the wearer dignity because in some situations it enables him or her to carry on living their own life, in their own home, rather than going into assisted living. Medical alarms give their users the ability to live independently.

There are other areas where a medical alarm system makes a positive difference. It gives the wearer a sense of security and confidence in carrying out their daily living tasks. It has also been found to produce a significant reduction in hospital admissions.

In some cases an elderly person living alone simply needs reassurance. Many medical alert users are comforted by the fact that they can speak to their telephone monitor at any time to seek reassurance. They may be feeling unwell or anxious in the middle of the night but don't want to disturb anyone by phoning them.

Another benefit of using a medical alarm system is that it improves communication in the local neighborhood. Many subscribers have neighbors, relatives or friends on their list of people who want to be informed if there is an emergency.