The Console.
The console or base unit is the heart of the medical alert system. Pushing the emergency button on the console or activating a transmitter causes the console’s digital communicator to send the alarm signal to the central monitoring station via the standard telephone network. Generally the console is place in a central location within the home.

The console allows 2 way voice communication to take place between the user and the care specialist at our 24 hour monitoring station. Using a high tech, ultra sensitive microphone, the console “hears” your calls for help.  The care specialist is actually communicating with the user through this 2 way voice communication and will call the appropriate medical personel, family,friends or primary physician.

Wristband Tranmitter.
The wristband is a battery powered, miniature, water-resistant, transmitter designed for use in emergency situations. Pressing the button on the transmitter sends a digital coded wireless signal to the console.  Each transmitter is factory set to a unique code, so no field coding is required.  Once activated, the two way voice communication begins.  It is recommended that the user test the transmitter in each room of the house and outside the house to assess the range of the medical alert system.

Pendant Transmitter.
Pendant style water-resistant transmitter designed for use in emergency situations, includes breakaway nylon necklace and a visual activation indicator.

Monitoring Station.
Our monitoring station is operational 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and features fully redundant servers, signal processors, phone switch, generators, incoming and outgoing telephone lines provided by multiple carriers.  What this means to our subscribers is that we have taken every precaution in assuring that our monitoring station remains operational in the event of an emergency. UL Certified with a response time of less than 30 seconds.

A MedFirst Alert system is an essential tool for anyone with the desire to live independently and securely regardless of their age or medical past. With MedFirst Alert there are no installation or activation fees and no annual contract is required.  Call us today or order online.  1-800-595-0718

You have watched them change and grow older over the years and you have become more aware of their often frail situation. You worry about your parents but don’t exactly know how to approach them about your concerns.

I want to begin with what NOT to talk about first. Although there are many important safety issues on your mind, you don’t want to begin the conversation in a threatening way. For example, your first conversation should not be, “So Mom, how do you feel about moving into a nursing home?” Or “How would you feel about a caregiver moving in with you?”

Instead, begin with a few questions or issues that are non-threatening but make sense that they should be done. -Practical questions

I emphasize this notion of practicality. Our parents’ generation is practical, and does not want to engage in things that seem frivolous or unnecessary. By starting with small, concrete issues, such as gathering emergency information, you will not immediately tap into the potential for deep emotion and grief that often makes discussions about the future so frightening.

I’m suggesting such a list below. Try out this list of things in order to build on the conversation. Don’t attempt to do the entire list at once. Do what you can in just a few minutes. Come back and deal with another item at another time. You and your aging parent will begin to feel a rhythm and flow to the process and begin to build the habit of communicating and gathering information that may be needed in future.

1. Emergency Contact Information — Make sure your parent has a list of people (family or friends) to contact in an emergency. Your parents’ neighbors have probably waved to you and said “Hello”, but if there were an emergency, would they know how or where to call you? Put the names of all the adult children, along with home, work, and cell phone numbers together on one list. Then make sure a copy is with a neighbor, close friend, church, or club where your parent spends time. All of this information is gathered on our medical alert system enrollment form so that in the event the “panic button” is pressed our care specialist can call the approopriate person to notify them of the condition of the

2. Emergency Medical Information — Put together a list of your parent’s doctors names, medications, allergies, and a brief medical history (major illnesses or surgeries, etc). Also list their Medical Insurance Policies and numbers. Keep a copy in an designated place in their house, and keep a copy yourself (especially if you live out of town). In case of emergency, this information may be needed quickly. Again, this information is collected by MedFirst Alert to notify the paramedics of any past or current medical history so that the appropriate actions are taken immediately.

3. Emergency Health Care Decision Maker — To prepare for any emergency, your parent will need to designate someone to make decisions for them, if, they are temporarily unable to speak for themselves. This is a legal status commonly called a Health Care Power of Attorney” or a “Medical Power of Attorney” (The name will vary from state to state, or province to province.) The forms can be picked up from your doctor or at your local hospital. This form will allow your parent to name someone who will legally be able to communicate with their doctors and make decisions on your parents behalf if they are unable to. (Even though the word “attorney” is in the name, it does not need to be completed by a lawyer. In most states you just need to have a person of legal age witness both people sign it.) You can also click here to get more information about the Medical Power of Attorney, or to

download the forms for your state.

Make sure that the Health Care Power of Attorney has a copy of all the information that was compiled in #1.

4. Emergency Cash — Your parent should designate a person who can access their bank account in case of emergency in order to pay any bills that are essential. This legal status, know as a “Durable Power of Attorney for Finances” must be drawn up with a lawyer. This way, your parents can specify their intentions that this only go into effect in case of emergency and if they are unable to speak and act for themselves. Other stipulations could be attached which their lawyer can explain.

5. Emergency Plan for the Pets — If your parents are temporarily unable to care for them, what’s the plan for their beloved pets?

6. Emergency Keys — In case of emergency, who has keys to your parent’s house?

7. ICE — ICE stands for “IN CASE OF EMERGENCY”. This represents an international agreement among Emergency Services Workers that in case of emergency they will look for the person’s cell phone and on the contact list, “ICE – Jane 555- 555-5555″, will designate the name and phone number of the person who should be contacted. Make sure your parents (and you) have ICE in your cell phone! If your parents don’t have a cell phone, make sure that list is kept in their wallet at all times.

Hopefully, these suggestions will give you a place to start as you talk to your parents about the future. Please let us know if you have any other questions about our medical alert systems and how they can provide independence and peace of mind to our senior citizens.

The CDC has found that 30% of seniors age 65+ who fall and break their hip will die within a year.  This video shows  an elderly lady who has fallen many times within her own home and what steps she has taken to prevent future falls.  Great information for all seniors out there.  I have also put together a safety checklist you may download HERE.

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Please help MedFirst Alert create public awareness about senior fall prevention. You’ll find a wealth of information over at the CDC’s website.

Many states are facing massive budget cuts due to the length and duration of the current economic recession. Unfortunately, these states and city governments, such as Portland, Oregon may have to cut back their 911 services. This will lead to an increase in private medical alert systems being installed in more homes.

Randy Leonard, City Commissioner said

It will impact public safety.

I mean, 911 operators are funded by the general fund. If you don’t have enough 911 operators, when you call 911 chances are you could be on hold longer than what you otherwise would be.

Since medical alert systems are run and funded through private businesses, they are not affected by municipality budget cuts. The MedFirst Alert medical alert system operates using two primary components, a small wireless, waterproof pendant and a base console connected to the users phone line.

In the event of an emergency, (an intruder, a medical condition, a fall) the user simply presses the activation button on the console or the wireless pendant. This activates the console to immediately phone the Emergency Response Center.

Within seconds, a two-way, hands free conversation is established between the user and the emergency operator via the highly sensitive two-way speakerphone. The emergency operator has the users pre-programmed information, including medical history, prescribed medications, user location, preferred hospital and information on who else should be contacted (family, neighbors, doctors). If the operator is unable to make voice contact, the operator will contact emergency personnel.

The medical alert system is simple to install. Plug it into the wall and then plug the phone telephone line into a phone jack. Press the wireless button to test the medical alert system, our live care specialist will respond to you via two way voice communication to confirm your system is working properly. The installation takes less than 5 minutes.

Providing safety and independence for senior citizens and those with disabilities is what we do best at MedFirst Alert. Our medical alert systems are state of the equipment designed to protect the individuals who use them.

If you have a parent or loved one who may have to rely on a quick emergency response time, it may be wise to have a medical alert system rather than depending on the traditional 911 services who are undergoing budget cuts across the country.

With MedFirst Alert, our home installation and activation is always free and there’s no annual contract. Call us today at 1-800-595-0718.

I’m Fine

– by Genevieve Baker — Copyright 1997

_________

There’s nothing whatever the matter with me.
I’m just as healthy as I can be.
I have arthritis in both my knees,
and when I talk, I talk with a wheeze.

My pulse is weak and my blood is thin.
But I’m awfully well, for the shape I’m in.
I think my liver is out of whack,
and a terrible pain is in my back.

My hearing is poor, and my sight is dim.
Most everything seems to be out of trim.
But, I’m awfully well, for the shape I’m in.

I have arch supports for both my feet.
Or I wouldn’t be able to go on the street.
Sleeplessness, I have every night,
And in the morning, I’m just a sight.

My memory is failing, my head is in a spin,
And I’m peacefully living on aspirin.
But I’m awfully well for the shape I’m in.

The moral is, as this tale we unfold,
That for you and me who are growing old,
It’s better to say, “I’m fine” with a grin,
Than to let them know the shape we’re in.

It’s Hard To Grow Old

– by William W. Arbuckle Copyright 1942

The following poem was written by William W. Arbuckle 26 Dec. 1942 while serving in the Air Force in N. Africa.

_____________

Now life’s just a gamble, the experts all say
One brief fling and our wings we all fold
Yet when we’re on the brink
We all seem to think
“Gee, but it’s hard to grow old.”

We drink deep of joy, petty troubles we face
But the biggest one so we are told
Is the fact that we hate
To bow down to fate
And admit that it’s hard to grow old.

In our ‘teens we all meet the girl we adore
And we all try our best her to hold
But one thing we forgot
It’s a startling thought
The fact that it’s hard to grow old

We marry, have children, and reach middle age
And those words stand out ever so bold
We hear them at play
And their cries seem to say
“The folks find it hard to grow old.”

When the family’s grown up, and you’re sitting alone
With a wife whose heart is pure gold
She’s old and she’s gray
But your heart seems to say
“It’s not very hard to grow old.”

So don’t feel too bad, if you look with regret
On the good life you tried hard to mould
Just think of the fun
And the good things you’ve done
And you’ll find that it’s nice to grow old.

More seniors are afraid of losing their independence in old age and being forced to move into an assisted living facility than they are of dying, a new survey, by the national Disabled Living Foundation charity.

As eldercare becomes increasingly more expensive, more than 66% of seniors fear becoming a burden on friends or family in their old age.

While three in four seniors said they feared becoming sick in their golden years, just 29% said they feared dying, according to the survey.

The survey, from the national Disabled Living Foundation charity, also
found almost 50% of seniors feared moving into an assisted living facility.

As our population of senior citizens increases, we will start to realize the huge impact it will have on our health care system. With the recession devastating many retirees and seniors approaching retirement with substantially less pensions, almost 50% feared being financially less secure as they aged.

Seniors want to remain in control over their own lives, to be independent and to live securely. They want to be ably to take care of themselves and carry out the everyday tasks that so many of us take for granted.  Bathing, using the restroom, cooking, getting dressed, just to name a few.

Becoming a senior should not be a roadblock to having choice and control over the quality of your life, or be a reason to move out of your own home.

Many seniors just need help and advice about devices such as medical alert systems that exist to help keep them safe while also giving them back their independence and peace of mind.

I was sitting in the office when a call came in for a medical alert unit.  Debbie, an elder care provider was very concerned about one of the seniors she cared for.  She explained the situation to me.

Mrs. Smith (named changed) is 59 years old and suffered a massive stroke 6 months ago.  The only income she had coming in was $2,400 a month from her deceased husbands social security.  She could not take social security herself because she would lose her husbands benefits.

The Dilemma

Mrs. Smith is currently paying $1685/month for 24 hour round the clock care because the stroke left her paralyzed on the left side of her body.  Her money will run out in 11 months.  She owns her house free and clear but does not want to sell it.

Unfortunately for Mrs. Smith, her options are limited.  She is ineligible for Medicare and Medicaid because of her current income and will not be able to sustain her current way of life.

The Solution

With the help of our medical alert system we will be able to reduce the amount of hours each day she will need for elder care.  This will save her close to $1,000 each month.  While this may not work for everyone because of their individual medical conditions it is an alternative for some.

As always, anyone considering a  MedFirst Alert medical alert system should consult with their physician first.  It is not a substitute for medical care but for the right set of circumstances a medical alert can prevent someone from spending a small fortune.