In today’s fast growing senior population, more and more seniors are staying at home with the aid of new technology such as medical alert systems.  Aging seniors are faced with many tough decisions.  Not only for them but for their children.  Maintaining independence and self sufficiency at home are a must these days for seniors wanting to remain at home instead of going to a nursing home.  The cost of assisted living facilities has been on the incline for many years now.  Partly due to inflation and partly due to the increasing demand of seniors.  One way that some seniors have been able to maintain their independence is by having a medical alert system which is monitored 24 hours a day.  While these systems are not meant to replace round the clock care, they do provide some seniors with peace of mind and a sense of security if something were to happen. Expect to see even more seniors opting to remain in their homes and using technological advancements in medical home monitoring as the rising costs of assisted living make it increasingly difficult for seniors to afford their services.

We are excited to introduce our newest and most innovative medical alert system. We are always striving to be the best at what we do and that’s providing our customers with the best products available and delivering them with outstanding customer service.

 

Commonly asked Questions:

What is the range?

The range is up to 600 feet.

 

How long will the battery last?

Battery life is approximately 3-5 years.

 

Does the unit talk to you?

Voice annunciation for ALARM, POWER & PHONE conditions

 

Does the medical alert system have backup power?

36 Hour backup battery

 

Is it V0IP compatible?

Yes, VoIP compatible (even MajicJack)

 

- Functions even when wired backwards

 

- Designed & Assembled in the U.S.A.

 

How big is the pendant?

Pendant fits in the circumference of a quarter.

We all know that medical emergencies frequently occur at home, especially in seniors over the age of 65. Medical alert devices are lifesavers but what happens from the time a senior presses the medical alert button and help arrives?  Usually paramedics respond within minutes but it’s these minutes that can be crucial for survival.  The video below will show you the new recommended Continuous Chest Compression CPR technique developed at the University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center.  Please share this with others.  Your life or the life of a loved one may depend on it one day!

 

Will Medicaid pay for my medical alert system?

 

In many States, Medicaid will pay for a medical alert system but you must have a Medicaid Waiver. You must qualify for institutional care in order to be eligible for home based services such as a Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) services.

 

If you are deemed at high risk for hospitalization due to a medical need, you may qualify for a medical alert system medicaid waiver.

 

There are a few important things you need to be aware of if you decide to apply for a Medicaid Waiver for the use of a medical alert system.

 

1. You are not in control of how long you are able to keep the medical alert system. Your State’s Medicaid program is. So, if there are cutbacks in your State, you may have to give up the service after you have become reliant on it.

 

2. If the agencies whom care for you decide you do not need the medical alert unit, they may cancel your Medicaid Waiver and you would have to return the unit.

 

Typically, the cost of a medical alert system is around $30.00 a month. Give us a call at 1-800-595-0718 and we will let you know what our current discounts are. If you feel that you can’t afford a medical alert system, you may want to see if your State provides a Medicaid Waiver.

 

Listed below is some State specific information on how to obtain a Medicaid Waiver for your State.

 

Alabama

http://www.adap.net/Medicaid%20Training%2009-11/alabamamedicaidtrainingppt.pdf

Alaska

Arizona

http://www.azahcccs.gov/

Arkansas

http://www.daas.ar.gov/elder_choices.html

California

http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/formsandpubs/publications/Documents/IHO%20Quick%20Reference%20Guide.pdf

Colorado

Connecticut

http://www.ct.gov/dss/cwp/view.asp?a=2353&q=305236

Delaware

Florida

http://ahca.myflorida.com/Medicaid/deputy_secretary/recent_presentations/family_cafe_medicaid_eligibility_and_medicaid_services_061308.pdf

Georgia

http://www.dch.georgia.gov/vgn/images/portal/cit_1210/49/42/70650173MedicaidLongTermCareFY12.pdf

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

http://www2.illinois.gov/hfs/medicalprograms/hcbs/pages/disablities.aspx

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/sltc/moreinformation/brochures/MedicaidWaiver.pdf

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dds/ohcs/waiver/crpd/

New Mexico

New York

See previous posting concerning New York’s policies on medical alert systems

North Carolina

NC Medicaid Waiver Program

North Dakota

Ohio

http://www.help4seniors.org/rd_list.asp?lnb=263&m=1

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

http://www.ddsn.sc.gov/providers/medicaidwaiverservices/pages/hasci.aspx

South Dakota

Tennessee

http://medfirstalert.com/tag/medicaid/

Texas

TX Medicaid Waiver Program

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

 

We love hearing from our satisfied medical alert customers.  It’s what keeps us focused on the truly important service we provide to seniors and those with disabilities.

Darla Jan Robinson McMinn says:

Great assistance, straight facts, no gimmicks… : ) Affordable and No Contracts

At MedFirst Alert we strive for excellence in customer service. You can find us on facebook and Twitter. Give us a shout out or ask us a question.  Most of our satisfied customers come from word of mouth referrals and we want you to know how much we appreciate it!

Thanks – The MedFirst Alert Team

Choosing a medical alert system can be a daunting task. That’s why you need to do your homework before making a decision on which medical alert company will earn your business.

Who will be monitoring your medical alert system?

Having a quality monitoring center is the key to having a quality medical alert system. Many of the larger medical alert companies will tell you that it’s important to have your own in-house monitoring center while many of the smaller to medium size companies will tell you it’s better to have an outside monitoring center. The truth is, there are pros and cons to both. When making your decision, ask to speak with a care specialist who works for the monitoring center. Are they friendly? Are the professional? Are they knowledgeable? What kind of training have they gone through?

Remember, companies are only as good as the people working for them.

Is the monitoring center UL Listed?

For more than 100 years, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has been writing standards for safety. Make sure you ask if the monitoring center is UL certified. Remember, you are trusting your life or the life of a loved one by the monitoring center’s ability to have emergency medical personnel arrive quickly and with the patient’s medical history.

Did your medical alert company ask you for enough medical history?

When you or your aging senior parent has an emergency at home, it can be traumatic for them waiting for help to arrive. It’s important to know that the monitoring center will have two care specialists handle each emergency call. One care specialist stays on the line with the the person in need and provides reassurance and comfort, while the second care specialist notifies EMS or a family member on the emergency contact list.

How does the monitoring center handle calls?

Some people are under the impression that calls are directly routed to 911 services instead of a monitoring center. While this may be true for some medical alert products, it is not generally the case. Monitoring centers have the unique ability to talk directly with the medical alert caller to ensure that the appropriate people are called for aid. Sometimes 911 dispatch is called and sometimes only a family member or friend are called. This is why it’s important to have a care specialist on the other end of the line who has a complete medical profile of the person using the system.

How much does a medical alert system cost? And what is the cancellation policy?

Choosing a medical alert company is no different than interviewing a home caregiver. Always find out upfront what the monthly costs and fees are. Never sign a long term contract. Most medical alert providers offer a month to month subscription for their services.

Medical alert systems typically cost between $25 and $40 per month. It’s standard for a company to charge one to six months up front for service and then on a month to month basis. Again, the quality of the service is what’s important. Are you comfortable with the people on the other end of the phone?

Installation for most medical alert systems is generally very simple and does not require anyone to come out to the home. If you can plug in a phone line and a power cord, you can install one yourself.

Service and Accountability

Online reviews can give you a false sense of security. Many companies post their own reviews of their own products. Begin with the Better Business Bureau and doing your own online research. You can type in a search for “company name” + complaints. Most all companies will have complaints from time to time but it is how they handle these complaints that determine it a mediocre company or an outstanding company.

What are the customer service and technical support hours of operation?

It’s impossible to know when you or a loved one may need to place an emergency call for assistance; therefore, a monitoring center needs to be available 24/7. No exceptions on this one.

How reliable is the medical alert equipment?

Different medical alert companies are always advertising longer battery life and longer range than their competitors. The truth is that most all of the medical alert units are made by the same manufacturers. The only difference is how they are branded and how they are advertised.

If there is one piece of information I want you to take away with you after reading this article, it’s the fact that all medical alert companies are not created equal. Do your research. Talk with the customer service representatives and make an informed decision. Don’t be fooled by slick talking salespeople. If it sounds too good to be true it usually is.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us directly at 1-800-595-0718.  One of our care specialist will be happy to help you.

 

One of the questions we get all the time is: How do your medical alert systems work?

 

Let’s first begin by explaining the individual parts. Generally, there are four components to a medical alert system (PERS). The first component is a radio transmitter, or the call button. The call button may be worn on the wrist like a wrist watch or it can be worn as a necklace (pendant). The second component is the console or base unit. The base unit communicates with the call button through radio waves. The third component is your standard phone line or Voice over IP line (VoIP). The last part of the medical alert system is the response center or monitoring center.

 

How It Works

 

Once the call button is pushed on the wrist band or necklace, the base unit makes an outbound phone call to a preset number. The console will disable and interrupt any current phone calls as well as act as a two way speaker phone. Some medical alert systems have the speaker built in to the call button and some use the base station. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. The console is very sensitive to voices and will pick up a voice or sounds from most any room in the house. If there is no response, the call center will dial 911 and send out emergency personnel immediately. At MedFirst alert, we even call family members and neighbors if instructed to do so. This can be very helpful to a senior in need of immediate comforting and medical treatment. The range of the call button is approximately 200 to 600 feet outside of the house, depending on the medical alert system. This means that if an accident were to occur outside, help is still available.

 

 

The most important part of any medical alert system is the company standing behind the service and monitoring of these systems. At MedFirst Alert, we treat each person using our system as if they were part of our own family. We have a full time staff of care specialist which are highly trained answering the phones 24 hours a day. You can be assured that your loved one will be taken care of. Please give us a call at 1-800-595-0718 for more information or order a free brochure from http://medfirstalert.com/medical-alert-brochure