The Advantages of Lifeline

The largest threats to independent living for senior citizens are medication errors and falls. Medication errors can be fatal. Seniors frequently forget the correct dosage or the timing of their medications, resulting in improper dosing. A fall can not only cause broken bones but also secondary complications for seniors. Lifeline provides alert and monitoring services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for people who live alone. This service gives peace of mind to seniors, their family members and caregivers, and extends the time that a senior may live independently.

Medical Alert Service

• The Lifeline Monitoring System is available 24/7, 365 days a year.

  Lifeline offers several options and levels of service for medical alert. There is what is called Lifeline's Jewelry, which are personal help buttons worn around the neck as a pendant. These buttons are easy to operate and they alert Lifeline if you need assistance. They are waterproof and easily accessible. There is also an AutoAlert button, which is worn the same way as the personal help button but is able to detect a fall and automatically respond.

Communicator Tools

• Lifeline equipment is easy to use.

  There are several types of telephones and amplifiers available through Lifeline. There are two cordless telephones, lightweight and easy to use, that are tied in with the medical alert system. A speakerphone extends the voice range throughout the entire house for phone calls and communications. The numbers on the phones are large and easy to read. There is also a communicator that is used with an existing telephone.

Medication Dosing Assistance

• This is an ingenious way to ensure that seniors are taking the correct medications at the correct time. This device works with Lifeline to alert seniors that it is time to take their medication, as well as alert family members when a senior does not take the meds. The pills are loaded into the dispenser and the dosage is provided to Lifeline. An audible reminder sounds when it is time to take the medication. The senior presses a button and the machine dispenses the pills. This alleviates potential overdosing and missed medication.

Independent Living Assessment

• Independent living assessments help determine when it's time to get assistance.

  Lifeline provides a tool to plan for a senior's future concerning independent living. The tool consists of questions related to three areas of independent living: the ability to move around the home, management of life skills, and the performance of everyday tasks. This tool assesses the senior's ability to continue to live independently and creates a starting point for a conversation about a senior's future.

Resources

• The Lifeline website provides helpful tips on to help seniors with maintain independent living. There are safety checklists, tips on senior fitness, how to avoid falls and other injuries, and suggestions on how to ensure that the senior's home is safe. There is also a medication tracking card, a medication reference guide and questionnaire.