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Pros & Cons of Medical Alert

For many senior citizens or for those with medical needs, living independently is ideal. Health conditions, however, could make this unsafe. Medical Alert Reviews---a site that discusses medical alert systems and promotes safe, independent living---says that 71 percent of senior citizens report some physical barrier or concern to living independently. Medical Alert systems may seem like the answer, but different models offer a variety of options, so it's important to know which system will work best for you.

  1. Quick Communication

    • Medical Alert systems allow their users to quickly speak with a monitoring service if they fall or have another emergency. Generally, systems come with a receiver that resembles an answering machine. This receiver is connected to your home phone line. Systems also come with a wireless transmitter. These transmitters are worn on your neck or around your wrist. When there's an emergency, you simply have to press a button to get help. Systems have 24-hour monitoring and can quickly ask what the problem is and if emergency personnel should be dispatched.

    Emergency Help

    • Once the monitors are aware of a problem, they can send emergency help quickly. As a matter of fact, some models even dispatch your medical history to the emergency personnel so that when they arrive, they can better assist you.

    Signal Strength Varies

    • According to Medical Alert Reviews, some lower-priced models have a shorter range. Because of this, if you are too far from the receiver, the receiver might not get the distress signal. To avoid this, search for quality and length of range when choosing a model, rather than price.

    A Wide Variety of Features

    • Medical Alert systems have a variety of features. Though some models are basic, some can detect fires and carbon monoxide. More advanced systems offer fall detector technology. Generally, models that offer this have you wear something around your waist that will monitor you and watch for any sudden changes in orientation. In addition, some models have an inactivity monitor. If you have been inactive for a pre-determined period of time, emergency help will be dispatched. Some models also have a battery backup feature. If the power goes out, the receiver can still run on a battery. Battery life varies, but some may run for as long as 20 hours.

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