MAE GOMEZ still enjoys living independently in her uptown Vancouver apartment with the support of a medical alert device. She recently had a visit from her son’s Akita, Sachi.
MAE GOMEZ, a 94-year-old Vancouver resident (on right) enjoys remaining independent and active with the support of an emergency alert device. She visited The Grotto in Portland with her niece Iola Langley (on left) of South Dakota.
Ninety-four-year-old Mae Gomez of Vancouver lives independently in her uptown apartment and enjoys taking strolls through her neighborhood. But since a fall that broke her hip three years ago, she has enjoyed an added measure of safety, and her son A.J. Gomez has had peace of mind for her well-being, thanks to a medical alert device.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, one out of three adults age 65 or older falls each year. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related visits to the emergency room in the U.S. and cause 75 percent of accidental deaths in people over age 65.
Falls take a toll in several ways. Up to 30 percent of those who fall suffer moderate or severe injuries, including lacerations, broken bones, or head injuries. And many people who fall, even if they are not injured, develop a fear of falling. This fear may cause them to limit their activities, leading to reduced mobility and loss of fitness, and as a result a further increase in the risk of falling.
Despite the growing risks associated with illness or aging, according to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) nearly 90 percent of seniors would like to stay in their own home as they age. For many seniors or medically vulnerable adults, a medical alert device can be the “back up plan” that makes that possible.
Traditional medical alert devices were connected to a home telephone line, but newer devices contain GPS and mobile technology, so they can be activated anyplace. Compact, lightweight, and waterproof, medical alert devices can even be worn as a wristband or around the neck.
Users can customize the response they want if they activate their device, whether that is a call to a family member, a neighbor or 9-1-1 emergency services. Some devices offer fall detectors, which use movement patterns and impact to identify a fall. This is considered a “smart” feature, since it actually learns a user’s typical activities, in order to be more accurate.
A.J. Gomez, owner of Global Security in Vancouver, offers a range of medical alert devices for his customers. He finds that people use them for a variety of reasons, including reduced mobility, medical conditions like heart disease or diabetes, or just because they live alone and want to know they can reach help if they need it.
Medication reminders and programmed dispensers can be used alone or in conjunction with a medical alert device. Research has shown that not following medication regimens is a major cause of nursing home placement of frail older adults. Electronic monitoring that provides feedback can make a big difference – in the study, older patients using a voice-reminder-message medication dispenser were significantly more likely to take their medications as instructed than those using a pill box or self-administering medications.
Gomez emphasized the benefits of working with a local provider for an emergency assist device. His company delivers the product to the customer’s home, programs it for their customized needs, and trains them to use it.
Multiple fail safes are built into the system. The alert device sends frequent tests to the communications center to confirm connection, battery life, and proper functioning. The device can be integrated into a home security system, with alerts may be triggered by missed medications, a bed sensor which reports that a person has not left their bed, or activity monitoring which reports a lack of movement.
At Global Security, every alert is reviewed by staff, to be sure their patients are utilizing the device properly and to be familiar with their usage.
Some Washington residents may be eligible for financial assistance for a medical alert device, according to Staci Levison, Community Services Supervisor at Area Agency on Aging and Disabilities. Medicaid patients may indicate to the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) where they would like to receive care services. If this is at home, supportive services such as a medical alert device may be available.
The Family Caregiver Support Program is a service available to unpaid caregivers of adults needing care and living in Washington State, and may offer assistance with medical alert devices for qualified individuals.
Levison finds that many of her agency’s clients feel resistant to using such a device and believe their cell phone offers adequate safety. But she has seen clients become wedged in tight spaces following a fall, suffer cuts and injuries, or even lose consciousness, and be unable to access a telephone to call for help. She encourages clients to explore the many options and types of devices available.
