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"Who Really Needs A
LifeGuardian™ Home Medical Alarm System?"
Fact is, seniors who live alone are at risk for a serious fall or injury while at home.
A LifeGuardian™ home medical alarm system placed in the home before a serious
accident can save lives and prevent costly medical bills.
Fact is, many times there is a clear
history of obvious risk factors before the need for a LifeGuardian™ Medical Alarm System becomes undeniable.
Checking two or more risk factors below may
indicate a need for a LifeGuardian™ Medical Alarm System:
_____ Lives alone or left alone for
extended periods?
_____ Do they use mobility assisted devices
(walkers, crutches, canes, etc)?
_____ Required to take several medications
daily?
_____ History of one or more falls or
inability to get up by themselves?
_____ More than 75 years of age?
_____ Hospitalization within the past 12
months?
_____ Physically frail or suffers from
physical weakness?
_____ Sensory deficits (vision, balance,
hearing)?
_____ History of medicine management
problems?
_____ Unsafe neighborhood or feels unsafe
at home?
_____ Home safety hazards (stairs,
bathtubs, etc) which are uncorrectable?
Benefits of a Home Medical
Alarm System
Robert Rouch, ED.D., Director of the Texas
Consortium of Geriatrics Education Centers at the Huffington Center on Aging
at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and his colleague Thomas A.
Teasdale, DR. P.H., Assistant Professor at the same facility have been
studying how a Personal Emergency Reporting System can impact the lives of
community-residing elders who live alone.
In the mid-1990's, they conducted a
retrospective review of data looking at how the use of such systems affects
hospital utilization rates. They found subscribers using a Medical Alarm System had a statistically significant decrease in per
person hospital admissions and inpatient days.
"We found that (Medical Alarm
Systems) made a significant positive difference in the lives of subscribers
in three areas: subscribers experienced a greater sense of security and
peacefulness, they had a greater sense of vitality or pep and energy, and
they felt more confident in carrying out their daily routine." explained
Dr. Roush. "We also found compelling evidence that once familiar with a
personal response service, many study participants wanted to continue
service and were willing to drop out of the study in order to do so.
"I cannot overstate the value of telephone
reassurance," said Dr. Teasdale. "Many users, especially those who are
home-bound, are comforted knowing they can speak to a telephone monitor at
anytime, even if it is only to make sure the device is working properly"
"Another powerful benefit," continued Dr.
Teasdale, "is that a personal response service supports neighborly
communication. Many subscribers ask neighbors and friends to be in their
cascade of emergency numbers. It is heartwarming to hear of instances when
this request prompts people to renew acquaintances with their neighbors."
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