Falling in their own home is one of the single largest worries that seniors living alone face on a daily basis. The body does age right along with the person inside of it, making it simpler to have a fall that causes major damage to the body. For those who are over 65 years of age, many times an injury from a fall can turn into a much larger situation. The injuries will surely be compounded if after the fall, the person is unable to get to help for hours or even days. This happens all too often, but can easily be avoided with the assistance of a medical alert system in the home.
By having a medical alert system in the home, seniors who suffer a debilitating fall, can press the button on their medical alert bracelet, necklace or pendant and immediately call for help. Otherwise, it is difficult to tell how long they may lie there without any assistance. This is a very legitimate fear considering that almost 13% of people that are over the age of 65 and around 31% of seniors that are between the ages of 81 and 84 are more likely to sustain a much more devastating injury during a fall than a younger person. Couple this with being home alone, and the results of a simple trip and fall accident can become far worse than ever imagined.
The most common injuries that can become life threatening typically stem from hip, spine, arm and leg fractures, as well as head trauma as a result of a fall. These injuries can unfortunately greatly affect a person's quality of life as well as their mental state. The reason being, with injuries to these places when a person is older can cause them to have limited mobility or even become paralyzed in some areas. When it comes to head trauma, brain injuries can occur, which can lead to strokes, seizures and a myriad of other health issues that can make a person feel completely helpless. Often this can lead to end-of-life depression, especially if the patient is left in a nursing home, rehabilitation center or assisted living facility for a long period of time, or even for the rest of their lives.
This depression can have extremely adverse affects on the patient's overall health, causing them to not carry much of a will to live. Eventually, if their needs are not attended to, it is possible for them to pass away from their depresses state. For this reason, and many others, it is typically best if a senior is able to live in their home without fear of falling. Since falls are not necessarily inevitable, but pose a much higher probability as a person ages, preventative measures need to be put in place in order to keep a patient safe from having a fall turn into a life threatening situation. A medical alert system is the perfect way to do that. Here are some ways in which medical alert systems are able to help minimize the consequences of a fall.
Fast Response Time
Imagine that a senior takes a terrible fall down some stairs after simply slipping on an item of clothing that had been haphazardly left there. After falling to the bottom, they can tell that their leg is probably broken, and they have some limited mobility in their shoulder and hip. Clearly, it is going to be very difficult for them to move and get to a phone. More importantly, it is best for their well being that they do not move since it could cause further injury. Without another person there or a medical alert system installed in the home, it becomes clear rather quickly that they might be lying there at the bottom of the stairs for an undetermined amount of time. Dehydration, lack of food and any movements they may make can lead to a more devastating injury.
With a medical alert system in the home, it becomes much simpler to call for help after an accident such as the one described. All the patient would need to do is press the medical alert button on their medical alert bracelet pendant or necklace, and they will immediately be connected with an operator that can help get the correct medical personnel to them. This fast response time will greatly diminish the chances of the injuries becoming life threatening or debilitating.
Access to Medical Care With The Press of a Button
Even if the fall is not as severe as the first example, it is well known that it is best to stay put after a fall since simply too much movement causes many devastating injuries. Anyone who has ever participated in first aid training knows that the neck and head need to be stabilized before a person who has fallen should be moved. So imagine that a person has taken a nasty fall, and then simply turns their neck to the side to look around and hears a snapping or cracking noise. In that one movement, they may have injured themselves further.
The best thing to do in this situation is to rely on a medical alert system. Just press the button on a medical alert bracelet, necklace, or pendant and the correct medical personnel will be alerted.
Article Source: http://goarticles.com/article/Senior-Medical-Alert-Systems-Help-Minimize-The-Consequences-Of-Falling/7144746/
