Medical Alert in Ladue MO: Falls

Medical Alert: Why Are Falls So Dangerous for Aging Adults?

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Medical Alert: You might already have personal experience with falls yourself and know that falling is never graceful, enjoyable, or fun.

But for aging adults, falls are downright dangerous because of a variety of different factors. A medical alert system might be something to think about.

 

Medical Alert in Ladue MO: Falls

Medical Alert in Ladue MO: Falls

There’s Potential for Broken Bones

According to the CDC, one fall out of every five results in a serious injury. That’s 20 percent of all falls. Your senior might break a bone, especially if she’s dealing with other health issues, like osteoporosis, that make a broken bone more likely. Broken bones, particularly in key areas like your senior’s hips, can take a lot longer for her to heal and they may even require surgery. That can be a lot of trauma for your senior’s body to process.

Head Injuries Are Also a Factor

Second to broken bones are the other major injury she faces, which are head injuries. Head injuries can lead to concussions, excessive bleeding, and other long-lasting health issues. Injuring her brain in a fall can endanger your senior’s ultimate goals, including aging in place for as long as she’s able to do so. Avoiding a fall is always preferable.

 

Fear Can Lead to a Loss of Mobility

Whether your senior actually falls or simply experiences a near miss, fear can have lasting effects. Many aging adults who are afraid of falling put themselves into a bad situation by reducing their mobility. While that’s a voluntary decision at first, your senior finds herself quickly losing even more mobility. By not moving, she reduces her ability to move and ironically increases her fall risk.

 

Medical Alert: Falling Once Makes Someone Twice as Likely to Fall Again

Another scary fact from the CDC is that once an aging adult falls, she is twice as likely to experience at least one more fall. Even if your elderly family member is lucky enough to avoid a serious injury with her first fall, she may not be that lucky the second or third time that she falls. This is something that you want to prevent if it’s at all possible.

One of the options you might want to consider if your elderly family member is at risk of falling is to find a medical alarm that also has a fall detection component. This can help you and your senior to act quickly if she does experience a fall and make sure that she’s got the medical alert that she needs as soon as possible.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering choosing Medical Alarms in Cape Girardeau, MO, please contact the friendly staff at Around The Clock Medical Alarms.
Call Us: 877.449.5566

Medical Alarms in St. Louis MO:

2020 TORCH Award Winner Retrospective

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2020 was a time filled with many challenges for everyone.

The COVID-19 virus turned our world upside down AND inside out! In retrospect, we liken ourselves to John Travolta in the 1976 movie “The Boy in the Plastic Bubble.” Fear, disconnect, isolation, and disparity were rampant.

 

Our industry helps the elderly, and ill, to maintain their safety and independence. These individuals were highly susceptible to this new viral nightmare that was taking over the world. Due to their predisposition of age and comorbidities, this demographic was hit extremely hard. Families were trying to protect their aging loved ones by isolating them and removing them from communal living. It was a time of unrest and uncertainty.

 

As we are now beginning to return to a somewhat sense of “normalcy,” we can reflect upon the positive things that should be gained from the past years experience.

 

As we “make up for lost time,” families should be closer. We should appreciate the time we spend together and make an effort to do so more frequently. This should be the biggest lesson learned since we get to choose the meaning that things have in our lives.

We, like many, suffered the anguish of the pandemic. However, we were blessed to have the ability to assist our clients to know that they were never alone and could get help when needed. Our role, in my opinion, was to keep our customers upbeat and positive. The connection from our staff to those individuals we serve was a “lifeline” during a time of great uncertainty.

 

In closing, we realize that no matter how difficult the past year has been, we were blessed to be chosen as a 2020 Better Business Bureau TORCH Award recipient.  We were humbled and honored to be recognized not only for our ethical business practices, but also our customer service — especially now!

 

This award is an annual presentation by the Better Business Bureau to businesses that are “…committed to exceptional standards for ethical business practices and customer service.”  We are humbled to be recognized for the commitment we have toward the service we provide to our customers — especially during the year when many businesses were unable to survive. We are blessed that we not only survived, but are thriving, as well.

If we can assist you, or someone you love, with a medic alert system, we would be honored to do so.

 

 

 

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering choosing a Medication Dispenser in Ladue, MO, please contact the friendly staff at Around The Clock Medical Alarms.
Call Us: 877.449.5566

Another 5 Star Rating!

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This is WHY we do what we do!

Thank you, Desma, for the kind words about our service.

We were honored to help your mother with her medical alert service needs.

 

Fall Detection Device

Personal Emergency Response System: Five Important Facts about a PERS Device

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Considering a PERS, or personal emergency response system, device for your senior?

It helps to have a better understanding of how the Personal Emergency Response System device works and how complicated it might be to use.

 

 

Personal Emergency Response System in St. Louis MO: Medical Alarms

Personal Emergency Response System in St. Louis MO: Medical Alarms

 

PERS Devices Are Easy to Set Up

PERS devices are designed to be really easy to set up. If there are barriers to ease of use, your senior probably isn’t likely to use the device, which defeats the purpose of having it. For instance, if your elderly family member needed to have a professional come and install the device, that might feel like just too much. But being able to use the system almost immediately out of the box is a huge relief.

 

They’re Also Easy to Use

As mentioned, PERS devices are deliberately kept simple to use. The device itself has a speaker, a microphone, and a button. The button is used to summon help, and the speaker and microphone allow her to speak with someone who can get help to her once she’s connected to the dispatcher. Other features, like geofencing, which functions automatically, making the device even easier to use.

  Your Senior Has Options for Wearing a PERS

The ideal Personal Emergency Response System device allows your senior some flexibility with wearing and carrying the device, too. Typically, there are various options, like a lanyard so she can wear it around her neck and a wristband so she can wear it like a watch. Options for slipping it in a pocket or clipping it on her waistband also help with convenience.

  They Charge Quickly

A device that isn’t ready to go when your senior is doesn’t do her as much good as you might hope. A PERS device should charge very quickly so that your elderly family member is able to rest or do something relatively sedentary while she waits. She shouldn’t have to wait all afternoon or day to be able to get back to being active if she wants to be.

  Geofencing Helps with a Variety of Concerns

Something else you might want to look for, especially if your elderly family member has some specific health issues, is a geofencing feature. Geofencing sends caregivers an alert if the device leaves a pre-defined area. This can be helpful if your senior has dementia and wanders, for instance.

When your senior doesn’t even have to think about how to use her Personal Emergency Response System device, she’s far more likely to feel comfortable having it with her on a consistent basis.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering choosing Medical Alarms in Cape Girardeau, MO, please contact the friendly staff at Around The Clock Medical Alarms.
Call Us: 877.449.5566

2021 Rotarian of the Year

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Congratulations, Les Tainter, on your 2020-2021 Rotarian of the Year award from Cape West Rotary!  Les has been a member of the club for the past 8 years.  Well done and much deserved!

What is Rotarian of the Year?

The ‘Rotarian of the Year’ award may be given to a member who exhibits “Service Above Self” in their daily activities and who promotes Rotary by their actions and involvements.  This may be accomplished through one major activity in club service, in multiple activities, or by serving on several committees.

We are extremely proud of this recognition and are even more proud of everything you do for the customers we serve and the community in which we live!!!! 

 

Aid and Attendance Pension

VA Aide & Attendance Pension Helps Wartime Vets and/or Surviving Spouse to Maintain Their Independence

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Keep them safe at home!
VA Aid & Attendance Pension helps them to maintain their safety and independence!

 

Aid and Attendance Pension

Aid and Attendance Pension

 

Do you know a wartime veteran, and/or surviving spouse, who could benefit from home care assistance through the Aid and Attendance Pension?

The little-known Department of Veterans Affairs pension (VA Non-Service-Connected Pension with Aid and Attendance Benefit) is for veterans:

  • with an honorable discharge
  • who have served at least 90 days on active duty, with at least one day of service during a period of war, or be their surviving spouse.
  • To qualify for this particular benefit, which pays for personal care services, the disabilities must not be service-related.
  • There are also financial limitations associated with the pension. This little-known pension can help them to maintain their safety and independence!

This little-known pension can help them to maintain their safety and independence by providing personal care services through home care to veterans and/or surviving spouses, so they can remain in their own home, which is where they want to be. Subsequently, it can also be used to pay for assisted living, if, and/or when, they are no longer able to maintain their independence in their own homes.

The VA requires a variety of documents including the following:

  • armed services discharge papers
  • proof of assets
  • marriage license and death certificate (surviving spouse).
  • medical information from your physician to verify your need for in-home personal care services.

 

In summary; the Aid and Attendance is a needs-based VA pension paid to wartime veterans with a non-service-connected disability, or their surviving spouses, who require help with daily living.  

It helps veterans, and/or their surviving spouses, receive personal care services to help them retain their quality of life and stay in their homes. If, and/or when, they are no longer able to maintain their independence in their own homes, it can be applied to the cost of assisted living. This is a huge resource that many are unaware even exists!

Additionally, the pension can provide an Around the Clock Medical Alarms “life alert” type of service to help them to maintain their home safety. The VA guidelines indicate that ”Cash assistance” is at the discretion of the beneficiary (or their family members / caregivers), and can be used to pay for home safety monitoring.  A Personal Emergency Response System, (PERS), can provide an extension to the home care, by bringing peace of mind that our aging heroes are never alone – and that they can get help any day, any time, any reason! Statistically, a PERS system can help an individual to stay in their homes longer, because they get help – instead of laying there for hours or days….

Financially, it is cheaper on our system to assist our aging populous to stay independent in their own homes, rather than to place them in nursing homes. Typically, when they remain independent, their quality of life is better, which equates to a WIN-WIN situation for all involved. However, when assisted living is needed, the Aide and Attendance pension can be used to pay for that as well.

Call 877-449-5566 or visit online for questions regarding the Aid and Attendance Pension and/or “life alert” type system provided through Around the Clock Medical Alarms.

 

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering choosing Medical Alarms in Cape Girardeau, MO, please contact the friendly staff at Around The Clock Medical Alarms.
Call Us: 877.449.5566

Certified Care Management

Senior Care Spotlight: Certified Care Management

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“My Mom called to say the power was out in her home.
It was late at night, she was frantic and I was concerned.

However, after talking with Ameren
I discovered Mom had “totally forgotten” to pay the electric bill.

While in her mind she is still fiercely independent…
I have noticed she is getting more and more forgetful.

I love my mom dearly, but I can’t always be there for her,
and I live out-of-town. I want to help her continue to live independently.”

 

Does this sound familiar?

Is a senior loved one in need of care and supportive services and you don’t know where to go for help?

Rest assured, YOU and your senior loved one are not alone.

At Certified Care Management, LLC, we understand what you’re going through.

 

 

Our team of experienced care professionals is here to help you avoid the pitfalls you may encounter and uncomplicate the dizzying maze of health and life care choices out there today.

In addition to bill pay assistance, our firm also offers services such as caregiver and family coaching, nursing, therapy, home care, insurance, and benefit qualification, hospital and community advocacy, health care agent and guardianship, legal rights, and much more. Certified Care Management has the experience you can count on when life’s journey takes you down a new road.

Consider us your personalized care consultants, providing the highest quality support for you and those you love. Contain your costs, your well-being, and your time by investing today in our professional services. Read more about Certified Care Management at www.certifiedcm.com or call 314-517-5944.

 

“When managing the difficult maze of health and life care choices, Certified Care Management has the experience you need and support you can count on! We are your Personal Care Consultants and we look forward to being of service.”

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering choosing Medical Alarms in Cape Girardeau, MO, please contact the friendly staff at Around The Clock Medical Alarms.
Call Us: 877.449.5566

Medical Alert: What Are the Best Features to Have in a Medical Alert System?

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Medical Alert: As you look for medical alert devices for your senior, you have to consider some of the most important features.

The best Medical Alert device for your elderly family member will have as many of these features as possible.

 

The System Is Easy to Use

Any type of device that has a steep learning curve is going to be one that your senior abandons pretty quickly. It’s crucial that the medical alarm you choose is as “plug and play” as possible. This helps to eliminate any issues that could come from user error.

A Waterproof Wearable

More in-home falls and injuries happen in the bathroom than in any other room in the house. That means that your senior’s medical alert device needs to be waterproof, so that she can wear it anywhere in the house, including into the shower or tub. It’s also important that she is able to wear the device outside if she gets caught in the rain.

A Discreet, Comfortable Wearable

If the medical alert device you choose for your senior is uncomfortable, screams “medical device,” and is basically something she would never wear at all, she might decide that she isn’t going to wear it. Then it doesn’t matter what features the device has, because it’s not going to be on your senior. It’s also a good idea that the alarm has options, such as being able to wear it as a pendant or a wrist device.

Strong Signal Range

The last thing that you want for your senior is to feel as if she’s now in some sort of “invisible fence.” The signal strength on her medical alert device needs to allow her freedom of movement in her home and in her yard. If the range isn’t large enough for that, it might not be the right one for her.

Medical Alert: A Fast, Experienced Response Center

It’s also crucial that the people on the other end of that medical alert device have the experience and the wherewithal to get your senior the exact help that she needs immediately. Your senior could have issues at any time of day and night, and you both need to know that help you can trust is helping her while EMTs or police are on the way.

Medical alert devices can offer both you and your elderly family member the peace of mind that you need. Whether your senior is planning to age in place, move in with you, or consider other living situations, she can be so much safer with the right medical alarm.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering choosing Medical Alarms in Cape Girardeau, MO, please contact the friendly staff at Around The Clock Medical Alarms.
Call Us: 877.449.5566

Senior Spotlight: Adult Day at The J

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Located within the Jewish Community Center in Creve Coeur (the J), Adult Day at the J (ADJ) is a “hidden gem.”

For more than 40 years, ADJ has been providing quality programming for seniors and younger adults with cognitive and physical impairments. Our team is dedicated to specialized programming that aims to promote cognitive, physical, and social stimulation while also encouraging individual growth in an inclusive and supportive environment.

The ADJ offers two unique tracks, IN and CONNECTIONS, which are expressly designed to assist participants with achieving individualized goals in a group setting. Offering a broad range of activities throughout the day, CONNECTIONS operates primarily within the ADJ facility, while IN programming expands throughout the J’s Staenberg Family Complex and the community. In addition to the benefits experienced by our participants, our services provide critical respite and peace of mind for caregivers and families.

 

Key Features include:

• Recreation and Therapeutic Activities (Horticulture Therapy, Music Therapy, Pet Therapy, Modified Sports, Social events, Reminiscence Activities, and so much more!)
• On-site Nurse Health Management and Care Planning Services
• Door-to-door Escorted Transportation
• Kosher, Nutritious Meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Snack)
• Licensed by the State of Missouri
• Funded by VA, Medicaid, Dept. Mental Health, Aging Ahead

 

On March 18th, ADJ temporarily suspended onsite programming due to COVID-19, but our staff remained steadfast with our commitment to continue serving our families.

 

Over the course of our 11-week closure, our ADJ team worked tirelessly to engage, connect with, and continue supporting our participants and families each and every day. Whether through direct connections, virtual programming, or case management to set up outside services we have worked tirelessly to ensure that each of our participants have received the support and services they need.

 

 

ADJ reopened its doors on June 8th and, although, in a very different environment, we have been able to bring individuals back to onsite programming here at the J. We started with a small group of 6 and have continually added more participants each week. We are now averaging around 23 participants a day. Meanwhile, we are also still providing virtual programs and support to those remaining at home. We are facilitating live streaming of our onsite programs and activities as a means for reconnecting both onsite and at-home participants with one another.

But we didn’t stop with ADJ participant-focused services, our Growing Together Horticulture Therapy project has remained active to support others in our community. Utilizing our indoor/outdoor hydroponic Tower Garden systems, our staff has harvested over 80lbs of fresh produce including lettuce, collards, spinach, kale, and herbs. A portion of this produce is incorporated into our Kitchen J home meal deliveries for homebound seniors, and the rest of each harvest is donated to the Harvey Kornblum Food Pantry each week. Our Kitchen J meal program has delivered over 4,500 meals to homebound seniors over the past 18 weeks.

The St. Louis J community has so much to offer. With 2 convenient locations, Creve Coeur and Chesterfield, the excellent programming and state-of-the-art facilities make the J the first choice in gyms and community centers for families, young adults, seniors, and more. From our amazing fitness and aquatic centers to our recreational sports programs, we aim to impress our members by providing the best selection and experience.

Guest Article submitted by: Kristen Conard
Assistant Director- Connections & IN Program
Programs of Adult Day at the J
(p) 314-442-3261
(f) 314-872-7189
kconard@jccstl.org

The J at Creve Coeur

 

 

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering choosing Medical Alarms in Cape Girardeau, MO, please contact the friendly staff at Around The Clock Medical Alarms.
Call Us: 877.449.5566

 

 

Medication Dispenser

Medication Dispenser: Four Reasons Your Senior Can Benefit from a Medication Dispenser

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As a family caregiver, there’s a lot that you worry about for your senior.

One of the biggest concerns might be whether she’s taking her medications when she should, or at all. Some seniors become defensive when talking about their medications, especially if they’ve had issues before with taking them correctly. A medication dispenser can solve a great many of those concerns for both of you.

 

They’re an Inexpensive Solution to Help Your Senior Take Her Medication

Medication dispensers offer an inexpensive solution compared to other possible answers to managing medications on a regular basis. Your aging family member needs a dispenser for her medications if she’s having a difficult time remembering to take them or if she takes a great many medications. The dispenser can help her to only have to deal with one container at a time instead of multiple bottles.

The Right Medication Dispenser Is Easy to Use

The medication dispenser that’s right for your elderly family member is one that is easy for her to use, even when she’s not feeling well. Programmable dispensers can take a lot of guesswork out of taking her medication for your senior. They’re even easier for your elderly family member if you take overfilling her dispenser for her on a regular basis.

Medication Dispensers Help Your Senior to Be Independent

It’s difficult for many seniors to cope with the loss of independence that they can sometimes feel is a part of accepting help. A medication dispenser is a tool that your elderly family member doesn’t have to ask for help. Like any other assistive device, she can simply use it as she needs to.

They’re a Way for You to Care for Your Senior Even When You Can’t Be There

Using medication dispensers is a way for you to be able to care for your senior even when you’re not able to be there. Fancier versions that offer reminder services are still easy to use, but they offer an additional level of reassurance that your senior is taking her medications properly. If you receive an alert that your elderly family member’s medication hasn’t been taken, that’s an opportunity for you to reach out and to make sure that all is well.

Talk to your senior about whether a medication dispenser could be helpful for her. It might even be something that she’s willing to test out on a trial run.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering choosing a Medication Dispenser in Ladue, MO, please contact the friendly staff at Around The Clock Medical Alarms.
Call Us: 877.449.5566

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