Fall Prevention Archives - Around the Clock Medical Alarms

Fall Detection: 4 Essential Parts of a Fall Prevention Plan

August 27, 2021/in Fall Detection, Fall Prevention /by Linda Bass

Fall Detection: Is it time for your senior to get serious about avoiding a fall?

Aging adults who fall once are twice as likely to fall again, and that next fall can be devastating to your senior’s overall health. Having a fall detection plan is a vital part of ensuring that she’s able to stay as healthy and as independent as possible.

Fall Detection Device

Remove Clutter

The first thing to do when you and your senior are planning ways to prevent falls is to look at her environment. Take a quick tour through her home and look critically at how much space she has to walk in and whether there is clutter or anything else on the floor that could present a tripping hazard. Put together a plan for clearing as much space as possible as quickly as you can.

Assess Fall Risks

Next, it’s time to talk with your senior’s doctor about her fall risks. This can involve health issues she’s managing, medications that she is taking, and other things like her vision and her hearing. Put together as complete a list as possible of what increases your senior’s likelihood of falling and what reduces those risks. This is going to be a big part of the fall prevention plan.

Consider Exercise

One of the best ways to help your senior to prevent a fall is to find out whether exercise is an option for her. Her doctor may have some specific recommendations. Walking, yoga, or tai chi are great ways for your elderly family member to improve her balance and her strength without wearing herself out. By sticking with a regular exercise plan, she may significantly reduce her fall risk.

Fall Detection: Use a Medical Alarm

Medical alarms that offer fall detection are another critical piece in the plan you’re putting together. These devices work around the clock to immediately get help if your senior does experience a fall. They can be the key to helping your senior to age in place and to maintain her independence for as long as she wants to do so.

Even the best fall prevention plans need to be revised now and again. Take some time to periodically review what’s working with your senior’s fall detection plan and what isn’t. Then assess what needs to be changed so that the plan is more likely to be effective for her. If you do this a few times a year, you’ll be able to be proactive about adjusting for changes as they happen.

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

4 FAQ About Personal Emergency Response Systems

May 27, 2020/in Featured /by Austin Bollinger

If an aging member of your family wants to remain independent, you may be concerned about their safety and well-being because they’re so often alone. Personal emergency response systems are designed to provide assistance when they need it most. If you’re trying to determine if your elderly relative could benefit from a medical alarm, review the answers to these four frequently asked questions to help you make an educated decision.

Your Questions About Personal Emergency Response Systems Answered

Are monitoring centers open 24/7?

When you sign up for a personal alert system, your loved one will be able to reach trained staff at any time of day, any day of the week. They’ll respond to an alert immediately and provide lifesaving support until emergency services arrive.

Who responds to an alert?

The emergency medical dispatchers that respond to calls for Around the Clock Medical Alarms are all EMD-certified, receive the same training as 911 operators, and know cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) procedures. This training enables them to recognize signs of a life-threatening problem and send lifesaving assistance, dispatching the police, fire department, or other emergency responders depending on the situation. The client’s family is also notified.

What happens if a client relocates?

Whether your loved one relocates or has a second residence where they spend winters, personal emergency response systems travel with them. Simply take the system to a new residence, and inform the call center of the new address and phone number.

What costs are associated with the service?

Alert systems are available with numerous options, whether you prefer to pay monthly, quarterly, or annually. Your cost depends on the landline or cellular-based system (3G/LTE) you select and the personal alert device and plan you choose.

To help a loved one obtain care during an emergency, consult the professionals at Around The Clock Medical Alarms in Cape Girardeau, MO. Their expert teams are trained to respond to alerts from personal emergency response systems in 22 seconds or less, dispatching the necessary authorities at the same time. To learn more about their alert systems, visit them online, or call (573) 334-7233 to speak with the staff.

Home Modification Ideas for Senior Safety

March 4, 2020/in Featured /by Austin Bollinger

Seniors should have homes that minimize risks to their safety. A medical alarm, also, will help the elderly live independently and reduce anxiety. If you’re anticipating updating a home to accommodate an aging parent, here are a few ideas that could make a significant difference for their security and comfort.

6 Remodeling Tips to Help a Senior

1. Wide & Open Spaces

Open floor plans and wide rooms and hallways—at least 5 feet by 5 feet—will allow a senior to move around with greater ease and visibility. Work with your home remodeling contractor to widen doorways and rooms to accommodate an aging senior, whether wheelchair-bound or not.

2. Fewer Stairs

Ascending and descending stairs is a safety hazard for many seniors. Single-story homes or those with elevators are best for senior residents. One entrance to the home should be a stairless entry. Eliminate steps by installing ramps, wherever possible. The purchase of a reliable medical alarm can also allay concerns about falls.

3. Handrails & Levered Door Handles

Seniors need grips to steady themselves when moving through their house. Round doorknobs are challenging for seniors, who may lack the wrist strength to turn them. If you’re remodeling a home for a senior, install levered door handles, which can open doors with a simple push.

4. Lower Light Switches & Countertops

Accessibility is an issue of concern for seniors. Keep light switches and countertops low and within easy reach. Adjustable rocker-style light switches need only a gentle push to operate and will help seniors live in well-lit comfort.

5. Raised Outlets

Home remodels, if they include raising electrical outlets, will ease the strain on seniors with back or leg pain. Work with an electrician to reposition outlets that seniors use more than others, especially those in kitchens, bathroom, and bedrooms.

6. Walk-In Showers With Seating

Remodeling a senior’s bathroom by installing a threshold-free shower with built-in seating will improve comfort, independence, and security. In addition,a medical alarm will ensure that seniors are never alone and that they can get help whenever they need it.

Around the Clock Medical Alarms of Cape Girardeau, MO, offers medical alarms that can immediately send help to a senior in need. Products and services include medical alarm necklaces, tabletop monitors, and fall-detection devices. To learn more, call (573) 334-7233 to speak with the staff, or message them online to initiate a conversation.

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