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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.
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Medical Alert: What Are the Best Features to Have in a Medical Alert System?
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
Notice Changes in Mom and/or Dad?
In May, we celebrated Mother’s Day. We will celebrate Father’s Day very soon….
Many of us may have seen our parent(s) face-to-face for the first time in several months — or possibly a year or longer.
Medical Alarms in Cape Girardeau, MO: Medical Alarms
If we notice changes in their health, mobility, or wellbeing, we may now be the ones who worry about them, instead of the other way around.
As we prepare to be better caregivers, protectors, and friends to our elder loved ones, we realize that older family members may need our assistance and care more now than ever.
If you feel that now is the time to consider DME (durable medical equipment), physical or occupational therapy, home care, assisted living, or hospice, it may be time to consider the medic alert system, as well. Many people feel a PERS (Personal Emergency Response System) is only for an elder person who falls. However, it is for anyone — regardless of age — who would benefit from the ability to get help ASAP in an emergent situation.
800,000 seniors are hospitalized after a fall and the average hospital costs around a fall is $30,000! This is a staggering statistic that many families are experiencing. One in three (1/3) of seniors 65 and older will fall this year. Nearly half (48%) need help up after they get down. For those who cannot get up, their health is typically compromised, because they lay there for hours, or worse, days. If this happens, their families feel that they are not able to remain independent. They start looking for other options to keep their loved ones “safe” and oftentimes it means moving their loved ones out of their family homes.
A medical alert system will not prevent a fall, heart attack, stroke, or any other emergency, but it will get help IF/WHEN it happens — even if you cannot speak!
A new subscriber, Ms. JoAnn R., had this to say about the Around the Clock Medical Alarms service: “You have been so easy to talk to and the setup was easy. Les was so nice and explained everything well. I really like the button around my neck. I have told people about you! Thank you and God Bless ALL of you. My daughter got to know Linda by phone and is very pleased!”
Thank you, JoAnn, for allowing us to assist with your medical alert service needs!
Do you have Grandparent(s), Parent(s), or other elderly, or ill, Loved One(s) that you are concerned about?
Let us help you to help them to stay safe and independent! Protection for as little as $1/day! Cost is covered by some Long-term care plans AND the Veterans Aide and Attendance (Wartime vet and/or surviving spouse) pension.
Help is available — “Around the Clock” — EVEN IF they cannot speak!
Remember, we are here to help you to help them to maintain THEIR independence and YOUR peace of mind! IF you need help, call us at 573-334-7233 or 877-449-5566 or visit online at:
AroundTheClockMedicalAlarms.com
#SeniorSafety #MedicAlert #Caregivers #PERS
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
Thankful For Peace Of Mind
Normally after something tragic we think of getting a medical alarm for our loved ones.
I know when my aunt fell over 12 years ago and lay on the floor for days without anyone knowing we got her an alarm system. Therefore, when our dear friend’s sister fell, I advised that friend to contact Linda and Les at Around the Clock Medical Alarms (ATCMA). (Just FYI my friend lives in Florida – ATCMA can help you wherever you or your loved one live – you don’t have to be in Cape Girardeau, Missouri where they are located). They are a nationwide provider of the PERS (Personal Emergency Response System). Then I called Linda to give her a heads up. Little did I know our conversation would change my life and give me the peace I was seeking.
At the time my mother was in a nursing home.
Mom was one of those individuals whose body failed while their brain was sharp. She could not get up by herself and needed lots of assistance. She stayed in the same lift chair 24/7. Often mom would wait extremely long for care. My mom had dealt with narcolepsy since she was in high school, she would fall asleep without notice, so the thought of her sitting on a portable potty in the middle of her room waiting for help to get off was particularly troublesome. If she fell asleep, she could easily fall. Needless to say, I was concerned. During my conversation with Linda about my friend’s sister, Linda asked about how my mom was doing. I explained the situation and she said “You know, we put alarms in nursing homes too”. I had never thought about an alarm for my mom. One thing I had learned during mom’s 6 stays in 4 different nursing homes during the past 8 years (some short-term stays for rehabilitation due to surgeries and bone breakages) is that staff in nursing homes are overworked and underpaid, please know I am not complaining about care. I was just trying to find a solution to a sad reality that has been around for a long time. I am thankful for the caring staff who treated mother as they would their own mother. I know those nursing homes and staff care deeply about their residents but one can only do so much.
Long story short In July 2019 we decided to try Around the Clock Medical Alarms.
A system was sent to our friend in Kansas and she set it up for my mom. Mom loved knowing she could get help when she needed it. I loved the security of knowing I would get a call if there was a problem. That meant if mom pushed her button, provided it was not an accidental push, I knew. She could not say “Oh I just won’t tell Kim about this so as not to worry her” as my mom did that a lot. She would even tell her dear friend who visited her daily not to tell me things that had happened. The alarm system gave me peace of mind and a feeling that I knew what was happening and how best to advocate for my mom. The alarm system allowed mom to push it when it was necessary for care, and the emergency Response Center always got in touch with mom and the nursing home and got her the care she needed. They stayed on the alarm system with her talking to her until she got the help she needed. When mom received the care, she needed then I received a call and knew what was happening. Peace of mind knowing my mom was taken care of. Mom and I could then touch base afterwards and be on the same page.
Kim & Dad Aug 2014
My dad was living alone at the time and did not feel he needed a medic alert, so we did not pursue that for him.
At the time dad was driving 30 minutes one way to the nursing home daily to see my mom and taking care of himself at home. But we did have an issue. He would occasionally forget his medication. One time when Linda at ATCMA called to check on my mom and mom’s alarm system (yes – they call to check on your loved one and monthly alarm checks are done also) Linda asked about dad – I told her about the medication issue and she said they had a medication dispenser that might help. We could either buy it outright and set it up or if we had an alarm system for dad, we could link it to that and if he did not remember to take his medication, he would receive a reminder phone call. We decided to just buy the system outright. Linda and Les got a system to me, spent time showing me how to set it up and use it, and then I took it back to Kansas in November 2019 when we went home for Thanksgiving. It worked like a charm. We could see when he forgot to take his medication. Since we live 10 hours away in Missouri, we had someone coming in to add medication to the dispenser. I called the pharmacy for refills, his caregiver picked them up and filled the dispenser. Additionally, we bought an extra tray so she could have it all ready when she came to the house to see dad. She popped in the new tray, took the old one, and let me know if all medication had been taken. It worked so well.
Mom’s alarm and dad’s medication dispenser made things easier.
As we all know caring for a loved one is tough. Having a loved one in a nursing home is another challenge and being 10 hours away adds to that. Then add in a nursing home shut down due to COVID-19 which made it impossible for the caregiver who came in from outside to see mom daily and bring the items she needed and you add to the stress.
Long story short, my mom passed away on April 5th, 2020.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were not able to go back to KS for the burial – there was no funeral – we had planned to have it as soon as we could but then my dad hurt his leg carrying her lift chair that the nursing home sent back with him on the day after her death. Needless to say, I had no idea they were sending the chair back and could not get help to unload it for him as I knew nothing about it. I was busy planning a burial from 10 hours away. My dad’s leg which he bruised got progressively worse during that week and blood clots developed. Just so you know, if you have paid your yearly rate and something happens to your loved one, you get your money back for the unused time or you can transfer the system to another loved one like we did. As of April 9th, when we got mom’s personal effects back from the hospital (mom was wearing her button when she went to the hospital the day she died) Dad was set up with mom’s system and we had that peace of mind once again even though we were not in the same state.
Three days later, Easter Sunday, dad called me – his leg was hurting and he had not slept all night.
His leg was cold and purple. My dad spent 52 days in the hospital and had 6 surgeries. I was not able to be there in person. On May 21st I saw my dad for the first time since March 2020 before the whole lockdown thing got really bad. Our whole family had gone to Kansas for my father-in-law’s surprise birthday celebration so we all got to see mom through the window and thankfully an exception was made for me to go to a doctor appointment with my mom and then stay with her when she got a blood transfusion the next day. When we finally did get to see dad, two of our sons’ and I spent 3 months in Kansas caring for him. We all drove back to Missouri in late August. Dad’s camper came with us. To say it has been an adventure I could never imagine is an understatement! Currently, we are at our house for a time while dad continues healing.
His Around the Clock Medical Alarm and his medication dispenser have come with him.
They are both lifelines for us. The medical dispenser acts as a reminder for me and my family so we know dad has gotten his medications. If I have to be gone or if I am outside in his camper teaching or sleeping, I know dad not only has his phone to call me but his button to push if the need arises. Yes, you read that correctly, my husband and I are sleeping in dad’s camper and we are utilizing that as extra space for our family. All caregivers know we must be creative when it comes to meeting everyone’s needs when caring for our loved ones.
I can’t encourage you enough to contact Around the Clock Medical Alarms. They truly care about their clients. I can’t tell you the number of times I have had to call Linda or Les — or the times they have contacted my mom and dad to check on their systems. No matter how many times I contact them, I am never made to feel that I am bothering them. They truly care about their clients AND their families. I know Linda has been a caregiver and she truly gets it. Les has worked in nursing homes. He gets it too. They can help give you peace of mind while you are doing your best to care for your loved ones. I hope my story helps you on your journey to care for your loved ones in this difficult time. I originally wrote this in November while counting my blessings and remarked that we are thankful for that phone call to Linda about my friend’s sister as it has given us peace of mind that money cannot buy.
Now as we head into May & June, and think of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, that gratitude has not left me.
I know I have been able to truly honor my mother and father, by doing my best to care for them as they always did for me. We are still so grateful for the peace of mind that Around the Clock Medical Alarms brings to our family. We pray for everyone in the position of caring for their loved ones and hope that you reach out to Around the Clock Medical Alarms as they can help bring you peace of mind too.
…Guest article by Kim B., daughter, MO.
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
Why Do We Do What We Do?
On September 21, 2017, we were honored to enroll an assisted living facility (ALF) resident who became (and remains) our oldest current client. “Miss B.” celebrated her 106th birthday in January 2020 – which means she was born in 1914, FOUR YEARS BEFORE the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic….
She has always been quite proud of her independence and was unbelievably astute! You never would have guessed that she was a centurion, much less 6.5+ years beyond that milestone….
Throughout the past year, she has pushed her button on several occasions. (Five times for a welfare check, three times for a lift assist following a fall, and one time to be transported to the hospital, because her head was bleeding and required stitches following a fall.) Anytime she needed help, she was able to push her button to get it! THIS is WHY we do WHAT we DO!
Unfortunately, a recently received call from the ALF social worker notified us that “Miss B.” was now on hospice. Although she has had to endure so much throughout her lifetime — over the past 12 decades — the emotional turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be too much. We’re so saddened to hear this news. Since she is like family, our hearts are breaking. This is the absolute hardest part of our job….
If you or an aging loved-one are considering choosing a personal emergency response system in St Louis, MO, please contact the friendly staff at Around The Clock Medical Alarms.
Call Us: 877.449.5566
