Facts About Medical Alert Systems

The first medical alert systems hit the market in the 1980s. Since then, they have grown in popularity and the features they have, but some of the basic facts still remain the same. It is these facts that you need to know about to better understand medical alert systems ratings.

Some Facts About Why You Need Medical Alert Systems

Some of the most important facts you should know whenever you are considering whether or not to get a medical alert system are as follows. According to the Consumer Product Safety Council, 60 percent of the visits that people over 65 years old make to the hospital emergency room are due to a fall. Then you have the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, which states that 30 percent of people over 65 years old fall each year. You also have a New England Journal of Medicine study that shows the mortality rate for people who are incapacitated for 12 hours is five times greater than it is for those who are able to get immediate help. Finally, there is the fact that in 2000, patients who were over 65 years old accounted for 40 percent of all hospital discharges. This is expected to rise an additional 35 percent by the year 2020.

Even with all of the facts that surround and support the need for seniors to have a medical alert system, it is still a hard sell. One of the main reasons so many people are reluctant to get a medical alert system is that they feel as though this will lead to their loss of independence. However, the exact opposite is true. A medical alarm system can actually prolong a person's independence. This is because a medical alarm system is able to provide families and caregivers a sense of security in knowing that their loved one will be able to get help if somehow they got injured and were unable to make a phone call.