Caregiver Notes: Got A Medical Alert Button For Your Patient?

This morning I woke up to something banging, sounding something like the pipes banging whenever someone turns on a faucet in our house.
I listened some more and as the banging continued I realized it wasn't a faucet being turned on and off again and again to make the pipes bang.  All the dogs started barking wildly so I walked about the house trying to figure out what was banging like that. 


I opened Mom's bedroom door and there she was, on the floor, banging the little vanity trash can on the floor, trying to get someone's attention.  It was about the time I normally get up, luckily because if she had fallen in the middle of the night who knows how long it would have taken me to wake up?


Mom has one of those little buttons she wears around her neck while at home in case something like this happens and no one comes to her aid.  The button calls an operator working for the medical alert company who in turn pages the house on a box asking if she requires a paramedic. 

Well, apparently this service is not working because Mom said she pushed her button again and again for help and ... nothing.  That little button is doing her absolutely no good and costing she and her insurance plenty of money for that nothing.

If your patient has a button like this here are some things I suggest:

• Go with a reputable company, not just the one the insurance pays for.  The more well known companies are not that much more per month than the co-pay for the insurance - paid company. 
• Make sure whatever company you choose does a monthly operations check.  By this I mean the little box that comes with the button is programmed to remind you once a month to push your button for a safety check.  (The company we are using now does not do this.)
• Make sure the little box has an alarm on it that can be heard throughout the house.  Our box is way across the house from where my bedroom is.  I am moving it to my room tonight.
• Ask questions.   Write a list of questions you might have before you call the medical alert company.  You will be talking to a salesperson, most likely, and cuold be snowballed into getting a service you don't really want.  This is for the person who is depending on you for everything - make sure the button company is reputable and worthy of taking care of your patient as you are.

That's about it.  Do your homework.  Don't settle for cheap.  It's worth a few extra bucks to get one that you and your patient feel comfortable with.

As for Mom?  She's fine, a bit shook up still though.  I think her pride is hurting more than anything, but for her tailbone maybe.  She's says that's the only thing that's really sore.  I told her  "well, Mom, you've always let me know I'm  a pain in the a...."   I don't think she heard me.  ha. 

Here is the Google search results for Medical Alert Systems
Have fun browsing through them, there are many and I haven't a clue which to recommend to you. 
http://www.google.com/search?q=medical+alert+systems&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a