Medical Alert is a device many elderly and disabled people use for safety. It is a device with a button that can be worn around the neck or on the wrist and can be pushed when help is needed. Another form of medical alert is a bracelet or necklace that has medical information on it to alert others to a medical condition. There are some pros and cons to using either one of these systems.
Safety
One of the pros to the medical alert system is that it provides a piece of mind to the person using the device as well as her family. A positive side of this system would be that some devices are equipped with the button for the person to push and a sensor to detect a sudden fall. If a fall occurs suddenly and the person is injured, this sensor would call the medical alert company for help. But one negative side comes from the fact some devices are only equipped with a button for the person to push when she needs assistance. For the people with this type of device, there is lack of security if they fall and are incapacitated because no one would be alerted or will respond if the person cannot call for help. This particular problem should be considered by the elderly or disabled person and their family before choosing one system over another. In addition, if a person is made unconscious and cannot communicate, the medical alert jewelry can alert others to their special medical problems or needs. But if you do not wear the jewelry all of the time or don't make it visible, this information can be missed.
Cost
If you want a medical alert bracelet or necklace to alert others of a medical condition that you suffer from, the price range can vary. Some of the cheaper pieces of jewelry start as low as $10 as of December 2009 and can be easily afforded by most people. But others range into the hundreds of dollars. For the medical alert system being used in the home that alerts medical personnel when you are injured or ill, the starting cost for many of these systems is around $30. But people with very low incomes might have some difficulty affording this monthly charge. There are no free medical alerts for in-home use but there are some assistance programs that can help with some of the cost. For example, according to PRLog.com, most states have a program through Medicaid that will help pay for this service. Although, for people who do not qualify for Medicaid and still have a low income, obtaining a home medical alert might still not be possible.
Phone
The phone line is an important aspect of installing a medical alert system. The medical alert system requires a land-line phone. This land-line phone is used to communicate with the person wearing the device and the main office of the medical alert system. A piece of equipment that is similar looking to an answering machine is set up in the home to provide this link. According to the Phillips Lifeline website, there is no capability for them to use cell phones as an alternative. Unfortunately, with today's technology, more people are moving to the cell phone as their primary phone line and must change back to a land-line phone or do without the medical alert system. Also, for people who wear medical alert jewelry that informs others of a medical condition, it is very helpful to add an emergency number to call in case you are found unconscious without any identification. A person wearing one of these pieces of jewelry without a name or phone number for an emergency contact can make it more difficult to provide the proper medical care.
