5 Ways Caregivers Benefit From Medical Alert Systems for Seniors

Whether you are a family member caring for an elderly loved one or a hired caregiver offering the services that will ensure your senior patients receive the support they need, providing round-the-clock care for someone dealing with physical or mental illness or even incapacitation can be extremely demanding. Although you certainly want to make sure that the seniors in your life are safe, healthy, and happy, you no doubt have your own life to live, as well, and this can be hard to do when you’re constantly worried about the elderly person you’ve left at home. Luckily, medical alert systems can address some of the issues that are keeping you from comfortably leaving your seniors to their own devices. Here are just a few benefits that such systems offer caregivers like yourself.

1. 24-hour monitoring. Perhaps the best thing about a medical alert system is that it provides seniors with the round-the-clock monitoring that only a machine can. Thanks to a wide variety of devices that can be added to an overall system, including fobs that seniors can wear to call for help in the event of an emergency, as well as room monitors, video cameras, and even house alarms (if you’re worried about somebody wandering off) you can leave the house knowing that you or an authority will be alerted should any problems arise. You can’t be on duty every minute of every day, and a medical alert system can cover the gaps.

2. GPS. Modern technology provides the average person with all kinds of solutions that can make day-to-day living easier. And while you might think that GPS tracking capabilities are better suited to keeping tabs on teens who have recently received a driver’s license, you can certainly see the benefits for seniors, as well. Those with dementia or Alzheimer’s may be prone to wandering, and many are adept at getting past locked doors and other barriers. For this reason it could be helpful to equip them with some kind of medical alert device that offers GPS tracking.

3. Emergency services. Many seniors are both lucid and capable of caring for themselves to a large degree, but you still want to make sure that they have access to emergency services in the case of an accident while you are away. With the right device they need only push a button to be connected with the proper authorities.

4. Medication reminder. Incredibly, some devices associated with a medical alert system even offer extra features like a medication reminder that alerts the wearer when it is time to take essential prescription medications.

5. Peace of mind. When you purchase personal alert systems for your family members or elderly patients, they come with the assurance that seniors can call for help if they need it and that you can track them down should the situation call for it. The benefits to the senior that uses this type of medical alert system are obvious. But for the devoted caregivers who offer their time and effort on behalf of an elderly loved one, these devices can provide the peace of mind that may otherwise be lacking each time they leave the house.