Consumer Reports - Medical Alert Systems With Fall Detection
More than one-fourth of Americans 65 and older fall each year, which is a leading cause of death among seniors. Falls impact quality of life in many ways: it can make a senior feel vulnerable, helpless, or unsafe.
A medical alert system with fall detection can give seniors extra protection when they fall or have a health emergency. The technology uses accelerometers to detect a fall and automatically call a monitoring center, preventing the senior from having to push the help button themselves in a situation where they’re not able or not want to press it.
AARP recommends that consumers test their fall detection device monthly. This is called a “drop test,” and most companies encourage it.
The best fall detection devices are designed to overcome barriers that prevent people from activating their devices, such as forgetfulness or embarrassment, and to overcome a lack of confidence. They also use a combination of technologies to provide high accuracy and low false alarms, such as Lifeline’s AutoAlert, which is able to identify 95% of true falls.
Personal Medical Alarms Most fall detection devices have a 30-second window before they send an alert signal, allowing the senior to move safely and cancel an unnecessary call. This is an important feature for preventing unnecessary calls, as well as for seniors with chronic conditions that might influence their ability to move or stay afloat.
The top medical alert systems with fall detection include Lifeline, Bay Alarm Medical, Medical Guardian, and Lively. These products have industry-leading device ranges, longer battery lives, and faster response times than the competition.