To help people who are aging and lack an immediate caregiver, medical alert devices help in summoning First Responders such as EMTs, police, or firefighters to the user’s home, but these devices are also known as personal emergency response systems aren’t all the same. Some are as big as a clock, while others fit on your wrist. Some are to be used in the confines of your home while others will protect you, no matter where you go and track you every step of the way. A medical alert system allows you to communicate with professionals who can send help. So you need to have a list of reliable medical alert companies before deciding to settle for one.
Here are some of the features you might need to consider while looking for a provider.
The Hardware
The medical alert gadgets are the most crucial in enabling communication between the providers and the clients. So they all need a microphone and a speaker. A cheap version might use your phone line. While more advanced units, use cellular networks. You don’t need cell service or a cell phone, use the ones that operate wirelessly, but you do need a landline. Besides connecting via cellular and landline many medical alert systems can be divided into two categories. Those only work at home which includes all the landline systems and those that work outside the home. There’s even one design to work in your car. Home units come with pendants that can extend the range up to 1,300 feet from the base so they can work in your yard if you have one. Thanks to modern technology entire medical alert systems are now shrunk into portable wearable units. Some allow the use of a pendant while some are the pendant. They operate anywhere. They send signals, including inside your home and can be used to locate you. The batteries need to be recharged with most lasting for up to 30 days. The manufacturers know their audience.
Provider-Client Interaction
Providers are not only limited to being reactive but they can be proactive as well. Some can call you every day just to make sure you’re okay or send reminders to take your medicine. When you press the button on the alert systems, you’re connected to an agent. You can tell me not feeling well and to send an ambulance. You can tell them you heard a window break in or you suspect there is a fire and they will send the fire department. You might also be stuck in the bathroom or it started raining when you were outside and you need a ride home, you can interact with the agents to help you out with such fixes. You can also use these devices to simply ask them to call your child or a friend to pick you up.
Charges
You need to be aware of what the company offers and what are the costs for any of their services. There shouldn’t be any hidden fees within the contract. Transparency is key. Services range from as little as a dollar a day. Some companies offer a 30-day free trial, which is a great way to get acquainted with the system. The longer you commit, the cheaper it gets. The subscription is every month.
The Return Policy
As much as the services can be crucial for your safety, it is important to check if the providers’ terms allow for easy termination of services in the case you decide to opt out. You can check if there is a clause that allows you to get refunded if you had already paid for a full year before changing your mind. Apart from refunds, there is also the need to understand if there will be any charges that might come about as you return their equipment and make the cancellation.
The Providers Reputation
You need to have a clear understanding of how the company has been operating over the years. There are several sites that you can visit to read extensive reviews on medical alert companies. It’s easier if you get first-hand experiences from people who have used the services. You will get to know how responsive the providers are, how well their equipment works, how good their prices are and how efficient their monitoring systems are.
Having a medical alert system offers a chance of saving lives. Absolutely. But once you get one, hope you don’t have to use it, it’s more like a form of insurance.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
