Caregivers: Is it Time for a Medical Alarm for a Special Senior in your Life?
Lifeline now offers a needs assessment questionnaire to help determine if it’s time to use an emergency personal response system to ensure the safety and independence of your family’s elder loved ones.
FRAMINGHAM, MA (PRWEB) July 20, 2005 -- Knowing whether it’s safe for an
older family member to continue to live alone isn’t any easy decision to make.
What will happen if they fall – or feel threatened by some other age-related
medical condition and can’t reach the telephone to call for help? Lifeline
Systems, Inc., the leading provider of medical alarm services in
the United States and Canada, has developed a 9-point needs assessment
questionnaire to be used as a guide to evaluate if and when a parent or loved
one may need a medical alarm in order to maintain their independence.
The interactive quiz is available at the website www.timeforamedicalalarm.com. Caregivers are directed to
answer nine questions with a yes or no response. Questions asked include their
loved one’s overall health, existing health problems or concerns, recent
hospitalization, time home alone, use of assistive devices, medication, and
their ability to handle day-to-day grooming and care. The results are tallied
and then give the caregiver information as to whether a medical alarm is an
urgent need, elevated need, moderate need, or limited need.
Lifeline
Systems has been the leading provider of personal medical alert response
services in the United States for over 30 years. Lifeline is the preferred
provider of medical alarm services to members of the Visiting Nurses
Associations of America, and to thousands of leading doctors and hospitals. In
addition, the Lifeline service is available through select chapters of the
American Red Cross.
"Lifeline System's new site www.timeforamedicalalarm.com is extremely useful for
caregivers and homebound elderly patients who are trying to assess their need
for a medical alarm," says Carolyn S. Markey, President and CEO of Visiting
Nurse Associations of America.
"Visiting Nurses created home healthcare
more than 100 years ago, so no one is more experienced when it comes to
delivering compassionate and cost-effective home care. Lifeline’s personal emergency medical response is a service we frequently
recommend to people who wish to continue to live independently for as long as
they can."
According to the Department of Health & Human Services
Administration on Aging (AoA) the older population--persons 65 years or
older--numbered 35.9 million in 2003 representing 12.3% of the U.S. population,
about one in every eight Americans. By 2030, there will be about 71.5 million
older persons, which will account for 20% of the population.
“Many of us
have loved ones who are elderly and it is often difficult to both know and admit
that they might need the additional assistance and security of a medical alarm,”
commented Yasmin Mheiny, a Lifeline System’s expert specializing in occupational
therapy and needs of the elderly. “Lifeline is the first to create a unique,
comprehensive tool to help caregivers deal with a sensitive topic that is often
met with resistance and one which they may have been avoiding or just not
certain how best to address.”
With the simple press of a waterproof
button, at any time of the day or night, the user is quickly connected with a
highly trained Lifeline Personal Response Associate. The Associate makes voice
contact through the Lifeline speakerphone, reviews the individual's personal and
medical profile, assesses her situation and then notifies a family member,
neighbor, or appropriate support and medical response team as the situation
requires.
Lifeline personal response and support services
offer:
• Immediate response by caring and highly-trained Personal
Response Associates —24 hours a day/365 days a year.
• State-of-the-art
equipment made by Lifeline.
• Lightweight, waterproof personal help
button that can be worn as a pendant or on the wrist.
• CarePartner
Telephone option with larger number buttons and personalized reminders to help
manage medications, diet, exercise and appointments.
• No minimum service
commitment, all at a cost of little more than a dollar a day.
To take
the needs assessment quiz, visit Lifeline medical
alarm, visit www.lifelinesystems.com, or call 800-380-3111.
About
Lifeline Systems, Inc.
Established in 1974, Lifeline Systems is the leading
provider of personal response services and emergency call systems in the United
States and Canada. As of March 31, 2005, the Company supported more than 433,000
subscribers from its response centers in Massachusetts, Ontario and Quebec.
Lifeline also supplies emergency response equipment and services to owners and
developers of independent living, assisted living and continuing care retirement
communities across North America. To people who live alone or in senior living
communities, the Company provides reassurance and peace of mind with dedicated,
well-trained people, advanced technology and a nationwide support structure to
achieve service excellence. The Company is committed to affording its
subscribers and residents the dignity, privacy and respect to which they are
entitled. For more information about Lifeline Systems, visit www.lifelinesystems.com
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/7/prweb263098.htm