Personal Emergency Response Systems

Dear Linda:
       
My grandmother fell, was unable to move initially or call anyone for hours. We’ve suggested assisted living, but she wants to remain in her home. What should we know about contact systems?
 
Her Worried Granddaughter

 
Dear Granddaughter:

Your grandmother is very lucky to have you in her life. With today's mobility, family members are not always close by to protect their elders, and, sadly and too often now, older folks are left entirely to their own devices by their own children.

Though the elderly generally like to stay in the comfort of their own home, it can be dangerous, particularly if they live alone. That is why having a Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) can be imperative. This simple electronic device enables the user to summon help in an emergency, and can be the difference between life and death.
     
A benefit to the aging or disabled, the user feels more confident and lives more safely at home for a longer time (Surveys indicate a PERS adds an average of five years of independent living.). The user’s family worries less because their loved one has access to immediate help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
     
PERS has two components. The transmitter is battery operated and activated by pressing a button. The transmitter (Be sure it’s waterproof for in the shower) can be worn around the neck, on a wrist band or belt, or in a pocket. The second component is the console which is triggered when the transmitter button is pushed.
     
When the console receives the radio signal from the transmitter, it operates as automatic dialing machine and sends an alert through any telephone to pre-selected emergency numbers. Look for systems with a long transmission range that can dial out even if the telephone is in use or off the hook.
     
A PERS can be rented or purchased. The varied equipment costs and monthly fees ($30-50) are not covered by Medicare, Medicaid or most insurance companies. Most PERS are programmed to an Emergency Response Center where the caller is identified, and the medical history and contacts are on file. The Center calls emergency services (medical, fire or police). The other alternative is to buy a no-monthly-fee system that dials emergency services directly. This can be more cost effective, so compare prices.
     
Test several systems for ease and performance. Ask about unique features and servicing. Read all agreements carefully before signing and call the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed against companies being considered.

How to Honor Dad

Dear Linda:

       My father says that we’re not to buy him anything for Father’s Day. He’s advised us to deposit into a bank account what we would have spent on him. His attitude typifies a lifetime of putting our interests first. We want to remember the day with more than another tie or v-neck sweater. What can we buy?

Sonny in Arlington

Dear Sonny:

       Perhaps the best solution for honoring your father isn’t something you can buy in a store. Dads deserve some thought, creativity and care. After all, they put their own needs on hold, sometimes indefinitely, worked a lifetime to provide for their families, and sacrificed their own dreams to ensure those of their children.

       Send him a loving email at work the Friday before and tell him you’d like to arrange a day for just the two of you—a picnic at the Botanic Gardens, a game at the ballpark, a car trip to a place he’s never been, or a day doing whatever it is that he loves.

       Fix him his favorite meal, mow his lawn and clean out the garage, and offer to house and pet sit, so he and your mom can have a special weekend or take a trip.

       If your Dad is confined, plant a fruit or flowering bush and hang a bird feeder outside his window. He’ll enjoy the activity and become invested in the growth process.

       As people age, things become far less important. Photos, however, take on greater meaning, particularly for those who struggle with short-term memory loss. Five minutes ago may be a fog, but the distant past is remembered with crystal clarity. Make thematic scrapbooks of various special events through the years or frame a collage of his favorite pictures.

       Instead of a card, write a letter that expresses appreciation in a very specific manner. Highlight special moments you shared and recall the times that made all the difference in your life. He will cherish it forever.

Adopt A Grandparent

Dear Linda:
 
       I’m a freshman in college who was looking for a volunteer opportunity. My adviser suggested adopting-a-grandparent. I met an elderly woman with no family in my own neighborhood, and though I know I have helped my adopted grandmother, I’ve learned more from her than I can say. This special experience has turned out to be such a gift in my life, and I want others to consider doing the same.

A Grateful Teen
Dear Grateful Teen:

       It’s so heartening to hear a young person recognize the value of relationships with older people. Seniors are able to impart valuable wisdom gained from a lifetime of joy and heartache, can teach lessons learned in their work and family environments, and can share their friendship and love—capabilities that don’t diminish with age.

       Harvard University research reveals that seniors who participate in social activities, spend time with friends and family, play cards and games, and exercise will live an average of 2.5 years longer than those who are more isolated. Being cared about by even one other person spares that senior from feeling alone and vulnerable.

       Adopting-a-grandparent unites the generations. It offers young people an opportunity to receive precious gifts from seniors, and it offers seniors someone to visit and listen, help and serve, and love and comfort them—all critical for physical and emotional well-being.

       A very successful Adopt-A-Grandparent (AAGP) program was founded by Linda Lanstraat in Atlanta, Georgia in 1978. In this organization, there are three types of volunteers who give at least two hours a week—a Friend who visits the senior at home, an On-call driver who takes seniors to functions and appointments, and an AAGP Board Member who raises awareness and funds.

     Consider beginning an organization in your area or like Grateful Teen, look around neighborhood, in the church pews or loading sacs at your grocery store. Today, more and more often, the elderly are left by family members to fend for themselves, and they are struggling. When you see an old person working a job that seems too hard for them, take a moment to chat. See what you can do to help.