A personal emergency response system (PERS), or a medical alert system, is a practical way for a person who is home alone to get help in case of an emergency or a fall. The system has two parts: a small waterproof help button worn as a pendant or a wristband, and a base unit. If there is an emergency, a press of the help button will connect the person to a monitoring center. An operator will send assistance and call preselected family members or friends.

Although the primary benefit is for seniors, people of all ages who are at risk of falling or a medical emergency benefit as well. The system provides protection for seniors and brings peace of mind to their loved ones. It enables seniors to keep their independence and stay in the comfort of their homes, with access to help if needed.

Yes, we recently introduced a new type of personal help button that detects a fall automatically without even needing to press the button. We also have mobile medical alert systems that will work anywhere that there’s cellular reception in the United States. A person could use this system wherever he goes and not only in the house. The Iris LTE, our brand new unit that recently came into the market, combines both of these features. This mobile fall detector can be used anywhere where there is cellular reception and can detect a fall without pressing the button. We are constantly on the lookout for the latest technologies to better serve our clients’ needs.

The monitoring center dispatches the local EMS service and then calls preselected family and friends to notify them that there has been a dispatch.

While the personal help button is waterproof and can be worn in the bath or shower, a cell phone is not. In addition, a cell phone may not be accessible in an emergency, and the personal help button can be worn as a pendant or a wristband at all times. Not all systems require charging like a cell phone does. In an emergency, dialing 911 requires pressing more buttons than a medical alert system does. If a person has a fall or a medical emergency, they often can’t reach a phone or dial a number. The medical alert system will connect them to help with the press of a button, and the operator will stay on the line with the client to reassure him or her until help is coming. Also, our monitoring station keeps every client’s personal information on file, including family and friends to notify, medical information to relay to 911, and special instructions.