Emergency Alert Devices: How to Start the Conversation
Involving your loved one in the conversation will help create a safe space to have a hard conversation. Here’s how:
Deciding to use a personal emergency response system (PERS) could literally be a life-saving decision for your loved one(s). Some people choose to use a PERS after an incident, like a fall, while others choose to use a PERS to develop a proactive emergency plan.
Before deciding what device is best for you and your loved one, you’ll need to bring up the topic, successfully. We recommend starting with open-ended questions. If your loved one recently had a fall, you could ask what would’ve happened if the caretaker wasn’t there or if a neighbor wasn’t home. If you know someone who was in a similar situation that ended poorly, you could emphasize your gratefulness that your loved one is safe while sharing your intention of keeping it that way.
Be patient. It’s unlikely you’ll leave the first conversation with an answer. Sharing your concern without a mandate is important to maintaining trust. After all, your intention is to help your loved one retain their independence for as long as possible.
When your loved one is ready to talk about potentially integrating a PERS into their daily routine, do your homework — there are a bunch of different options. Some devices are worn as a pendant, others on the wrist. Some devices are waterproof, others aren’t. Some devices require charging, others are battery-based. Some devices are “smart”, collecting data and offering multiple channels of communications.
Many people still think of personal emergency response systems as the Life Alert pendant from the ‘Help, I’ve Fallen and Can’t Get Up’ commercials. Nowadays, there are more elegant solutions available! Remember, the “best” PERS for your loved one is the device they’re comfortable using every day.
If you’d like to learn more about the personal emergency response systems Ezra offers, feel free to email us or schedule a demo. If our solution isn’t right for you, we’ll help you find one that is.