Are you or your loved ones at risk for falls, heart attack or stroke?
Falls
For people over the age of 65, the leading cause of injury related emergency room visits are caused by falls. That means that more than one-third of seniors 65 and older will fall this year. 50% of falls happen in the home. The other 50% happen in other people's homes and in public places. The seriousness of these injuries increase dramatically with age as well as their mortality rates. At the age of 75 and older, falls account for 70% of accidental deaths. Falls can be indicators of poor and failing health and function. In many cases, after a fall, people cannot get up without assistance or get to a phone to call for help resulting in serious and sometimes fatal injuries.
Risk factors for falls in seniors include increased age, medication use, cognitive impairment and sensory deficits. Here are some tips for fall prevention you can use around your home:
Bathroom
- Grab bars to get into and out of the tub
- Use a bath chair or stool in the shower
- Don't use throw rugs or wax on the bathroom floor
- Use a raised toilet seat with arm rails
- Buy soap on a rope, or put a bar of soap in a nylon stocking with one end tied to a towel bar
Bedroom
- Never get up in the dark; make sure the room is well lit
- Keep light switch close to bed
- Avoid slippery socks or slippers
- Consider using a Bed Transfer Handle or Bed Security Rail
- Hide all loose extension cords
- Consider using a Medical Alert Pendant System
- Use carpets and rugs with skid proof backing or tacked to the floor
- Use a rubber mat along the full length in your tub, and a non-skid bath mat beside the tub
Kitchen
- Use a long-handled sponge/mop to wipe up spills
- Keep your floors smooth, but not slippery
- Store your often-used supplies in easy-to-reach cabinets
- Avoid hard-to-reach wall phones; consider a cordless phone that can be carried from room to room, or a counter model
Around the House
- To be safer, consider using a Medical Alert Pendant System
- Wear low-heeled, comfortable shoes with nonskid soles
- Don't walk around in socks, slippers, or stockings on bare floors
- Keep rooms and hallways free of clutter
- Make sure carpets, including those on stairs, have skid proof backing or are tacked to the floor
- Have proper lighting throughout your home
- Be sure to have at least one handrail (preferably two) on all stairways and steps in your home
- Take the same precautions for outdoor steps
Yourself
- Have regular vision and hearing tests
- Take prescription and over-the-counter medications correctly
- Use walking aids and other safety devices for extra safety
- Invest in a Medical Alert Pendant System
Heart Attacks
Heart attacks are the single leading cause of death in the United States and affect more than 5 million Americans. Half of which are 75 and older. They account for about one of every six deaths. Some heart attacks are intense and come on very sudden. Most, however, start slowly and bring mild pain and discomfort. Many people are unsure of what is happening and wait too long before calling for help. Many heart attack victims die before they ever reach the hospital. Survival rates of heart attack victims increase when proper medical care can be administered. The amount of damage to the heart is also decreased the sooner the person can receive medical treatment.
Risk factors for heart attack you cannot change include increased age, gender (men have a greater risk of heart attack than women do) and heredity. Risk factors for heart attack you can change include tobacco use, high cholesterol, physical inactivity and obesity.
Strokes
Strokes are the leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States and is ranked the third largest cause of death for Americans. Knowing the signs of stroke can save you or your loved ones.
Warning signs of Stroke
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
If you or someone with you displays one or more of these warning signs, don't delay, get help right away and note the time of the first symptoms. If immediate action is taken, the clot-busting drug called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke. The longer the brain is deprived of blood the more damage is done.
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Time for a Medical Alert System?
 A medical alert service allows older adults to live more independently even with chronic medical conditions. It gives them and their loved ones peace of mind and affords them the ability to continue to remain where they feel most comfortable...their home.
Is it time for a medical alert system? To find out if now is the time to consider a Personal Emergency Alert System (PERS) for yourself or for someone you love, answer this short 9 question quiz.
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The medical alarm can connect you to the closest ambulance service, fire and police departments, family, friends and neighbors with one easy press of the medical alert pendant. Being alone during times of injury or illness can be very stressful. Our medically trained medical alert operators get you the help you need when you need it most. Learn more about our Medical Alert Monitoring Centers
Ambulance
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Police
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Fire
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Family
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Friends
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Neighbors
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How can we help you?
Our Medical Alert Customer Service Representatives can answer your questions about our Medical Alert Systems.
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