The Perceptions of Seniors Who Use Personal Emergency Response Systems
Personal Emergency Response Systems provide those living with medical conditions or disabilities an easy way to call for assistance at the press of a button, making them especially useful for seniors living alone and caregivers who wish to go out without worrying about their safety. Such devices are commonly utilized by seniors living alone while loved ones can run errands or go out without fear for their loved one's wellbeing.
There is an assortment of Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) products on the market, such as cellular and GPS systems that offer mobile capabilities and location tracking for those traveling or spending time outdoors. These devices consist of three main parts: a portable radio transmitter that can be worn around one's neck or wrist; an emergency response center connected to home telephone line; and an emergency call monitoring service that monitors calls.
As people age, they may face more health challenges that require assistance with everyday activities like cooking or bathing. Although immediate medical intervention may not always be required, many seniors feel more secure knowing they can call for help at any time, day or night - this is why personal emergency response has become such a valued technology innovation among seniors, their families and providers alike.
Personal emergency response devices, commonly referred to as care alarms or personal emergency responders, have been demonstrated to assist seniors in remaining at home and being active by offering a lifeline to a live operator in case of falls or other incidents that require help. Such alarms or responders are especially useful for seniors living alone who could potentially fall or otherwise require assistance.
PERS devices do not fall within Medicare or private insurance plans' coverage for assistive technologies like wheelchairs, medical alert bracelets and oxygen tanks; however some organizations such as Independent Health provide them at a low monthly fee with one-time installation charges as well as 24/7 access to a live PER operator that can connect subscribers with emergency response providers or family members in case of an emergency situation.
medical alarm Studies on PERS often focus on its effects on health outcomes; few, however, explore its perception and experience among older persons in daily life. To address this gap in research, this study investigates perceptions among members who use one and their opinions regarding its influence on independence, sense of security anxiety and satisfaction.
The methodology employed for the study included a mixed-methods approach consisting of an online survey and qualitative interviews. To collect primary data, researchers partnered with a PERS service (name withheld for confidentiality purposes) and collected and analyzed 109 digitized recordings from real calls placed by subscribers pressing their pendants in the past for help. As inducing an emergency call situation is hard and unethical, they collected secondary data by listening in to calls made when subscribers called for assistance at home when they fell or experienced medical emergencies that required immediate assistance such as falls or health emergencies that required immediate medical assistance from professionals.
