Discussing the Prospect of a Med Alert System with a Loved One

As people age, things change. Our bodies begin to fail, and our minds are not quite what they once were. Our confidence begins to wane. We all have pride, and no one likes to admit that they are indeed beginning to fail in certain areas, and that they may need some help. If you are considering a medalert system for your elderly parent, relative, or friend, you need to understand that you are making a decision which will allow your loved one to retain their independence, and thereby, ehnance their quality of life, confidence, and self-esteem.

While such a decision may make perfect sense, discussing the subject of a medical alert system is one that should be handled with compassion and understanding. The section below provides some things to keep in mind when discussing the possibility of a med alert system with your loved one.

• Remind them that you often worry about their safety, not because of their age, but because of the fact that they live alone. Even a person in their 20s can have a situation arise while living alone (such as choking on food) and not be able to get help because there is no one else around.
• Tell them that you often lose sleep over your concern for their safety. Tell them that, during the day, you often worry and wonder if they’re ok. This is a common situation many adult children find themselves in when caring for their elderly parent.
• Explain to your loved one that a medalert system will help retain their independence and will help defer the need to consider other help such as an assisted living center or skilled nursing facility (each of which can have its own set of issues).
• Let them know that a med alert system is as logical as buying insurance. The system is there for you, even if you never need it. It’s simply a wise thing to purchase.
• If they feel hesitant about having something on their body at all times, explain that, as an alternative, you could purchase several pendants and place them in every area of the house. Then, in the event of an emergency, all they would have to do is to crawl their way to the nearest pendant and press the emergency button. We offer the 5-pack of pendants at an affordable price.
• Explain to them that you understand that others who have purchased such a system may have been initially insulted at the notion, but later quickly came to realize the increased security and peace of mind that is gained for all parties involved.
• Explain to them that the system will provide peace of mind not only for themselves (knowing help is there for them at any minute of the day), but also the people that love and care for them. They have peace of mind knowing that, if their phone isn’t ringing with an emergency call, they know that their loved one is safe and sound.
• Let them know that a LifeLink medalert system is simply an affordable solution. It can be purchased for a one-time fee that pays for itself in about 4 months or less (when considering that alternative monthly-fee med alert systems charge setup fees, monthly fees, and cancellation charges).