Elderly falling is a problem today...

LifeLink NO MONTHLY FEE MedicalAlert System. The affordable alternative to fee-based alert systems for those who value their independence.

What Would Happen If You Fell and Couldn't Get Up? Would You Get Help?

"I've fallen, and I can't get up!". It’s been a while since you heard one of those commercials, much less took them seriously - that is, unless you are one of the millions of Americans, and primarily senior citizens, who have found themselves in this scary situation with regard to elderly falling. But, you may ask, is a system that alerts help in the event of a medical emergency due to elderly falling really helpful?

Experts agree that, while not appropriate for everyone, for millions of Americans, they can become a critical lifesaving system.

Based upon data provided by the American Academy of Family Physicians, last year alone, approximately 38 million people were taken to emergency rooms in the United States with injuries caused by falls. Additionally, about one third of folks living independently, and two thirds of folks living at assisted living facilities, fall each year. Over 1,500 deaths are blamed as the direct result of elderly falling. Another 9,400 fatalities are the eventual result of a fall.

Experts are concerned why such statistics are not scaring more individuals into at least considering the use of a MedicalAlert system, sometimes referred to as an elderly falling notification device . One nurse interviewed for this article has told us that she sees patients that had fallen and had dragged themselves to a door, opened it, and yelled out for help. Others had worked their way to a telephone cord and pulled it down to try to make a call. Some were successful, but many were not. Still others just lay on the floor for hours, until someone eventually helped them. Bill Edwards, a registered nurse practitioner at the University of Pennsylvania, states that if a victim can’t get up after a fall, the affects of the fall get compounded, because they can become dehydrated. Dehydration can cause serious damage to internal organs, which magnifies the issue considerably as a result of elderly falling.

Bill Edwards and his team are studying falls and what causes them. The team feels that perhaps vision screening, changes in medicines, or even surroundings might make it less likely of experiencing a fall.

Experts all agree that MedicalAlert systems can definitely be lifesavers. Damien Bodden, a member of the Palm Beach County Fire and Rescue Squad, says that they get many calls each year, mostly from elderly people. An increasing number of the calls are initiated from MedicalAlert systems. For those who don’t have systems, many of the calls are from distressed folks who were lucky enough to have their calls for help heard by concerned neighbors. He shudders to think what would have happened if they weren’t so lucky.

But, to help in elderly falling? How does such a MedicalAlert system work? When the person in distress pushes the button on the small pendant-style device, the system calls family, friends, and neighbors until an answer is obtained and help is secured. The 911 emergency service is often on the call list. When a person answers the emergency telephone call, they typically press a key on their phone, and they can then hear the victim describing the problem. They can then execute their pre-defined emergency process to ensure that help is on the way.

So, is a MedicalAlert alarm system appropriate for you or a senior relative to help with the complications of elderly falling? To really find that out, you need to consider what that person’s lifestyle is, what their physical and/or mental capabilities are, the cost, support, and what benefits the MedicalAlert system has.

Advice from other experts can help mitigate the chance for ever being in a situation in which you fall and can’t get up:

Talk with your family care physician and find out if certain medications or medical conditions could impair your vision, balance, and/or hearing which could increase your chances of falling.
Check to be sure that your your stairs, stair railings, and carpets are in good working order.
Remove any small throw rugs. They can cause tripping.
For bathrooms and bathtubs in particular, install grab bars where appropriate
Ensure that your sitting furniture is at a height that makes sitting down or standing up easy.