Top 3 Things to Consider Before Purchasing a Medical Alert System

A medical alert system is a literal lifeline. It connects you to staff and support personnel who are trained to react appropriately given a situation, to ensure the right people are notified in the event of emergency.

In other words, you don’t want to bet on a device that doesn’t have a reliable company behind it. So, before considering purchasing an emergency necklace, there are some important questions you need to ask.

After all, this is key to supporting your independence. It’s a critical decision that will provide peace of mind to you and your loved ones – but what’s most important is that you know you’re getting the best possible technology and support from a company that is trustworthy.

So, before you make that decision, make sure you get the answers to these three important questions:

1. Who Endorses the Medical Alert Pendant Company?

It’s a common practice to head out onto the internet and do a little research before making a final decision on your products or services. We all want to see what others have said about their experience with a service provider.

However, it’s important to remember that reviews can be faked, and that an “approval” isn’t the same as an endorsement.

For example, any company can claim that they’ve been “approved” by the Alzheimer’s Association. But all this means is that the Association didn’t find anything glaring about the company upon application after doing a quick Google search.  So, instead of rejecting them or investigating further, they instead allow them on their approved list of vendors.  This is, of course, a very low threshold to clear, and doesn’t say much about the credibility of the company you’re considering.

So, what should you look for instead?

An actual endorsement by an established company or healthcare provider.

Endorsements are not the same as approvals. Endorsements are generally exclusive, and they represent ongoing advocacy for the medical alert system company.

At Life Guardian, we have this kind of relationship with Bayshore Healthcare, an industry leader in senior home healthcare. Bayshore has been a recipient of Canada’s Best Managed Companies award since 2006, it has more than 100 locations across the country, and provides care to more than 350,000 clients nation-wide.

We are Bayshore’s exclusive partner for home and mobile medical alert devices. This kind of industry confidence can tell you a lot more about a service provider than a simple online review or some low effort “approval.”

2. Do They Offer Reliable Support Around the Clock?

When we say, “reliable support,” we’re not simply talking about 24-hour monitoring. That’s a given.

We’re talking about your provider offering 24-hour technical support.

Suppose you’re having some problems with your medical alert pendant at 11:00 pm. Suppose it isn’t connecting to your hub properly, or you’re having issues with your medical alert button. Perhaps a family member caused some problems with the settings, which weren’t noticed until much later into the evening.

Are you able to contact technical support and get things optimal quickly?

Any technical issues could leave someone without the support they need for confident independent living. So, a critical part of your service needs to include round-the-clock technical support so you’re never out of touch for long.

3. Does the Medical Alert Pendant Have Two-Way Voice Direct to The Unit?

There’s no reason to have a two-way voice feature if the “base” of the device is in another room or on a different floor of the home. The pendant itself – the part of the system that’s on you always – should have the ability to communicate directly with personnel who can provide help and support if needed.

Two-way communication direct through the device is crucial.  The voice of a caring person coming through the pendant live after a fall or medical alert button push, can help reduce anxiety while providing assurance that help is on the way.  Just being able to simply ask question or express concerns, can go a long way to aid in an emergency, while help is on route.

Any Other Questions?

Of course, these questions are only the beginning. Everyone has their own individual needs and may have a variety of other questions.

We’re glad to answer yours.  You can get more details about our company or contact us to speak to someone directly.