Portable consumer health technologies have completely changed the way people monitor health. Nowadays, consumers can easily and affordably measure their heart rate, take their blood pressure, and even record an electrocardiogram at any time. Best of all, much of this can be done from a watch or another portable device that’s easy to travel with.
There are also many devices available that can automatically detect falls or allow a user to easily and immediately call for emergency assistance when they’ve sustained a fall. Here are some of the best fall detection technologies you can recommend your patients.
Freedom Guardian by Medical Guardian
Medical Guardian is well known for its superior fall detection pendant that alerts emergency services with the press of a button. Now their fall detection technology comes in the form of a stylish smartwatch. The Freedom Guardian is backed by Medical Guardian’s elite monitoring center that operates 24/7, so help is always available. There is also a companion mobile app that allows caretakers to view location and alert history of patients, direct message them, and add events and reminders to their day planner. The patient can also pay for an upgrade that allows them to receive text messages and calendar reminders on their Freedom Guardian, making it function like any other smartwatch.
LifeFone
One of the most well-known and affordable fall detection pendants on the market, LifeFone has provided fall detection services to the public since 1976. With LifeFone, the user pays less than $1 per day for 24/7 monitoring. It is available in the form of a watch or a pendant that the user wears around their neck. Emergency help is called automatically or with the push of a button when the user sustains a fall. There is also an optional GPS features that helps locate the user when they’ve fallen outside their home. Also, the devices are all connected under LifeFone’s AT&T 4G LTE cellular plan that covers most of the country, so the user doesn’t need to connect to their smartphone.
MobileElite by Medical Alert
The MobileElite by Medical Alert is unique in the sense that the user only pays for a subscription fee. The device itself is costs nothing. Straightforward in its design and functionality, it doesn’t feature all the bells and whistles found in the Freedom Guardian. You don’t even need a smartphone to use it. It comes with a pendant designed like a wristwatch and a portable base device. The base device has a two-way speaker system that lets the user speak to a trained Medical Alert representative at any time. If your patient isn’t very tech savvy and they don’t want to spend too much on a fall detection device, this is the best option for them.
Bay Alarm Medical
Like LifeFone, Bay Alarm Medical offers options for on-the-go fall detection. The company offers a pendant that the user can wear around their neck, a watch, and a portable button they can carry with them on the go. When a fall is detected by the technology or manual reported by the user, they are immediately connected to Bay Alarm Medical’s 24/7 call center. From there, friends, family, and, if necessary, emergency services are contacted to assist the user. Like LifeFone, there are on-the-go GPS options powered by an AT&T cellular network that covers most of the country, so the patient can rest assured that they will be safe when outside of the house.
Lively Wearable2
While it doesn’t have a display screen, the Lively Wearable2 comes with additional health tracking features many other devices don’t have. In addition to fall detection, it allows the user to set fitness goals and track steps. It’s backed by 5Star’s call center, so when the user falls, they can press a button and receive emergency service ASAP. The call button can also be used to call for roadside assistance, a caregiver, a locksmith, and more. One of the biggest perks is the battery life, which can last up to four months. A downside is that it must be connected to a smartphone and is only compatible with Android 7.0 and iOS 11 or later, so if your patient doesn’t have an up-to-date device, they can’t use the Lively Wearable2 until they upgrade.
Any of these devices will drastically improve your patients’ quality of life and safety. When it comes to selecting the right one, it simply comes down to the patient’s preference, budget, and needs. If you’re working with patients who struggle with balance, it may be worth discussing the possibility of purchasing one of these products so they are protected in the event of an emergency.