Medical Alert Devices for Seniors: Making It a Habit

The best medical alert device for seniors is the one that's actually worn, every day, including in the shower and at night. Most devices fail not because of the technology, but because they end up in a drawer or on the nightstand, uncharged. The fix is a routine: tie putting it on and charging it to things your parent already does every day, plan for the shower, practice what happens when the button is pressed, and test it monthly. Check back after 30 days to see if the habit stuck.

You spent an afternoon choosing Dad's medical alert device. Three weeks later, his neighbor found him on the kitchen floor at 9 a.m. The device was charging on the nightstand.

Why alert devices end up in a drawer

• "I don't need it." Many parents feel it's for someone older or frailer.
• It's uncomfortable, or looks obviously medical.
• It's another thing to charge.
• They take it off to shower, and forget to put it back on.
• A false alarm was embarrassing, so they stopped wearing it.

Tie it to the daily routine

Habits stick when they attach to something your parent already does:

• Morning: put the device on with glasses or watch, before leaving the bedroom.
• Charging: if it needs charging, charge it in the same spot every day, at a time your parent is awake and sitting, like during breakfast or the evening news. Avoid charging it overnight if your parent gets up at night.
• Bedtime: keep it on, or keep it within reach of the bed, as the device allows.

Plan for the shower

The bathroom is one of the most common places for falls. Choose a water-resistant device and make wearing it in the shower part of the routine. If your parent refuses, at least keep it within arm's reach of the shower and the toilet.

Make false alarms no big deal

False alarms happen, especially with fall detection. Tell your parent in advance:

• What the device will say or do.
• That they can tell the operator "I'm OK, it was an accident."
• That a false alarm is a free practice run, not a bother.

Parents who aren't embarrassed by false alarms keep wearing the device.

Test it monthly

• Tell the monitoring center you're testing.
• Press the button and confirm two-way talk works.
• Check the battery and charging.
• Update contacts if anything has changed.

For setting up the full response plan, including who gets called and how responders get in, see fall alert systems: setting up the response plan.

Check in after 30 days

Ask your parent:

• Are you wearing it every day? In the shower?
• Is it comfortable? Is charging a hassle?
• Have there been any false alarms?

If the answers are "no," switch styles before giving up. A wristband or watch may work where a pendant didn't.

Choosing a device

For every type compared, see fall detection devices. For questions to ask companies, see medical alerts with fall detection. For choosing a style your parent will wear, see alert necklaces. For options your parent doesn't wear at all, see fall detectors for elderly parents.

Where help at home fits

Our Care Professionals help the habit stick. They remind your parent to put the device on and charge it, make sure it goes into the shower, and notice when it's been left behind. More importantly, they're there during the riskiest moments, like bathing, getting up, and walking, to help prevent falls in the first place. They make sure our team and you hear about any fall, even a small one. Overnight help is available for parents who fall at night. See how everyday help at home works.

What to do next

1. Pick a daily anchor for putting the device on and charging it.
2. Make a shower plan.
3. Practice a false alarm together.
4. Test it monthly, and check in after 30 days.
5. Look at all our home care services, or see your exact price in 30 seconds.

Need help for someone in your family? See your price in 30 seconds, or call us to talk it through.

This article is general information, not medical, legal, or financial advice. Talk with a qualified professional about your situation.