My sister-in-law mentioned a Kaiser Permanente class that was being offered to show how to prevent falls from becoming a tragedy, especially among the elderly. I have several family members who have had worse falls than mom. One is in rehab right now and in terrible pain. Both of mom's sisters had terrible falls and we believe one fall eventually led to the death of her younger sister, Grace.
We therefore decided to go to the class. It turned out that the class was not really about preventing falls or keeping your house safe. It was about PERS (Personal Emergency Response). PERS are the pendant or bracelet monitoring systems to help seniors if they fall and need immediate help.
Kaiser has already vetted a company and was recommending that option. It's definitely a company to consider. However, what we really liked was the cautions on what we should look for and ask before signing with any company.
One woman told us about her neighbor who signed with a company that gave her a "good starting deal." However, after the month was over, the monthly fee was about $70 with a locked in 3 year contract.
Kaiser Permanente had vetted a PERS company called Life Station. It sounded pretty good. You don't have to sign up for a yearly contract, there are various languages spoken and it starts at around $22 a month.
The program is for seniors who:
- age 65+
- are living alone
- have a history of falls
- have outpatient or post-operative
complications
- use an assistive device to help with walking
or balance
- take 2 or more medications daily
- have a chronic condition such as a heart
condition, stroke, osteoporosis, COPD, etc.
I imagine we'll be considering this for mom in the future, but not yet. She's not convinced that she needs to wear a PERS pendant and thinks it will be a bother.
Sigh...
We therefore decided to go to the class. It turned out that the class was not really about preventing falls or keeping your house safe. It was about PERS (Personal Emergency Response). PERS are the pendant or bracelet monitoring systems to help seniors if they fall and need immediate help.
One woman told us about her neighbor who signed with a company that gave her a "good starting deal." However, after the month was over, the monthly fee was about $70 with a locked in 3 year contract.
Kaiser Permanente had vetted a PERS company called Life Station. It sounded pretty good. You don't have to sign up for a yearly contract, there are various languages spoken and it starts at around $22 a month.
The program is for seniors who:
- age 65+
- are living alone
- have a history of falls
- have outpatient or post-operative
complications
- use an assistive device to help with walking
or balance
- take 2 or more medications daily
- have a chronic condition such as a heart
condition, stroke, osteoporosis, COPD, etc.
I imagine we'll be considering this for mom in the future, but not yet. She's not convinced that she needs to wear a PERS pendant and thinks it will be a bother.
Sigh...
When we moved here to Vantage House one of those devices was given to each of us. We haven't started wearing them yet. We see evidence of complications from falls here a lot. At boot camp on Tuesday morning one woman took a spill when she did the exercise too fast and lost her balance. Everyone was concerned but she said she was fine. She continued exercising with us.I saw her yesterday a lunch time and she had a cast on her arm! She said it started hurting later so she went to er and learned she had a fracture. This woman is not frail so it can happen to anyone.
ReplyDeleteI manage to keep my cell phone with me at all times. Even when I don't have my purse with me or pockets, I wear a waitress apron with pockets or tuck my cell phone in my bra. The only problem would be if I was unconscious after the fall. Otherwise I could dial 911. It is a troubling thought for me because Ron had so many falls and I was there to call 911. Why not one of those devices? Well because they are all served by AT&T and for some reason they don't work near my home.
ReplyDeleteI have to admire your mom's independence, but I can imagine it can get a teeny bit frustrating at times.
ReplyDeleteThat's why I don't mind having a one story house, at least there are no steps to fall down on.
ReplyDeleteShe doesn't live alone so it may be ok that you supervise her anyway.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry.
ReplyDeleteKay: My girlfriend's mother has a pendant, but she takes it off and doesn't put it back on, and fell once and was on the floor for about an hour until the Meals on Wheels person came to the house. She is also supposed to walk with a cane or walker, but thinks she can make the short distance w/out either, and a couple of weeks ago fell and broke her arm in 2 places (not her first fall or first broken bone). The problem seems to be reluctance to acknowledge that their conditions are such that they need the extra safeguard (which makes their kids nuts, obviously).
ReplyDeleteI think you and Art are her emergency system. Maybe a baby monitor in her room wouldn't be a bad idea.
ReplyDeleteI was reluctant to have this thing hanging around my neck :)
ReplyDeleteGave in the first of the year and now like it. I live alone, a lot of family visits
when outside phone in pocket but do not need to fall again. Several falls in the fast
never broken anything, am careful but needed this device.
Your mom has you and Art... With severe arthritis also use cane when outside.
Rather be safe then sorry.
old age isn't for sissies...lol!
ReplyDeleteWhen my wife was in Hale Nani, a well-known local nursing home, the most common word seemed to be "fall." The next was "swallowing." I fell last year while putting on my pants and my knee hurt for a year. Now I put on my pants while sitting in a chair or on the edge of the bed. When I slide into my slippers, I put one hand on the wall.
ReplyDeleteMy 80 year old girlfriend wanted me to look for one of those English whistles that their police use. She would use it if she fell or needed help and plans to tell her neighbor to come over or call 911 if he heard her blow it. Supposed to be really loud.
ReplyDeleteBut then someone said that Costco (I think they said Costco) had a personal alarm that blasted with the touch of a button.
My other friend is taking falling classes in Kalihi Valley after reading about it in the newspaper a few weeks ago. It was free. She said it was so crowded, they had to divide people up into several groups, each group having a different time so he could accommodate everyone.
Sounds like good information. Wish the alert button companies weren't trying to rip people off. You may or may not be able to qualify for the offer if she's not totally living alone. I like that one is provided in different languages, but does it switch to English for you and Art? A regular coach or drum major whistle would be available at sporting goods stores. The elder would have to be able to blow well. An alert pendant would be lighter, but she might like the shiny brass whistle. Most patients given a whistle, bell, or button start using it all the time for minor desires, like "bring some water..." Again, within reason, it's her choice, and choices all have their various outcomes. Her doc could prescribe a home assessment visit, or eventually a Physical Therapist, who can teach about fall prevention. Read some internet articles. They usually state the obvious, but in the context of caring for the elderly, small things make a big difference. This causes many adult children to seek anti-anxiety medications.... Hang in there, Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteI've never thought much about it, but we have actually had two people in our lives fall and get stuck.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that your mom feels that she's strong enough these days to avoid a bracelet, but it's wonderful that you and Art are being so proactive with her. :-)
ReplyDeleteStrawberry Mango Salad? Guess I will have to go to Hawaii for this one and then, call up my friends Kay and Art and meet them for coffee! Sounds like a plan to me!
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