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How senior alerts can benefit older adults

As parents grow older, they may have a difficult time living at home. Navigating stairs and raised thresholds can become more dangerous and put them at a higher risk for falls. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that one out of three Americans age 65 and over fall each year. These incidents can cause broken hips and head trauma that can make independent living nearly impossible.

One of the greatest dangers comes when a senior falls and has no way to connect to emergency services. If a loved one seems to be falling more often, or is afraid of sustaining a fall in the near future, then it may be time to talk to him or her about the steps that can be taken to create a better environment. One method used by a number of Americans is to install senior alerts throughout a home, so families can ensure that a loved one is able to request help, even if they are unable to use a phone.

These innovative devices can be integral to creating an age-friendly home so that older adults can age in place. Other measures often include renovations. Older homeowners can benefit from moving their bedroom to the main floor so they don't have to move up and down the stairs as often. Grab rails can also help safety when installed in bathrooms, stair landings or by beds.

AARP research shows that more than 80 percent of Americans age 45 and over would prefer to age in their own house for as long as possible. Senior alerts can help anyone achieve this goal and prove to be an affordable alternative to a move to an assisted living facility.

Some senior alerts can even be programmed to help users with medication management, so that there's no need for complicated logs or pill boxes. By just inputting their data, older adults can be sent notifications whenever it's time for them to take a dose. This can help prevent missed doses, as well as double dosing, which are often problems for seniors whose memories aren't what they used to be – the National Council for Patient Information estimates that 125,000 people die each year from incorrectly administering prescriptions.