How do I tell my dad that he needs a PERS, Personal Emergency Response System?

Hello. My name is Terry Scott, MCP with Electronic Caregiver. I'm really a "Fall Consultant" who educates people on how to avoid falls and assists them in being protected before any occurrence happens. In my line of work, I'm often 

Sometimes it's harder for me to help my friends to help their parents with these devices. 

One close friend feels she cannot "convince" her dad about having a unit. " i believe its a good thing but trying to convence my dad is another thing"

Here is my reply: 

(Friend's Name) , you are not the "Lone Ranger" in this; almost everybody whose father now happily has one of these units had the "talk" during this role reversal stage of life. Whether it is easy or not, you may have to say, "Dad, you won't be driving anymore", or "Dad, you can't live at home anymore" and "Dad, I can't stand knowing if you are safe living alone anymore" is included. I've had many of those talks this last year with my mom and my two brothers. And I thank you for your help and support when you were giving me advice as you'll remember. Now all I can do is offer my advice to you. If you think this is too much "tough love" from me, don't get mad; get a unit from someone, even if it isn't from me. This is the last I'll ever say about this unless you ask me. You know I'm your friend and that I see some things that you may not see, and that I care.

This is a letter or conversation I would have with my dad; if he was still with me today. 

Dad, I’m sharing this because I love you and I’m concerned because you live alone where you could be harmed by a home intruder or any number of situations; the real one being a fall. 1 out of every 4 people will fall this year and I have no way of knowing if it will be you or one of your 3 friends. I know that when you do fall and are able to get up, you won’t tell me; you’ll shrug it off but the fact is that once you’ve fallen your chance of falling again doubles.

One out of five falls causes serious injuries such as broken bones and head injuries. You are in good health now, but a fall could change that in a minute. The longer you lay on the floor without getting immediate help decreases your chance of retaining your current health and lifestyle. Being on the floor, or the cold ground outside for just a very short time can cause you to live in an assisted living facility ending your current lifestyle and comfortable routine. Right now you are living self-sufficient at home by yourself, and now with a personal emergency response system you can continue to do so with confidence and I’m not stressed.

You may be in denial thinking that “this will never happen to me”, and I would love to think things like this could never happen to my dad. But I don’t want to think, I want to know that you’ll have help immediately if and when you need it. If you are one of the fortunate, this is the cheapest insurance around and peace of mind for both of us.

I have a friend who is a fall consultant with Electronic Caregiver and I want you to call him. His number is xxx.xxx-xxxx. And I’m going to keep bugging you until you call him and get one of these units. If it means that I have to pay for it myself, I will. 

 www.AlwaysConnectedCare.com END OF MONTH SPECIAL. I’m telling my friends that if they are considering a Fall Button for themselves or a loved one, this month is probably the best month to get the unit. We have a special which includes 10% off the monthly monitoring services for as long as you have the unit, we waive the activation fee and include a free inner ear thermometer. If you are not a friend yet, that’s OK; you’re family! Contact me. This will be the greatest gift some will get for all seasons!





Protected when falling at independent living facilities

 The Journey Begins… 



Campus of Go Ye Village

The community’s journey with Electronic Caregiver began with Tony Ward, Campus Director of Operations and Independent Living. He decided to bring Electronic Caregiver to Go Ye Village after purchasing the company’s medical alert device for his mother-in-law, Esther Stallings. This was the beginning of Go Ye Village and Electronic Caregiver’s partnership.

Esther’s Options Around 2012, Esther, then a resident of Go Ye Village, needed to replace her old personal emergency response system (PERS). The company she previously bought her PERS device from had gone out of business. So, her family started looking for a new system. That’s when Tony came across a brochure for Electronic Caregiver, a health technology and services company. Electronic Caregiver offers medical alert devices and other digital healthcare solutions. Electronic Caregiver helps protect residents of assisted or independent living facilities across the country. Our company’s advanced technology gives residents a sense of confidence and independence. Furthermore, family members and staff feel at ease knowing residents can get emergency assistance at the touch of a button. Read more

My name is Terry Scott and I am the Connected Care Coordinator for the Twin Ports area and advocate for all safety concerns for every age of our community citizens, but mostly the senior population in the prevention of falls. “It’s the moment that everyone fears: hearing that their loved one has been injured. At assisted living facilities, this moment is most likely to be spurred by a slip or fall. Slips and falls are by far the most common form of injury amongst assisted living facility residents and senior citizens in general …” I want to help you and your tenants specifically. 

I am a Master Care Partner (MCP) with Electronic Caregiver®, one of the fastest-growing health and safety monitoring companies in the U.S. "Electronic Caregiver® is focused on developing and participating in research efforts that support improved outcomes across the healthcare continuum, especially in medical alert systems and fall alert. 

Watch a short video on ECG’s success at Go Ye Village. I would love to do a zoom meeting with the Director of Operations and Independent Living at your facility and see how we might be of service to you. 

Complete the contact form at AlwaysConnectedCare.com to let me know of your interest and I will be in touch immediately.

Sincerely, 

Terry Scott MCP with ECG

You don't have to live in an independent living location to experience falls and other harmful situations. Each year, millions of older people—those 65 and older—fall. In fact, more than one out of four older people falls each year, 1 but less than half tell their doctor. 2  Falling once doubles your chances of falling again. 

Falls Are Serious and Costly. One out of five falls causes a serious injury such as broken bones or a head injury. Each year, 3 million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries.

Protect yourself or a loved one. Please don't hesitate to visit AlwaysConnectedCare.com or www.AMonitorForMom.com to get more details. I know that you will definitely be glad that you did. 


What is the average time someone is on the floor without help?

 I’m also an advocate for our seniors. More than one out of four older people fall each year, many are over 65 and if they are able to get up, they don’t tell their loved ones or doctor that they fell. Then they fall again and the average time they are on the floor or outside without someone finding them is sixteen and a half hours. By then if they do get up, their lifestyle and lifespan are decreased greatly. With my own business, AMonitorForMom.com help can be just minutes away when someone falls, has a home intruder, is attacked by an animal or someone in the community. AMonitorForMom.com isn’t just for moms anymore; it’s for our children coming home from school, our daughters going away to school, and many other scenarios. I am an advocate for the safety of all.


If you are interested in knowing about the variety and affordability of our systems, (we exclusively recommend those by Electronic Caregiver (ECG) please visit our website: AMonitorForMom.com When visiting be sure to contact us and ask about our monthly special. 

Would you like to be an "advocate" and share AMonitorForMom with others? Ask how. 


History of Personal Emergency Response Systems

  Invite author and speaker Terry (Ter) Scott to speak at your event or for your organization. Please use our contact form on this page to request details. 

Enjoy the first chapter of my book Don't Fall for Anything below. 


Do Not Fall For Anything

Introduction and 

Chapter One, History of Personal Emergency Response Systems

Introduction

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything” which can mean a lot of things but for me, it means that I stand for helping others “not to fall”.

I was introduced to this industry a few years back when I became an installer for a well-known company that manufactured PERS units, Personal Emergency Response Systems. These were units about the size of a small toaster that sat on a counter somewhere in the “center” of the home where a person spent most of the day, with the person wearing a wristband or neck pendant that they would push in the event of a fall or any emergency.

I absolutely loved what I did. The company faxed or emailed me the work order, I called the person (who was expecting the call (the unit was usually ordered by a caregiver, nurse, or other health professionals), went to the home, “installed” the system, and then explained how to use it. “Explaining” took the most time.

It sounds simple and it was except that I found myself spending time explaining, and educating the person on how to wear it, and to wear it ALWAYS (to never, never, and never take it off; even when leaving home because they may forget to put it back on) and if ANYTHING (meaning “anything”; even if they just wanted to “talk”) that they only needed to PUSH THE BUTTON. And, I spent a great deal of time “convincing” people to comply.  

For many, it was confusing and “different” to wear something. For others, it was having an additional, strange object sitting next to the sugar and coffee containers on their counter. And still for others, and this was a big one, they were in denial thinking that they DID NOT NEED this and that their kids wanted them to have it. When I would return to troubleshoot why their unit wasn’t working I found some of them unplugged from the wall, some hidden behind bread boxes and sugar canisters, packed in a box waiting to be returned. Sometimes the subscriber was self-conscious and thought everyone “noticed” that they were wearing the wrist band or pendant. Instead of an “installer”, I think the job was that of an “educator”.

Having done this for about 10 years I think I can assure you that I’ve seen it all. I actually have an education degree and love teaching, and I know “how” to teach. If you’ve ever had an instructor who you “did not understand”, you know what I mean; it wasn’t you, I believe with my whole heart that it was your instructor. (Well, I digress; that’s another book).

I was good at doing these installs because I was an educator and (modestly can say that) I understood the product and service… but more importantly I “knew” the concern of the role reversal that takes place with the adult child now having to care for a senior parent… and I also knew that the senior parent wanted to retain dignity and independence.

All of this is why I’m writing this. I want you to know that “I feel your pain”. I feel the concern that the adult caregiver has with a senior living at their residence who is alone all day while the caregiver is stressed at work wondering if mom or dad are taking their medicine, the right medicine at the right times. Wondering if they fell while getting up and going to the bathroom. They may think about their parent cutting themselves while preparing something in the kitchen, falling from a step stool, tripping on uneven floor levels or slipping on wet surfaces, or getting in and out of the shower or bathtub. This pain only increases when a parent lives just down the block or in another state.

I also want you to know that I’ve been there. I’ve seen it. And I continually am trained to be there; to see it. And I want you to join me. Read this material. Make everything as safe as possible. Follow my Facebook page and get updated tips and watch informative and important LIFE-SAVING videos. That is all totally free. Become aware of ways to be and remain safe in the home and on the go. And be sure that you have a PERS – Personal Emergency Response System for you and, or your parent. (Later I’ll describe why and how these units are not just for seniors).

Like all things, technology has improved in this personal safety industry; for instance, the unit that used to sit on the counter is now about the size of the palm of your hand and “finds” you using GPS anywhere you are in the USA; even the world. The response time and overall client assistance have improved; especially through one company, ECG.

As I mentioned, I loved doing installs for my first venture but when the company insisted on a different and more cumbersome, time-consuming routine in getting the paperwork to me, I got frustrated and quit. I still had clients calling me for years and I would help them as best I could and give them the number of the company for further help. Now that company is not even in business!

I kept busy with my other entrepreneurial pursuits but when I saw the opportunity to partner* with Electronic Caregiver (ECG) I was totally thrilled. Visiting the corporate office in Las Cruces New Mexico, seeing what they offer and how they do what they do with such high integrity, and being trained by a company that is the fastest-growing company of its kind (in the world), I could not be happier. I knew I was in the right place. And, with my experience and knowledge of ten years in the field of helping caregivers and senior subscribers, I knew I must write this.

As an installer for the originator of the first medical alert system, I have some idea of its history. The following information is true to the best of my knowledge and is presented here as a bit of a background and not as "gospel". If you really want to dig further into the fascinating background of how all of the medical alert systems came about, you've got the Internet and as everyone knows, "If it's on the Internet it has to be true", Abraham Lincoln.

History of Personal Emergency Response Systems

People have fallen from the beginning of time and very shortly after the creation of gravity.

You may remember the story of Daedalus, the father of Icarus, who molded two sets of wings out of wax and quills for both he and his son. Overwhelmed by happiness in being able to fly, the unwise Icarus took off into the sky, but getting excessively near the sun; the heat softened the wax so Icarus fell into the ocean and died. This idea of flying is probably too fantastic in the mind of most seniors but reaching too high and falling off a step stool or a ladder is not. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Persons in the year 2000, ages 65 and older accounted for half of all ladder deaths reported to CPSC. In 2002, this population accounted for 16% of emergency room-treated injuries involving ladders".  Other hazards are tripping over a pet or on a throw rug, or falling between the bed and wall. This and more are all very real; with very real consequences. We may live closer to the floor than Icarus was to the sun, but the consequences could be just as fatal; especially if you are forced to lay there for an extended period of time. (The average time for someone to be found after falling is sixteen and one-half hours). It's not just the "I've fallen and can't get up" situation, it's also having the "I've fallen and need help now!" solution. My friend, associate, and mentor in the “anti-fall” and “how-to-get-help-fast-after-you-fall” business, Mr. Tony Dohrmann says, “Gravity is Public Enemy #1; has been and always will be, and especially attacks worse the aging population”.

If you know of or are one of, the 3 million older people who fall and will be treated in emergency rooms this year, with all the talk about remote monitoring and personal response systems you might think this is all new technology. But as with all things, this too has evolved over time. Before we get started with what you must do so you “Don’t Fall for Anything”, let’s take a look at a few highlights from the “I’ve fallen and can’t get up” history.

Philips Lifeline was the first to provide a personal alert service in North America back in 1972, when gerontologist Andrew Dibner, Ph.D., wondered, "What would an elderly person do if he or she were alone and needed help? They’d call for someone, of course, but how?” It seems I was told somewhere (perhaps in my training with Philips as an installer) is that Dibner's “aha” moment came to him while shaving one morning. He was alone, and cellphones weren’t yet invented, wondering what if he had an accident in the bathroom… how could he get to the phone? (Before you think that having a cellphone today is your “salvation” and solution in an emergency, remind me to fill you in later on how cellphones are literally thrown far from reach when you fall, you won't always have the presence of mind to “dial” 911 when a home intruder is breaking in, and it’s near impossible to use your cellphone in an animal attack). 

Dr. Dibner imagined his personal emergency response system made affordable and accessible to all seniors and started fostering the idea. After only two years, his idea became reality, when he and his social scientist spouse, Susan, set up Lifeline Systems, Inc.

Working on even more ways to help offer independence for senior adults, the Dibners began selling the Lifeline Systems. In 1972 they pioneered the wireless button and in 1976 Dibner was granted a patent for the Automatic Alarm System. 

None of this evolution of the personal emergency response system (PERS) would be possible without the genius of L. Dennis Shapiro. He took over as director and CEO of Lifeline Systems in July 1978. The organization soon changed its advertising and marketing selecting to target emergency clinics and nursing homes rather than going directly to the patient. In those days, the associations and larger medical firms would buy or rent the Lifeline hardware, and then lease it to their patients. Social workers and other medical professionals were the ones who offered Lifeline to patients and their families and someone like myself would get those orders and install the units. That's mostly changed now because today's technology and greater affordability have switched to marketing directly to consumers online and having a more "relationship marketing" type of assistance by local businesses, advocates, and care partners like myself through companies such as AMonitorForMomDOTcom, PushButtonAssistDOTcom, and AlwaysConnectedCareDOTcom.

The inventor, Shapiro is maybe most known as a pioneer of PERS innovation. In the testing of radio waves and home security, he drove the improvement of a 24-hour alert system” for Lifeline Systems, and headed Lifeline from 1980 until he resigned in 1988 and remained on as executive until Philips procured the organization in 2006. This is about the time Yours Truly started doing installs for Philips installing and educating subscribers and the public on the advantages of living independently with PERS.

The famous line spoken in a TV ad by entertainer Dorothy McHugh was, “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” which was for LifeLine. (The slogan has been altered slightly to be used by other medical alert companies without copyright infringement). The slogan helped seniors and others at risk to be made aware that they could get a pendant which, when the button was pushed, speak into an “intercom” sort of device that was sitting on a nearby table or counter connected through the phone line and directly to a dispatcher. All of this was now possible without the need to physically get to and dial a phone for help. Now with an emergency such as a fall, the person was equipped with the assurance of getting help in emergencies. Today people young and old wear wristbands or pendants to be safe after school, at college, out on the town, and in the community, and not just inside the home. However, our seniors are still the most vulnerable of our population and the biggest users. Technology has improved also and today the units are smaller, far more sophisticated having more sensitive components, and GPS capabilities to find someone who has an emergency outside their home. Plus units can now detect falls without the need to push a button in the case someone becomes unconscious or is unable to push the button. Peripherals such as blood pressure monitors and ear thermometers can be added to units. Help centers and response time has improved too.

Once considered only as "fall systems" now promises to richly increase safety and independence; giving peace of mind to the user and caregiver. More sophisticated systems by companies such as Electronic Caregiver boast 24/7 advanced remote patient monitoring with voice technology, full redundancy, total care circle coordination, and seamless connectivity.

You've just read the introduction and chapter one of Don't Fall for Anything. If you like what you've read, consider following this blog so you'll see future chapters when published. When the book is published, these blogs will be available only to those who purchased the book. The book is in progress right now so I welcome your thoughts, editing suggestions, additions, and corrections. 

Would you like to purchase the book in advance? Request to be notified when we are about 3 months out and we will email you so you'll have plenty of time to do so. 

Are you in the medical field and would like to purchase in bulk to give to your clients? The book has a place where you can place your label over my contact information (except in the Kindle and audio versions). The book also contains references to my services which are available nationwide but I also mention throughout that if they have a reputable person locally that they should seek them out. When you buy in bulk you can let me know how you will use the book and I will create and include a recommendation letter that you can reprint and include with each book you give. 

Terry Scott is an entrepreneur with several businesses and also the Connected Care Coordinator for the Twin Ports area where he resides. His role is connecting physicians with caregivers with those receiving all types of care and remaining safe by using simple and affordable emergency response systems. having been in the industry for over ten years, Scott is familiar with most of the systems available and now exclusively endorses Electronic Caregiver (ECG) products. You can contact him through his sites, www.AlwaysConnectedCare.com (product demo); www.AMonitorForMom.com (videos and link to products), and www.PushButtonAssist.com (designed to explain the simplicity and cut all the confusion and all you do is "Push the Button"). 


Click on Image to watch videos and get more information.


Always Connected Care Promotes others in the Care Community to Complete the Circle of Care

 Dear healthcare professional,

I’m contacting you because I would like to promote your business.

My name is Terry Scott and I am the Connected Care Coordinator for the Twin Ports area and advocate for all safety concerns for every age of our community citizens, but mostly the senior population in the prevention of falls. The CDC states that "falls" are common and costly, especially among Americans age 65 and older. Plus, every second of every day, an older adult (age 65+) suffers a fall in the U.S.—making falls the leading cause of injury and injury death in this age group.

I am a Master Care Partner (MCP) with Electronic Caregiver®, one of the fastest-growing health and safety monitoring companies in the U.S. "Electronic Caregiver® is focused on developing and participating in research efforts that support improved outcomes across the healthcare continuum, especially in medical alert systems and fall alert. Working closely with doctors, providers, and caregivers by educating, installing, and servicing these emergency response systems, I am rubbing elbows with those who must know about you and how your business plays an important role in the circle of care.

It costs you nothing for me to recommend your business in my weekly fall consultations, but I always welcome any referrals you may send my way.

Complete the contact form on this page to let me know of your interest and I will be in touch with you soon.

Also, visit our Facebook page and post “feel good” posts as often as you like. You can also publish promotional posts on Mondays and Fridays.

I look forward to recommending your business to Twin Ports Circle of Care.

Sincerely,

Terry Scott MCP with ECG

www.AlwaysConnectedCare.com

 

 

Our mission is to create the safest, healthiest communities in the world!

Support for caregivers, better outcomes, and security for the aging and those with chronic conditions.

I’ve contacted you because your business serves the health community. We are looking for others who offer the following products and services. Who would you say we should invite to the Circle of Care? Would you kindly tell them about us?

 Physicians, therapists, social workers, psychiatrists, building maintenance workers and administrative clerks

 Nurses, psychiatrists, home health aides

 Dentists, dental assistants, administrative clerks and dental hygienists

 Home health and personal aids/assistants

 Health practitioners, physical therapists, chiropractors, optometrists, psychologists and occupational therapists

 Outpatient care centers, substance abuse rehab centers, mental health rehab centers and emergency health clinics

 Ambulance drivers, EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians), paramedics and attendants

 Radiologists, medical assistants, surgical equipment preparers and medical transcription specialists

 Ear doctors, hearing clinics

 Eye doctors, clinics

 Diabetic equipment, shoes

 Medical Equipment supplier

Linked Caregiver monitoring service for your child, mom, dad for 24/7 safety.


AARP recently featured Electronic Caregiver in an article. I would be pleased to answer any questions you may have. 

 • Electronic Caregiver's Premier, what the company calls a “mobile security and care support system,” is a wrist device that includes activity monitoring; an emergency button; a GPS locator to make the system useful to more than homebound clients; and medication reminders.

It's linked to a Family Caregiver App to keep loved ones in the loop. The device is free with a monthly subscription that costs $40 to $60 a month, depending on the level of monitoring.

CHRISTINA IANZITO, AARP

Electronic Caregiver's Premier wrist device includes a GPS tracker.

The Las Cruces, New Mexico-based company's president, Joseph Baffoe, says that unlike the 30-year-old, reactive medical alert systems ("I've fallen, and I can't get up!"), “this is predictive and preventive. That's the future of health care."


I would love to answer all of your questions to find the right protection/monitoring system for your loved one, mom, dad, child, adult and friends. 

Terry 

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