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