This ‘n That By Anne Vargas annevargas.3@gmail.com
Anne Vargas
This is a reappearance of an article from two years ago. I wrote it then because two friends, both widows, died within weeks of one another because they were unable to summon help when needed.
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oth stories were horrifying, both could have had different endings. I felt strongly about the need for people, especially if living alone, to have access to assistance and started “beating the drum” on the subject. It worked... I can’t count the number of people who told me they had heeded my advice and gotten some sort of alert device. However, despite my fervor on the subject, I did not. Why? Procrastination? Laziness? Foolishness!!! I definitely intended to do that some day but probably felt that since my husband and I were always together, if I needed help he would be there. Then life happened; an unanticipated medical situation put my husband in the hospital for an extended period and suddenly I found myself alone in the house, suddenly, keenly aware that if I slipped on the steps or fell in the shower it could be
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pretty serious. I am among the many who claim my cell phone is always with me. And it actually is, I even wear a little pouch that holds it across my shoulder all the time. I put it right next to the shower when I get in there. But you know what? I realize I could still slip and fall and not be able to reach it. So, I resurrected all my rating information, comparison charts on various companies and started all over again. I am not qualified to recommend any particular company but it’s so easy to look it up on the web. Depending on the website you’ll get varying answers as to which company is the best but when studied carefully, most of the same companies appear on the top lists. In my opinion, any one of them would be fine and I finally made the choice that makes the best sense for me. Now I urge every reader to do the same if you have not done so already.
February 2021 // www.SeniorSpectrumNewspapers.com
Some somber stuff to ponder & heed…
Among the many solicitation calls I always ignore is the one about medical alert devices. Later for that; maybe when I’m older. Meanwhile, I just hang up because I don’t need it. Or do I? Horrifyingly, I recently had occasion to understand and appreciate how very important it is to have a life alert system and I am now on a mission to nag everyone I know into getting one. In less than one month, two people whom we knew had catastrophic events while they were home alone and unable to call for help. Heartbreakingly, neither one survived. If there had been a Medical alert system in place, the outcome may have been different. It’s distressing to read or hear about stories like this but when you personally know the individuals, it really hits home and gives one cause to pause. Not only did I subsequently decide I (we) needed a medical alert device, I wondered why we hadn’t done this long ago. And why should I assume that because I live with my spouse its not necessary? A friend fell while in the shower and ended up waiting on the floor for hours, barely covered in the towel she was
able to grab, until her husband came home to assist. And having a cell phone is of no use unless you have it nearby and can reach it in an emergency. It was time to pay attention to those phone calls but once I decided to answer them and listen, they stopped. Once again, Mr. Google came to the rescue. Several hours of research resulted in an abundance of information and a multitude of websites comparing the many Medical Alert Systems available. I had no idea there are so many different companies, or how they differ in what they offer. In a nutshell, a Medical Alert System can help you summon assistance in event of an emergency. When you think of it that way, it would seem common sense would ensure everyone would want this kind of reassurance. You have a device (necklace, bracelet or pendant) on your person at all times, all of them lightweight, unobtrusive and waterproof. Simply pressing the button and activating it would be a lifeline. From the Consumer Report website: If you are considering such a system, which should you choose? With the wide
