How seniors can maintain independence and give loved ones peace of mind
Home security device helps “sandwich generation” balance numerous responsibilities They’re called the “sandwich generation” – working adults who have taken on the role of caring for an aging or ill parent while still raising their own children and pursuing a career. Membership to this group is growing every year as the Canadian population ages. In fact, according to Statistics Canada, more than 2 million Canadians, mostly women between 35 and 44 years old, are “sandwiched” between caring for their young children and aging parents at the same time. This can sometimes mean their resources, both mental and physical, are spread too thin which can also lead to worry and guilt when it comes time to leave the senior home alone. Part of the worry is for potential medical emergencies or falls that could occur since seniors are at a much greater risk of falling. According to Health Canada, every year one in three seniors will fall at least once and falls account for more than half of all injuries among Canadians 65 years and over. These were some of the concerns sandwich generation member Lisa Fazari of Richmond Hill, Ontario had as she looked for solutions to help care for her 83-year-old mother, Ursula Calderon, while also caring for her teenage daughters. Fazari’s mother’s activity level had decreased dramatically since the osteoarthritis in her legs caused her to slow down and be more cautious, yet she was adamant that giving up her independence of living alone wasn’t an option.
“My concern for my mom living on her own was the fact that even though she’s aging, she’s very determined to live independently. She loves to maintain her regular routine and do her own thing,” explained Fazari. “But the fact is, she can have an accident any time and I’m very concerned that nobody would reach her fast enough to help her out should she fall.” So Lisa looked into CarePros, a personal medical alert device to help give her and her family the peace of mind they need to know her mother will be assisted if ever she experiences a medical emergency while home alone. Coupled with the two-way voice communicator that is installed in Calderon’s home, Fazari now has the assurance that comes with knowing her mother will receive emergency assistance in a timely manner if necessary, and that she will be notified if it happens. “The key features that I love about CarePros are the panic button and its ability to determine if she’s fallen or not. It’s the solution that we’ve been looking for, for a long time,” she added. The device features a built-in panic button as well as an optional intelligent pendant with fall detection. As an additional layer of protection, the fall detection option works by sensing a sudden vertical acceleration. A short delay following a fall allows the person to cancel the alarm if they can recover. If the fall alarm is not cancelled and help is needed, the individual is immediately connected with an operator in the monitoring centre. More information about senior safety at home is available at Carepros.ca