When I worked in the Monroe County Home Care Unit, I visited an elderly woman in an extremely dangerous part of town. I wanted to discuss if her plan of care was meeting her needs. Part of her plan was to have a Personal Emergency Response unit (PERS) so she could summon help from anywhere in her apartment, even if she were far from the phone. The unit was attached to her phone with a speaker so she and the responder could hear each other. “Mary” wore her PERS button at the end of a necklace.
When a young man knocked at her door and said he was a friend of her son’s, she let him in. Very shortly he brandished a knife. “Mary” crossed her arms across her chest, setting off the PERS alarm. She cried “Sweet Jesus, help me!” Within two seconds a voice responded, “How can I help you?” And in the next second, the guy bolted out of her apartment, never to be seen again.
Why PERS?
In the latest commercial for the Personal Emergency Response unit, the cries from the elderly actress lying at the foot of the stairs sound frightening. They are realistic enough to make anyone consider wearing a personal alert button!
Take it from Queen Klutz. My neighbor did not see me lying on my driveway after my fall on ice when she drove past my house. Fortunately, I was able to get up on my own and suffered only a mild concussion.
So I am a big fan of personal emergency response for every person needing care in the home. It reassures caregivers that their loved one has only to press a button to summon immediate help while they run errands. A delayed home health care aide or companion does not put your loved one in danger because a PERS functions as a lifeline.
How it Works
The client/caregiver gives the response center vital information such as medical problems, emergency numbers to call (neighbor, family member) who can intervene immediately. Perhaps they can help the person, without the need for EMTs.
Client/caregiver informs responders how EMTs can enter the home if there is no one to let them in. For example, I hid our house key for emergency access (and if I locked myself out).
One woman had small children, and she left instructions that if she needed transport to the hospital, her children may be taken to her neighbors.
Besides physical emergencies, several people pressed the alert button because they saw strangers lurking about. Police were dispatched just as if they had called 911 on their phone, which may not be nearby.
Questions to Ask the PERS Vendor
I chatted with Debra Kostiw, owner of No Place Like Home Senior Care, about questions people should ask a potential vendor.
- What is the range of the PERS? Will it work outside the home? How far away from home?
- Does it have GPS capability in case the person wanders and gets lost?
- Does the service provide a daily check-in? Reminders to take medications?
- What is the cost per month? (Remember the adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”)
- Is there an installation fee?
- When it is no longer needed, how does one return it?
- Must the unit be physically attached to your phone?
Finding a PERS Vendor Near You
In Rochester and the Finger Lakes region, elderly often turn to Lifespan for information about resources. https://www.lifespan-roch.org/ . I drilled down from the site to find a list of area PERS vendors. No doubt, other venders also serve the Rochester area, and many are associated with home care agencies.
Professionally, and as a caregiver, I believe PERS provides safety for the care receiver while allowing a bit of respite for the caregiver. In an upcoming blog, I will write about another “best kept secret” for families as well as care receivers —adult day care.
That small unit that my mother wore around her neck certainly helped her. As her caregiver I was always with her since I had decided to take up residence after my dad passed. As a round the clock care giver, I never thought I would have a good enough reason to ever leave her alone. I was wrong. My grandson in Arizona was to make his First Communion and Confirmation and my son begged us both to come. My mom could not see herself traveling anymore but she didn’t stand in my way. After making all the necessary plans and schedules with my sister, I also had a heart to heart with Mom. I told her to be sure she always wore her emergency response unit around her neck! I drilled her on not bringing anything out to the garage since that would require descending two steps. She promised. The next day while I was enjoying the Phoenix sun, my phone rang and the operator said “an emergency fire truck and ambulance are on their way to….” giving the address. My heart sank! After palpitations of my own to contend with because of the delay in reaching anyone at “home” I finally learned that mom went into the garage to unload a small bag, lost her balance on the steps, fell on the concrete floor and hit the back of her head enough to give her a slight concussion. She was rushed to the hospital, had X-rays to check for a brain bleed since she was on blood thinner, and was released into the care of my sister!! If it wasn’t for the emergency response unit, she could have laid there indefinitely! Those units have saved many people from unfortunate endings I am sure!
Thank you for sharing your experience, Joanne! I hope it will encourage people to consider PERS. Although it’s sad that your mom went into the garage anyway (can’t exactly trust promises), what a blessing she could call for help and your sister could take over. It was important for you to see your grandson make his First Communion and Confirmation. Resources, resources…..check those resources before you miss milestones!
Hi Sue, not sure if you know this, but I have a PERS. You have to wear it every day, and although I never had to use it just the assurance that it is there around my neck. You folks who wear a PERS need to remember to call (just by hitting the button) once a month to test it. I do it on the 19th of every month which is the day of my birthday. (I mark it on my calendar and after I test it I put a checkmark on the date so I know I did it for that month) When they call you back you just tell them you are testing it to make sure it works. Mine goes 500 feet. That is all I need as I live in a 55 and older apartment. Very valuable for a klutz like me!! Thank you Sue for such an article that I can contribute to.
Thank you, Ade! Great “take it from me” advice.