Is this story familiar to you?

“My 78 year old mom was walking around her condo front yard. She fell outside and broke her hip and no one was around to help. Her cell phone landed 15 feet away from her and she couldn’t crawl to it. She had a wireless life alert pendant, but it didn’t work as she was too far away from her condo (were the base station was located). She had to wait 2 hours before someone found her. She could have died.” Cookie S.

No one is immune from this situation! Many alert systems are very limited and require close proximity to the base station often located in a room in the home.

Physically and mentally challenged people need a fully automated system that calls for help when they can’t!

If someone you know is physically or mentally challenged, has limited mobility and cannot always be left by themselves, you should consider an automated remote alert and monitoring solution. Piece of mind can be given to loved ones of these individuals while independence and personal freedom is maintained to some degree.

Remote alerting and monitoring systems help both the caregiver and the needy. Many physically or mentally challenged are faced with situations where they need help in emergency situations. These systems can save a life.

Quality of life can be improved by technology providing both the needy and the caregiver relief.

However, technology also introduces other problems. One area in particular is wheelchairs. Wheelchairs can extend an individual’s mobility, but it also means they can potentially travel further from home or available help.

Regardless of age, individuals with limited walking mobility find comfort in manual and motorized wheelchairs. Manual wheelchairs are either self-propelled or pushed by a caretaker. Recent developments in manufacturing technologies and cost offsets by insurance carriers have resulted in increased use of power wheelchairs and motorized scooters. Regardless of the type of wheelchair, they provide mobility, personal freedom and improved quality of life.

A single battery charge will allow for a 10 – 15 mile range by many powered wheelchairs and scooters. This range can put an individual far from home and help. Many people not only use them around the house, but travel to local shopping and to visit family and friends. This convenience adds quality of life to those with limited mobility.

A cell phone should be carried by wheelchair and scooter users because of the inherent dangers. However some people are unable to use a mobile phone for various reasons which may include a sudden attach or accident.

More effective solutions to the use of cell phones may exist. This investigation looks at these alternatives.

A scooter or powered wheelchair user can travel far from help. A sudden attack or accident could evolve into something much more serious without immediate attention.

What is Alerting and Monitoring?

Monitoring and alerting are two different things. Monitoring measures parameters such as physical conditions (e.g., heart rate, body position). Alerting is a report of a monitored parameter. Many systems monitor, fewer systems alert and even fewer do both.

Alerting is the most critical of the two. Someone needs to be immediately notified when another needs help. The complication of automated alerting, which is required during many emergency situations, is that is requires accurate monitoring.

Monitoring is accomplished by various sensors. For people who are moving the sensors are generally battery-powered. Sensors send data to a computer chip for analyses. If something is wrong then an audible or visible alarm goes off (that alarm is the “alerting” part). Some alerts are more sophisticated and can provide a text message or email. Even more sophisticated are alerts that send messages via telephone.

Monitoring and Alerting Value

Real-time monitoring and alerting for your power wheelchair or any mobile medical device can significantly reduce the danger associated with accidents or physical collapse. A monitoring system can track the user’s location, vital signs, equipment maintenance issues, and can offer a “panic button” all coupled to an automated alert notification system that can be configured to notify the user’s doctor, ambulance, family members, neighbors, local first responders, and other caregivers.

Learn more about HealthCare Monitoring and Alerting. Stop by ScooterTracker.com where you can find out all about a greatwheelchair accessories and what it can do for you.

categories: Wheelchair accessories, Scooter, wheelchair, disabilities, healthcare, health