When it comes to protecting yourself or loved ones, there’s likely nothing you wouldn’t try or do. One of the best ways to protect yourself, a patient or loved one is with an mPERS unit. While they’re most commonly associated with older adults, mPERS devices can provide advantages to many groups of people. Wearers can receive greater mental and physical health benefits, and loved ones and physicians can experience peace of mind and provide better care.
As you consider mPERS units, learn more about what they are, who can use them, and how they benefit a wide range of people.
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What Are mPERS Units?
mPERS stands for Mobile Personal Emergency Response System. Modern-day mPERS devices are wireless and operate on cellular networks. The devices often come as pendants and are designed to protect wearers, enabling the wearer to signal when they may be in danger. Once the call center receives the signal, they can speak to the wearer and send assistance to them.
Traditional mPERS devices come in the form of bracelets and pendants. Once the wearer activates the device, it sends a signal to a close base unit, usually installed in the home. This base then connects to a response center, staffed with people who attempt to speak with the user, figure out what’s wrong and provide the wearer the assistance they need.
More advanced mPERS are available as pendants and sometimes even watches, which hold the transmitter. They’ll have a microphone and speaker built-in so the wearer can communicate with call center. Once activated, instead of connecting to a base unit, they use mobile technology to connect to a monitored response center. Since they don’t have to be near a central base unit to use, these mPERS units give wearers greater freedom and confidence to go far from home.
With the evolution of technology, mPERS units are now much more advanced. These cutting edge-units can detect falls using motion patterns and can pinpoint the location of the wearer. Advanced mPERS devices also incorporate hybrid location that uses GPS, Wi-Fi and device sensor data to help locate wearers with greater accuracy and reliability. The most sophisticated devices will also have long-lasting batteries to reduce the hassle of recharging them and make sure they’re on the wearer as much as possible.
Who Can Use mPERS Devices?
Many different types of people can use mPERS devices to give them peace of mind and help them get the assistance they need when in danger. Older adults are traditionally the primary wearers of these devices, as they are most likely to experience an accident that leaves them unable to reach a phone or get help.
For example, a slip or a fall could strand someone on the ground, unable to get up. If they live alone or the people who live with them leave for extended periods, they could potentially be on the floor for a long time before anyone can assist them. In cases where no one visits for long periods, the fall could be fatal. An mPERS device ensures they get the help they need fast.
Other than older adults, those with chronic disorders and diseases often utilize these devices. For instance, people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes and cardiovascular diseases can all benefit from the fall detection of mPERS devices. The device can signal they’re experiencing a medical emergency and need help as fast as possible.
Healthcare professionals also can provide their patients with these devices to keep them safer. If they believe their patient could benefit from the monitoring technology of these devices, they can suggest their use to the patient. By offering these devices to their patients, healthcare workers can use them to take better care of those coming to them for help and make it more likely that patients get the help they need.
Who Benefits From mPERS Devices?
The most common consumers of mPERS units are older adults, and as such, they’re the main group of people to see mPERS benefits. They aren’t the only people who benefit, however, as healthcare professionals and loved ones reap many advantages from their older patients and family members using them. Additionally, people with chronic diseases and disorders can find a lot of value from using mPERS units.
How mPERS Devices Help These People
If you’re interested in mPERS devices for yourself, a loved one or a patient, there are many reasons to consider investing in them. Below you can find out more about the many benefits of mPERS devices for a range of different groups of people.
Benefits for Older Adults
Older adults are one of the well-served groups from mPERS devices. They can help the mental and physical health of seniors while allowing them to live a more independent lifestyle as they age.
Check out how older adults can benefit from using mPERS devices:
1. Physical Advantages
It’s crucial to maintain a healthy lifestyle as you age to make sure you can spend your golden years enjoyably. The only problem with this need to stay active and healthy is that aging often comes with some mobility issues, where it’s harder to get around, and formerly simple accidents, such as slipping and falling, have more severe consequences. These mobility issues and the threat of an accident occurring while alone keep many older adults from staying active.
As a result of an inactive lifestyle, older adults can lose their stamina and strength, which puts them at an even greater risk of injury. Besides adding to their chance of injuries, a lack of physical activity can make it more difficult for older adults to get off the floor after a fall. While physical activity has some risks, it’s ultimately the better option for older adults, as it can keep them strong and reduces the chances of falling.
Since many older adults are worried about getting injured while exercising, an mPERS device can give them the confidence to start an exercise regimen. An advanced mPERS device with the latest in location technology and a built-in speaker and microphone ensures that no matter where they are, they can get help. Some exercises older adults can do with mPERS devices include:
- Going to the park and walking the dog
- Playing pickleball
- Gardening outdoors
- Hiking a trail
- Ditching the golf cart and walking the course
- Using the treadmill
- Cycling at the local gym
- Taking flexibility classes or doing the exercises at home
2. Mental-Health Advantages
The positive mental health effects that come with mPERS devices are unmatched. It can be tough to realize you can’t do everything you used to in your youth. A loss of independence can cause depression and other negative mental health effects.
The loss of independence can also lead to older adults not feeling confident enough to exercise. While this lack of exercise can decrease mobility and increase the risk of injury, it also can cause depression, increased stress and anxiety. For example, a Harvard study found that running for 15 minutes or doing one hour of moderate activity, like brisk walking, a day can reduce the chances of depression by 26%.
Since exercise has such a positive link to mental health, it’s important to stay active. However, many older adults worry about being vulnerable while out on a jog or a long walk. The anxiety and fear of getting hurt without anyone else around can make many seniors decide that exercise just isn’t worth the risk, despite all of the mental health benefits that come with it.
mPERS devices can calm these fears, as it assures older adults they can get in contact with someone who can help if they need it. In the short term, this can reduce the stress and anxiety they may experience when they go out to exercise. Instead of spending a hike worried about getting hurt, they can focus more on the moment and have peace of mind.
In the long term, mPERS devices make it easier for older adults to exercise, especially outside of the house. With a consistent exercise plan to follow, older adults can prevent or better manage depression and other long term mental health effects that can greatly reduce their quality of life. By having someone ready at a moment’s notice to assist them, they can live a less stressful and more active life, which lends itself to a healthier mind.
3. Lifestyle Advantages
Many older adults feel connected to their homes and don’t want to leave them for a nursing home or other type of long-term care facility. For some, mPERS devices can allow them to keep living at home. If the older adult can get through their home and do daily tasks without needing assistance, an mPERS device can make sure they’re protected in case of an accident.
Instead of having to sacrifice part of their independence by going to a nursing home, they can still live at home on their own. This ability to stay independent but safe is a huge benefit to many older adults. Using an mPERS device is often one of the wisest decisions an older adult can make since it takes their health needs seriously, while still letting them keep their lifestyle as free from restriction as possible.
Benefits for Those With Chronic Diseases
mPERS devices assist people with chronic diseases much like they do older adults. When someone suffers from a chronic disease, they might be afraid to exercise due to injury and the threat of not having someone close by to help with them if they get hurt.
For example, someone with COPD may be worried about starting to exercise due to their lung function. They may worry about pushing themselves too far and having difficulty breathing with no one close by to help. Since exercise is recommended to help manage the symptoms of COPD, it’s crucial for those with COPD to incorporate physical activity into their lives. With an mPERS device, someone with COPD can be active and safe.
Alongside the physical benefits that those with chronic diseases can harness through mPERS devices, there are also benefits to their lifestyle and mental health. Like older adults, people with chronic conditions can fall into not exercising and isolating themselves at home for safety reasons. While this can, in the short term, help keep them safe, a less active, isolated lifestyle can cause mental health issues, with anxiety and depression manifesting.
An mPERS device lets the wearer get out of the house with confidence. They don’t need to stay shut inside and can get back to a more independent lifestyle, which can lead to major benefits to their mental health.
Benefits for Loved Ones
Those with a loved one who is an older adult or suffers from a chronic disease often spend time worrying about their family member and hoping they’re safe. This worrying can make them feel like they always have to be around this family member or in constant contact, which can be stressful for both parties.
When someone at risk starts wearing an mPERS device, their family members can rest easy knowing they’ll be able to get in contact with others. This peace of mind is so valuable for family members since it lets them start talking to their loved one about something other than their health. It also allows both parties to take time apart, which can help their relationship a great deal.
Benefits for Health Care Professionals
Health care professionals are always looking for better ways to assist their patients’ health. If they care for older adults or those with chronic diseases, they can suggest mPERS to their patients. As part of a plan for longterm healthy living, mPERS fit perfectly.
With all of the mental and physical health benefits associated with the devices, they’re an excellent tool for healthcare providers to improve the health of their patients. Primary care physicians, for example, can’t consistently monitor their patients. By providing patients with the devices, they can make sure patients get high-quality medical care in an emergency quickly, no matter where the patient is or the time.
Partner With Towne Monitoring Services
If you could benefit from an mPERS device and the monitoring services that come with it, you need to work with an experienced and reliable company. At Towne Monitoring Service, we’re proud to provide the most advanced mPERS devices available to consumers. We’ve been helping people in emergencies since the 1950s, and we’ve only expanded our abilities since that time.
Our mPERS units are small pendants that can be worn on a belt or around the neck. Our models offer built-in fall detection capabilities as well as GPS and cellular technology to assist with locating the wearer. We’re also proud of our nationwide coverage and how easy it is to communicate through our two-way voice pendant.
Check out our mPERS devices for yourself, a loved one or a patient. Have any questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us.