How To Get Mom (or Dad) To Wear Their Medical Alert Pendant
Medical Care Alert on Feb 7th 2024
How To Get Mom (or Dad) To Wear Their Medical Alert Pendant
If Mom or Dad won't wear the medical alert pendant button you just got them, what can you do?
A lot of seniors resist wearing a pendant - we have 92 year-olds who say "those things are for old people!"
We encourage folks to wear their medical alert button and view it as a way to empower them to be more active in their own home, and live independently longer. But if the positive, empowerment approach doesn't resonate with your mom, you may have to have a more difficult conversation.
Here are some ideas that other clients have had success with to talk to their loved ones about wearing a button:
- It's not for you, it's for ME. Let your mom know that you worry about her, and that it gives you peace of mind to know she can summon help at a moment's notice.
- Nobody needs to know. Our medical alert buttons are small and discreet - let them know the system you have has a very lightweight button that can be worn around the neck and under a blouse and nobody needs to see it or know.
- If you don't have a system, you may not be able to continue living alone in your home. This is tough, but the reality is that many families can't allow an elderly person to live alone and have to move them to assisted living or some other arrangement.
- Falls can be deadly. 1/3 of Americans over 65 will fall in their own home each year. If left on the floor, the consequences can be awful. We don't want your mom laying on the floor for 8, 10, 24 hours or longer -.the psychological and physical trauma is awful. Getting help quickly is critical. Unfortunately, it's not a matter of if she will fall, but when and how.
When talking to someone about the best medical alert systems for their needs, it's important to be mindful of how they live day-to-day. Are they active just inside the house, or do they get out-and-about and need protection everywhere they go. The idea is to understand that a medical alert device won't get in the way of how they live every day.
Here are more resources for you:
- Video on how a father/daughter and mother/son decided to get a system
- Free guide on Fall Prevention
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Common Excuses for Not Getting Medical Alert Systems
Resisting Change? Honest Conversations About Aging Can Help
A big stumbling block to getting a medical alert system is the person who will be wearing it. If they don't believe that wearing a medical alert necklace is necessary, they may neglect to wear it when they can get away with it. There's lots of reasons why they may not want to wear something that could save their lives. Here are a few of them:
I'll get it when I need it
We take risks every day, whether we're walking across the room, to the mailbox, or a mile down the road. Anything can happen. Rather than trusting in luck, wouldn't you rather have something in place that can dramatically minimize the consequences?
It's too much of a hassle to move
Modern medical alert systems have very few pieces. These pieces are small and ready-made for travelers. When on the road, a cell-phone sized receiver, a charger, and a medical alert necklace are all that's needed.
It's too expensive
Medical Care Alert's systems run around $1 a day, and we even have budget systems starting at $29.95 a month. Studies have shown that the faster a trauma victim can get help, the more likely they are to have a better outcome from the fall. Compare the cost of a medical alert necklace and system with that of going to the hospital. Compare it to the mental anguish associated with falling down and not having anyone there to assist.
I don't want to change
Most people are resistant to change. That's just a fact of life - we want to have everything the same way, every time. However, whether we'd like to admit it, change is all around us. Unfortunately, this is one excuse you'll have to be patient with. Showing sympathy can go a long way in helping them accept their changing circumstances.
I want to shop around
Shopping around is great, and we encourage others to shop around. Watch out, though; shopping around can be a euphemism for stalling. To test this theory, set a specific time and date for the decision to be made. If your loved one hems and haws, then try to find out what the real reason is. If they say "it costs too much" just let them compare the cost of not being protected.
While there are many excuses that your loved one might use when talking about purchasing a medical alert system, the truth is that wearing the medical alert necklace or pendant can ultimately save lives. What value do you place on having experienced emergency personnel on hand at the push of a button?
And if they think nothing can happen to them, have them read our actual emergency dispatch transcripts to see what kind of emergencies we respond to - its a real eye opener.
Click this link for more ideas on how to talk to your parents about getting a medical alert system.
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And if they think nothing can happen to them, have them read our actual emergency dispatch transcripts to see what kind of emergencies we respond to - its a real eye opener.
Click this link for more ideas on how to talk to your parents about getting a medical alert system.
Related Articles: