As our population ages, more and more seniors are going to stay in their homes longer. This “aging in place” movement will allow the elderly to maintain their independence longer, but with that comes the need for added security and protection. About one in three people over the age of 65 will fall in any given year (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), and getting help to that person is imperative. In fact, 90 percent of people who get help within one hour of falling will continue to live independently, but after 12 hours without help only 10 percent of people can continue to live at home (New England Journal of Medicine). Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) give HME/DME providers the ability to provide support and protection with the press of a button.
PERS As We Know Them
PERS devices have existed for years, but they have been limited in their technology and practicality. Thus, there’s a wide range of PERS available today. Many such devices include a medical pendant that simply activates a base station that is centrally located in the home. When the pendant is pressed, the user must shout to the base station to be heard by the operator on the other end. If the person that needs help is not in the room where the base station is located, two-way voice communication can be difficult to accomplish. Additionally, a monitored PERS unit communicates to a central station operator who answers the call and then determines what type of help is needed. These monitored units provide around-the-clock coverage, as the central station monitors 24/7. Monthly fees for the monitoring are in the range of $25-$30 and often do not require a down payment for the equipment.
Innovation in PERS
No single PERS answers the needs of all users, so manufacturers have started developing products for various applications. LogicMark, a leading PERS manufacturer based in Louisville, Ky., has developed several products in the PERS industry, including PERS alternatives that solve the problem of two-way communication if the user is not in the same room as the base station. The GuardianAlert911, FreedomAlert and LifeSentry products are two-way voice pendants, meaning the user can communicate through the pendant instead of shouting to a base station. Because the pendants have a 600-foot range from the base station, they allow the user to roam their residence and even go outside while still having the security and protection of a PERS device.
A Solution for Your HME Business
With a rapidly increasing senior population—10,000 people turn 65 each day—comes an expanding marketplace for your business. PERS are a great source of revenue for HME/DME companies because they are cash products that require little to no time wasted with insurance approval and reimbursement. Getting started offering PERS is easy. A well-placed PERS device in the store and supporting marketing material generally sell the product themselves. Additionally, health fairs and visits to elderly organizations and church groups are great places to introduce and market PERS to the target audience. Moreover, these groups are generally very excited to have speakers share this sort of product and its benefits.
