There are various medical alert systems on the market. They may be monitored or unmonitored, at-home or wearable and even include features like fall detection. 
 
Medical alert systems feature an emergency button you can press to summon assistance during an emergency situation. Most devices connect directly with a professional monitoring center while some include GPS to help find users when they're not home. 
What is a medical alert device? 
 
Medical alert devices are personal emergency response systems with wearable buttons you can press to call for help in an emergency. Most devices connect to a monitoring center that will talk with the user and decide whether or not emergency services need to be sent out. In addition, monitoring centers may contact designated contacts or caregivers as needed and detect falls that require assistance, providing valuable location data in such instances. 
 
Medical alert systems can be expensive, but there are ways to lower their costs. You could use pre-tax dollars from a health savings account or flexible spending account or long-term care insurance policies as payment for your system. Finally, setting aside money in a dedicated medical alert savings account could help. 
 
At-home and mobile medical alert devices are two primary categories. At-home devices typically connect over landlines while mobile medical alert devices use cellular networks and can be taken with you wherever you go. You have the choice between monitored or unmonitored systems; our seven CR Best Buy brands all provide monitored systems with 24/7 live help support. 
 
Some medical alert systems offer wearable devices, like pendants or bracelets that you can put on and activate with just the press of a button. These wearable devices may prove lifesaving in case of a fall; many also come equipped with built-in fall detectors which notify monitoring centers when movement has been detected. 
Can a medical alert device detect a heart attack? 
 
Heart attacks (also referred to as myocardial infarction) occur when blood flow to part of the heart is cut off due to blockage from clots or other conditions in its coronary arteries, potentially leading to the death of part of its muscle and constituting an emergency situation that requires prompt medical care. Medical alert systems utilize electrical signals from patient chest monitors that record electrocardiograms (ECGs). Once detected, results from ECGs are sent directly back to call centers for evaluation and further evaluation. 
 
This prototype system comprises two subsystems that communicate wirelessly using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology: a wearable sensor subsystem and an intelligent heart attack detection and warning subsystem. The former uses dry electrodes to sense electrical activity from within the chest area and produce an ECG trace, then continuously transmitting raw signals over Bluetooth Low Energy to another portable decision-making subsystem equipped with an off-the-shelf Raspberry Pi 3 board equipped with an RFduino BLE interface for transmission back out over Bluetooth Low Energy technology. 
 
Intelligent subsystem continuously analyzes ECG data and compares it with pre-symptoms of heart attack (STEMI and NSTEMI), stored in its memory. If an ACS event occurs, an alert via pager-sized accessory is sent directly to the patient with their GPS coordinates included for quicker responder dispatch. 
Can a medical alert device detect a stroke? 
 
Most strokes are caused by blood clots that block oxygen from reaching the brain. A new device that analyzes heart signals can detect these clots early and give doctors more time to treat them before any irreparable damage has been done. 
 
As opposed to current stroke monitors, which only detect LVO, this device can also identify carotid pulse wave changes that appear early during a stroke. Its AI-powered algorithm uses multiple parameters to quickly identify obstructions and notify first responders within the golden hour. 
 
 
The wearable ECG sensor subsystem captures potential differences between dry electrodes, amplifies and filters it with an analogue front end (AFE), digitizes and transmits it wirelessly to a decision-making subsystem for analysis. This system utilizes off-the-shelf components like an RFduino microcontroller and an adc/buffered IO device to reduce hardware complexity and power consumption. 
 
Medical alert systems are generally affordable, although prices will depend on which features a user selects. Seniors may qualify for discounts through insurance providers or membership organizations like AARP; their costs can further be offset through monthly monitoring fees; Consumer Reports' ratings of seven medical alert systems with fall detection included this fee as part of their pricing structures. Those unable to afford upfront costs should inquire into financing options or see whether their Medicare Advantage or private health insurance plans include coverage for these devices. 
Can a medical alert device detect a heart attack in a vehicle? 
 
Heart attacks are serious medical conditions that can quickly lead to unconsciousness while driving and can even result in fatal road accidents. Medical alert devices are designed to detect heart attacks in vehicles and warn their driver to stop immediately so as to avoid life-threatening outcomes, while also notifying emergency medical services quickly to treat their patient. 
 
fall sensor for elderly This system is portable and designed for use in various settings. It comprises two subsystems that communicate wirelessly: wearable sensor subsystem consists of dry electrodes that collect ECG signals from chest area; amplify and filter it using an analogue front end (AFE); then digitize it before transmitting to decision-making subsystem via AFE; finalizing with digitizing before transmission to decision-making subsystem via decision-making subsystem; as well as an RFduino microcontroller featuring embedded Bluetooth Low Energy module that facilitate real-time data acquisition/transmission between subsystems. 
 
Make the most of your medical alert device purchase by bundling it together. Many vendors provide discounts on monthly monitoring fees and equipment purchases when multiple products are bought together from multiple vendors, while long-term care insurance often covers medical alert systems. Before making this purchase, however, always consult with your insurer as some plans require a doctor's note for coverage, while some even impose waiting periods before you can start using your system. 

Website: https://familyr.co.nz/fall-detection-device/