HOME FALLS FOCUS OF USA TODAY ARTICLE

Protection against home falls is one of the areas where Life Alert shines; the medical alarm service gets immediate help to its members after a fall, even if they can’t reach a phone

A recent story in USA TODAY discussed home falls and their risks, noting that a few famous folks have recently suffered such accidents. Unfortunately, these falls often require a trip to the hospital. Experts note that falls can happen to anyone, regardless of age, income or gender.

While anyone, anywhere, can indeed suffer a fall, it is also true that the older we get, the more susceptible we become to falls. One of the risks after a fall is not being able to reach a phone to call for help, especially if one lives at home alone. Many people don’t carry cellphones on their person while at home - and even if they do, it may not be able to get a signal, or it may be impossible to use, depending on how one falls and the severity of any injuries one suffers. In short, people (especially senior citizens) need a better solution.

The optimal answer for many seniors is Life Alert, which provides protection in the event of falls in the home. For over 20 years, this personal medical alarm company has been protecting its members from the dangers of home falls, as well as other emergencies. The company’s spokesman (former United States Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop) has pointed out that accidental injury in the home is the main danger faced by Americans 65 and older. In addition, here are some facts about falls from the CDC (the Center for Disease Control): (1) Of the 35 million Americans over age 65, roughly one in three will fall in any given year; (2) Senior citizens are hospitalized for fall-related injuries five times more often than they are for injuries from all other causes; (3) Falls are the leading cause of accidental death for seniors.

This obvious need for protection -- no matter where you fall in your home, no matter what hour a fall occurs -- is at the heart of Life Alert’s protection service, and one of the reasons we often talk about Life Alert on this Seniors Blog. We are impressed with the fact that Life Alert handles over a million calls a year, and on average saves a life every 38 minutes, saving over 13,000 lives in 2007 alone. For many seniors, Life Alert is an essential part of their lives.