Medical Alert Systems Blog and Resources

Are you wondering which medical alert company is the safest and best option for you or your loved one? We have a tip for you: look for medical alert providers with the proper certifications. There are a variety of certifications out there, but they aren't required — so if a company has earned some or all of these credentials, this is a good indicator that the medical alert company has quality equipment and a trusted, reliable service.  Certified medical alert companies have gone through rigorous testing to ensure their devices and services meet the highest standards in terms of safety and quality. Medical alert systems are used to monitor and assist individuals in emergency situations, so there isn't room for error. In this article, we'll give you a breakdown of the four most common medical alert certifications and explain why they’re important. We’ll also highlight a top-rated medical alert provider that has all four certifications, so stay tuned.  TMA Five Diamond Certification The Monitoring Association (TMA) is a nonprofit organization that was formed to promote and maintain the highest standards of performance and responsibility among monitoring centers. The organization offers a Five Diamond Monitoring Center Certification program that sets the industry standard for quality assurance, personnel training, and emergency response protocols. The annual certification includes five parts: Agreement to random inspections Commitment to quality customer service Commitment to continual education and testing, including all monitoring operators getting certified with the TMA training course Agreement to adhere to industry standards set through the TMA membership Commitment to reducing the number of false alarms This certification is important for medical alert companies because it ensures their monitoring centers, technology, and personnel are meeting the highest standards of performance and reliability. Electronic Security Association (ESA) Certification The Electronic Security Association (ESA) is a trade organization that provides training and certification for security professionals and companies. They certify companies with all types of products, including home security equipment and medical alert systems. This certification is important for medical alert companies because it demonstrates that the company is up to date with the latest security protocols, has the necessary qualifications and experience, and is able to provide a secure service to its customers. The ESA certification also guarantees that companies are in compliance with local and national security laws and regulations. FM Approved Certification The FM Approved credential is a certification that ensures a company's products are tested and meet expectations of "quality, technical integrity, and performance." The company has a worldwide process that they back with research and rigorous testing, including this five-step process found on FM Approvals' website: Manufacturer request — This involves the manufacturer (or, in this case, the medical alert company) sending approval for a product. It includes all product information and the scope of work. Proposal issue and manufacturer authorization — This step involves the FM Approvals organization sending a proposal letter to the client with additional information, such as cost estimates, required tests, samples needed, etc. Review, testing, and first audit — This involves FM Approvals examining the products and conducting product testing to review quality.  Report, FM approved mark, and listing — This step is completed post-testing and includes sending the results to the manufacturer with the final report, approval guide, online resources, etc.  Surveillance audits — The last step requires that the manufacturer agrees to its facilities maintaining the FM Approved status, which includes surveillance audits. This certification is important for medical alert companies because it guarantees products and processes meet the highest standards. As a consumer wanting a medical alert device as a safety precaution, you want to make sure the company's equipment is just as reliable as its service.  UL Listed Certification Being UL Listed means a medical alert company has met the stringent requirements of Underwriters Laboratory, a global safety consulting and certification company. Companies must adhere to a variety of tests and regulations, ensuring that their products are reliable and safe for use by their customers. The Underwriters Laboratory website says the following about its certification, "The process of evaluating a central station for certification, formally known as Listing, includes UL Solutions staff conducting an on-site examination of the monitoring station facility and operation for compliance with UL 827 and standards related to the category. If the monitoring station is applying for a full-service category, the evaluation will include examples of installed alarm systems. The results of the evaluation are detailed in a report." Being UL Listed ensures the medical alert company's monitoring center is top-notch and 100% ready to assist emergency callers. Some emergency calls may be false alarms, but others may be life-threatening; a medical alert company's monitoring center should always be prepared and ready to assist because you never know when it'll be the latter.  Medical Alert Company Highlight

How to live an active lifestyle is common knowledge. We've all been told growing up that it's important to eat fruits and vegetables, exercise, and get plenty of fresh air. But as you get older, your body begins to slow down and you're not able to do things the way you used to. So how do you continue to live an active, healthy lifestyle as you age? Here are a few tips that we recommend to take care of your body and mind in your later years: Eat right This is great advice at any age. Eating a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins have been shown to increase longevity. But as you get older, it gets more difficult to eat some of the foods you enjoy. Here are some things to do: Drink plenty of water — As you get older, you're likely to get dehydrated more quickly. Drinking plenty of water helps you think more clearly, ward off fatigue, and avoid heatstroke. Fiber — This includes vegetables, whole grains, fruits, and legumes. Digestion, which has the tendency to slow down with age, is aided by getting enough fiber in the diet. Blueberries — Blueberries are not only delicious, they're also full of antioxidants and vitamins C and E. All berries are good, in general, but blueberries are top-tier. Salmon — Notorious for being heart-healthy, salmon is also an excellent source of protein. It's high in omega-3 fatty acids that help prevent heart disease and stroke. Two servings per week are recommended. Yogurt — The calcium from yogurt helps fortify bones that become weak and brittle as you grow older. Make sure you focus on getting vitamin D yogurt. Nuts — These are great all around because they contain unsaturated fats, fiber, protein, and are considered very heart-healthy. Try to consume five servings of nuts per week. Red wine — In moderation, red wine is actually healthy for your heart. One to two drinks per day is ideal. However, if you're not used to drinking alcohol, it's encouraged to abstain. The list of things to avoid includes sports drinks, soda, potato chips, soy sauce, and even bacon! Check out the full list of things to steer clear of here. Get physical exercise Your bones and muscles lose density as you get older. Luckily, with proper diet, you can increase their strength over time. Here are some recommended exercises that will help maintain your strength, balance, endurance, and flexibility. Brisk walking or jogging — A recent study has shown that people who walk regularly have increased energy and generally have a better mood. There are also other health benefits from walking regularly, such as increased strength and stamina. Dancing — The physical benefits of dancing include strengthened heart and lungs, weight management, physical confidence, improved balance, and improved muscle tone. Lifting weights — Want to increase bone density and improve activities of daily living (ADLs)? Add weight lifting to your workout routine. Tai Chi — According to Harvard Health Publications, tai chi helps maintain strength, flexibility, and balance. It's considered a low-intensity exercise, so it feels very gentle on the body. Yoga — This improves flexibility, builds muscle strength, perfects your posture, protects your spine, and provides a variety of other health benefits. While engaging in physical exercise in the home, make sure to look into exercise safety tips for seniors to ensure you aren't putting yourself at risk. It's also important to have an emergency device in case you experience a fall. Top-rated medical alert devices can be found here. Get mental exercise It may come as a surprise to some, but physical exercise is actually connected with cognitive function. If you want to improve your brain power, eat well and exercise. Puzzle games are also a great help to strengthen your mind. Here are some specific ideas: Ping-pong Jigsaw puzzles Building model airplanes or trains Taking music lessons Also, take time to meditate and relax. Taking time out of your day to rest and be calm will balance out the rigorous energy you've spent building model airplanes or practicing viola. This includes getting plenty of sleep. Sleep gives your brain an opportunity to reset and save information that you've processed throughout the day. Being rested also helps you think of creative solutions to problems, according to researchers at Harvard Medical School. Practice good hygiene When it comes to hygiene, stick with the things that you've been told throughout your life. As you get older, it might be easy to fudge on the basics because things like climbing in and out of the tub are suddenly more difficult and dangerous. For these situations, it's best to install handholds in the bathroom to prevent falls and stay safe during bathing. Here are other recommended hygiene steps. Brush and floss your teeth twice daily. See your dentist every six months. Bathe at least once every few days, especially if you're physically active. Depending on how old you are, how mobile you are, and how dry your skin gets, you'll want to bathe closer to that three-day mark. When you bathe, make sure to wash the folds under your wrinkles. This is the perfect place for bacteria to grow. It can be easy to fall out of habit as you get older because it's easy to focus on the routine instead of the outcome. Remember that regular bathing and oral care an important part of personal care.