More than one-third of adults age 65 and older fall each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Another issue facing many senior citizens is errors when taking medications.
“Medical errors and falls are two of the biggest reasons people find themselves unable to live alone,” said Barb Doss of Guardian Medical Monitoring. Doss presented her company’s products to the Caldwell Medical Center Board of Directors Monday night.
The board approved to enter into a contract with Guardian and will now make products such as personal emergency response systems and medication dispensers available to clients of the Caldwell County Home Health Agency.
Caldwell Medical Center CEO Charles Lovell told board members “I think this is a great service for home health and many other people in our community.”
Prior to Monday night’s presentation to the board, Lovell and Home Health Director Marcie Nix were in contact with Guardian Medical Monitoring, which is based out of Southfield, Mo.
The company has been in the business of providing personal security since 1930.
One of the devices that will be made available to home health clients is the Personal Emergency Response System (PERS), a medical alarm which can be worn as pendant or wristband, allowing hands-free, two-way communication between the client and Care Representative with Guardian.
Anytime the alarm is activated, the local home health agency as well as the client’s caregiver or family member will be contacted so they can follow-up.
This particular device is useful in the event of a fall or any other occurrence that requires immediate action.
The PERS can also be used as a reminder. Doss explained that clients can record reminder messages to help them remember to take medications, make calls, exercise, hydrate or get ready for appointments.
“You can record any message you want and set a time for the message to go off,” Doss told board members. “Any person can record their voice on there. You may want the grandkids to record something saying ‘Grandma, it’s time to take your blue pills; Eat a good breakfast, and have a good day.’”
The PERS has accessories available such as a motion sensor, help button, smoke/carbon monoxide detector and flooring mat sensor and door and window contacts which can help with “wandering management.”
The PERS system costs $35 a month for usage in one’s home. Doss said clients do not have to sign a contract with Guardian, which offers a month to month arrangement.
Doss also demonstrated how the Guardian Medication Dispenser works.
The device, which costs $80 a month for usage, helps organize, remind and track medicines.
A family member or caregiver can organize medicines in small plastic cups and fill the dispenser with up to 60 doses.
“Using a clear, automated voice, messages on a display screen and flashing lights, the dispenser reminds you when it’s time to take your medicine,” said Doss.
Should a dose be missed, the caregiver will be notified.
The dispenser is a safe, secure way to store medication “especially in the world we live in today,” Doss said.
Settings on the dispenser also allow for PRN (as needed) medications, such as pain pills, to be dispensed.
“If you push the button to dispense a pain killer too soon, the machine will tell you it is too soon and will not dispense the pill,” said Doss.
Guardian Medical Monitoring will work with the Caldwell Home Health Agency to share product information with its clientele. Local physicians will also be provided with brochures to share with patients.
“We look forward to working with this community,” said Doss. “Our goal is to keep people safe and independent in their own homes.”
For more information, about Guardian, call 1-877-435-7225 or visit www.guardianmedicalmonitoring.com.
The Caldwell County Home Health Agency offers care for homebound patients in Caldwell County and surrounding communities 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In other business
• The hospital board approved to award bids for lawn maintenance to Kenny Maloney for mowing and landscaping and to Go Green Lawn Care for fertilizing.
• The board approved to purchase two EKG machines for the Cardiopulmonary Department and approved the purchase of a treadmill.
• Lovell told board members the hospital received a letter stating that it has been named a 2009 award recipient from the Kentucky Organ Donors Affiliates. He also stated that the local hospital has “a high collection rate” with the Kentucky Eye Bank.
“This just shows the hard work of our staff who are out there day to day approaching families who are in difficult situations,” said Lovell. “Our staff members realize the importance of organ donation and I am proud of the work they are doing.”
