In old age, falling can be fatal. In fact, in the U.S. alone a senior dies from a fall every 19 minutes. It’s no wonder that many seniors across America limit their daily activities and social meetings to a bare minimum. However, this is not what you want for your loved one. Our golden years should be spent enjoying retirement, pursuing hobbies we didn’t have time for in the past, and playing with our grandchildren – without the fear of falling. Fortunately, there are plenty of fall prevention options. From sock aids to bedside fall mats and commodes, the medical industry has been developing new tools to tackle this issue. Another solution is chair alarms, designed specifically for when a fall is about to happen while an older adult is sitting down or getting up.
How Chair Sensors Work
The idea behind chair alarms is pretty simple. They come with a sensor that is triggered when the person gets out of the chair, allowing caregivers to know that the user fell or is wandering about the house unattended. Depending on the senior’s needs, there are two types of chair sensors you can get: corded and wireless.
As the name suggests, corded chair alarms come with a cord that connects the alarm to the user’s back. When the senior either falls or gets up, the cord is pulled and the alarm goes off. Since the device is attached to the chair, you need to be relatively close to hear the alarm ringing.
On the other hand, wireless chair alarms have a sensor that detects pressure reduction. Usually, they come with a chair pad where the senior sits. The moment they leave the chair for any reason, the alarm goes off. The best part about the wireless chair alarm is that you can bring the device with you, so you’ll still hear alerts while doing household chores.
Do Chair Sensor Mats Help Reduce or Prevent Falls?
Depending on the situation, chair sensor mats can be more of a reactive solution than a pre-emptive one. For example, imagine your loved one is sitting in the living room and you’re in the kitchen preparing lunch. Suddenly, you hear the alarm and go to the living room to find your loved one on the ground. While the chair sensor didn’t prevent a fall in this scenario, you’re still there to help right away.
If you’re much closer to the senior, chair alarms will give you enough time to reach your loved one and prevent them from falling. In this case, you can be in the same room doing other things without always having to keep an eye on them.
Recommended Chair Alarms for Elderly
Smart Caregiver Wireless Alarm
The Smart Caregiver Wireless Alarm is a cordless chair alarm with a sensor pad that connects to a wireless device. The alarm goes off continuously when weight is removed from the pad, and it will only stop when it’s either turned off or the weight is reapplied. The system works within a 100-feet radius, which means the alarm can be placed in the next room. It also features adjustable volume, a gentle chime alert, and the system comes pre-programmed and ready for use upon delivery. Additionally, Smart Caregiver comes with a bed sensor pad that is placed under a fitted sheet. The price starts at $168.95, and the company offers free shipping and a one-year warranty.
Secure MAG-3 Magnet Pull String Chair Alarm
At a lower price point – $32.99 – and also covered by a one-year warranty, the Secure MAG-3 Magnet Pull String Chair Alarm is a corded alarm that also works for wheelchairs and beds. The system uses a circular magnet to plug into the monitor, which allows for smooth pull away while remaining strong enough to prevent false alarms. The cord attaches to the senior’s clothing through a strong alligator clip to prevent it from accidentally detaching. Secure MAG-3 offers three volume levels, two alert tones, and it warns about low battery through a light bar. It doesn’t come with an on/off button, though, meaning that the only way to turn off the alarm is by plugging the circular magnet back in. This way, patients aren’t able to disable the alarm by themselves.
Drive Medical Patient Chair Alarm
Although the Drive Medical Patient Chair Alarm also needs to be connected to the user, it works by measuring the chair pad’s pressure. This way, the alarm is connected to the pad instead of being clipped to clothing. For the price of $67.68, this device alerts the caregiver when the senior gets out of the chair right away. It can also be used as a bed alarm, comes with a safety alert, an on/off switch, and a low battery warning. It requires a 9V battery to work, which is included with the device. The company offers free shipping, and the system is protected by a year-long warranty.
Chair Alarm Pads vs Medical Alert Systems
Medical alert systems and chair alarm pads are two different things, and they should be used together for the utmost security. While chair alarms are designed with falls in mind, medical alert systems come with a help button that seniors can press in any situation, such as panic attacks, getting lost, or even in case of a fire.
What about if you get a medical alert system with fall detection? In this case, there are still some occasions where chair alarm pads are worthwhile. For example, a fall detector can’t identify when a user gets up and leaves the house. If you’re dealing with a senior who suffers from Alzheimer’s, then you know how dangerous this can be. With a chair alarm, you’ll be notified when the user gets up right away, no matter the reason.
In short, combining both solutions is the perfect way to make sure your loved one is safe. Although medical alert systems are there to help in most cases, chair alarm pads mean you don’t have to worry about your loved one leaving the chair and wandering off when you’re not looking.
Best Medical Alert Systems of 2024
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