Getting a Medical Alert System: Don’t Let Your Parents Use These Excuses

Your parents spent the first few years of your life protecting you. Now that you’re grown and they’ve gotten older, you spend a lot of time thinking about ways to protect them.

One of the things you’re considering is a medical alert system, but so far, they seem resistant. In this blog post, we’ll look at some of the common reasons people give for not using medical alerts, and what you can do to overcome them.

Common excuses

Convincing your parents to try new things can be frustrating. They have their habits, their routines, their favorites. And getting them to use a medical alert device isn’t like getting them to watch a TV show you think they’d enjoy.

They might see it as a sign that you think they’re old and frail, and offer these common excuses:

• “I don’t really need it” – They have a cellphone and they can always count on their long-time next-door neighbors to call 911 in an emergency.
• “I’m not a fan of new technology” – Your mom doesn’t have a cellphone. She’s fine with still using a landline.
• “Do you think I’m old?” – Your parents still feel fairly confident that they can handle themselves if trouble strikes.
• “I can’t afford it” – Perhaps your parents live on a fixed income and don’t want to add an extra expense to their monthly budget.

What not to do

Don’t try to scare mom and dad into getting a medical alert system by reminding them of the old “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” commercials

And don’t trot out the – very accurate – statistics about senior citizens and injuries from falling. Your parents know the risks they face.

How to convince your parents to use a medical alert system

When discussing medical alert systems with your parents, follow these tactics:

1. Remind them that these devices promote independence

This is the first thing you should address, highlighting the fact that medical alert devices are designed to allow people to age in place.

Your parent will have control over their living situation while still being able to call for help when they need it. And that help may be able to prevent a serious health problem that leads to them living in a nursing home or assisted living facility.

2. Let them know that it helps the whole family

“It’s for me, dad, not for you.” Explain that having a medical alert system will help you and the rest of the family feel at ease. And even though your mom or dad might profess to be fine, they might secretly worry that they need help addressing the obstacles that come with getting older.

3. Tell them that a phone is not enough

That “landline-only” parent we referenced earlier is becoming a rarity. More than two-thirds of all Baby Boomers own a mobile phone, and that figure is rising all the time.

But smartphones aren’t always reliable. Batteries can die and service can be spotty and your parent may not have their phone on hand when an emergency happens.

4. Discuss the cost

Even if you’re successful with those first three arguments, your parent might still be adamant that a medical alert system will cost too much.

But remember that if they were to become injured, couldn’t get medical help right away and wound up in the hospital, they’d end up facing an even larger bill.

And when you work with Marx Medical, you’ll be getting access to telecare systems covered by all three managed care organizations under Pennsylvania’s Community Health Choices systems.

We carry devices that feature water resistance and fall protection, and subscription plans that won’t cost more than $45 a month.

Contact us today to learn how we can help protect your loved ones.