Choosing a medical alert system is one simple way to support your safety and independence at home. Part of setting up your service is identifying people who can be contacted if you need assistance. These people are called responders.
Responders can be family members, friends, neighbours or caregivers who are able to help when needed. Ideally, they live nearby, can access your home and are comfortable being contacted if you press your help button and need help.
Choosing responders can feel like a big decision, especially if you’re not sure whom to ask. Let’s look at what responders do, what makes someone a good choice, and the options available if you don’t have someone who can fill that role.
Why Do Medical Alert Systems Use Responders?
When you press your Lifeline help button, you’re connected to a trained Response Centre associate, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you have fall detection, a signal may also be sent automatically if a fall is detected and you’re unable to press your button. The associate will speak with you over the communicator unit or through the mobile help button, assess what kind of help you need, and follow your personalized response plan. Depending on the situation, that may include contacting one of your designated responders or emergency services.
- For a non-emergency fall, they will call a contact (responder) listed on your file, also known as a “care plan.”
- For a serious fall or medical emergency, they will call emergency services right away on your behalf.
For Lifeline services, the average subscriber has 2-3 responders listed on their file.
Who Would Be Considered A Good Responder For A Medical Alert?
A responder can be someone you trust, a family member, friend, or neighbour, and no special training or certification is required. Everyone’s support network looks different, so there isn’t one “right” type of responder. When deciding who you’d like to include in your response plan, here are a few things to consider:
- Who can be there when you need help?
Having someone nearby who can reach you quickly is very helpful, but proximity isn’t the only consideration. A family member or trusted friend who lives farther away can still be an important part of your response plan. You may choose a combination of people based on where they live, their availability and the type of support they can provide. - How will someone access your home?
If a responder needs to come into your home, it’s important to have an access plan, particularly if you’re unable to get to the door. You may choose to provide a trusted responder with a key or use a lockbox so a key is available when help is needed. - Are they comfortable being part of your response plan?
Talk with the people you’re considering and make sure they understand what being a responder involves. They don’t need medical expertise; they simply need to be comfortable being contacted and know what may be asked of them. Having these conversations ahead of time can help everyone feel more confident about the plan.
What If The Subscriber Doesn’t Have Anyone To Be A Responder?
Not having anyone to be a responder doesn’t disqualify someone from being able to use a medical alert button. If no one can be on file, the subscriber can choose the option to have emergency services called automatically on their behalf.
Why Isn’t Emergency Services Always Called First?
Emergency services aren’t always needed for every situation. When someone presses their Lifeline button, the first step is understanding what has happened and what kind of help, if any, is needed. Sometimes a subscriber may simply need reassurance or assistance with something that doesn’t require emergency care. In other situations, having a trusted responder nearby or someone who knows the subscriber well can provide the right level of support.
That’s why responders can be an important part of a personalized response plan. A trained Response Centre associate can assess the situation and, when appropriate, contact a family member, friend, neighbour or caregiver listed on the subscriber’s plan. And when emergency help is needed, the Response Centre can contact emergency services directly.
Can Responders Be Added After Setting Up The Service?
With most medical alert services, including Lifeline, you can add or remove contacts whenever you like. There is no limit to how many emergency contacts you can have on file with Lifeline. If a subscriber’s situation changes, such as a neighbour moving away, a family member moving closer to be in the subscriber’s care circle, etc., the file can be quickly updated.
The Benefits Of A Medical Alert For The Responder
Having Lifeline can provide reassurance not only for the subscriber, but for the people who care about them. Family members, friends and caregivers can go about their day knowing their loved one has access to help 24/7 and that they can be contacted when their support is needed. That added layer of support can help ease some of the worry that often comes with caring for someone you love and allow time spent together to be just that: time together. With Lifeline, visits can simply be visits.
Disclaimer
This article is meant to be informational and should not replace the advice of a trained healthcare professional. What works for some individuals might be harmful to others. Consult a professional before making any significant changes.