One of the difficulties with PERS Systems is the use throughout the industry of varying pricing structures. Often a system is sold to the end user with an additional monthly monitoring service agreement required. Sometimes the system is rented, with no up-front cost and monitoring included. Other times, the initial purchase price is the only cost involved.

There are several things to keep in mind when comparing the cost of various PERS systems

• Will you own your PERS system?
• Can the system be monitored by a central station?
• Who will provide the monitoring service?

There are advantages and disadvantages to owning your own PERS system. If you own the system, then you can take it with you should you move to a new home. A pure rental, on the other hand, might be upgraded or replaced if the unit should become defective or obsolete.

If you’re just paying a one-time purchase price with no monthly service agreement, you may not be able to have a monitoring company to provide assistance in the event of an emergency. Often these systems merely “dial 911″ and leave the emergency response up to the local 911 authorities.

Sometimes a system comes with a pre-arranged agreement with a monitoring company. While this may be convenient, it limits your ability to choose a higher-quality or lower-cost monitoring company.

Having these things in mind, it can be a minor hassle to compare the costs of various systems. To help you with that problem, we have made a simple calculator that should help you compare the cost of various systems and service providers. Just click on the link to our PERS Cost Calculator to compare the costs of various systems. You can see and compare how much various arrangements might cost you by the day, the month, or the year.

We hope the PERS Cost Calculator gives you some assistance in making a wise purchasing choice. If you have any questions or comments about the PERS Cost Calculator, you can leave a comment below or send a question to us using our contact link in the sidebar.

Related posts:

1. Antiquated Communications Jeopardize 911 Systems One of the advantages offered by modern technology is the...
2. Personal Emergency Response Systems are good business Here’s an interesting item. While the economic woes makes it...
3. PERS Systems Keep Elders Out of Nursing Homes In addition to the advantages normally associated with personal emergency...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

When Laurie says “passive,” she means that the PERS device the user has will automatically notify the central station of a fall even if the user cannot — or neglects to — push the panic button. A new PERS product promises to do just that.

Market Link has published an announcement in PR Log of the launch of myHalo, a solution from Halo Monitoring. It promises precisely the passive fall monitoring that many seniors need.

Click through to check out the press release from MarketLink.

MarketLink Services Announces Launch of Leading Health and Fall Monitoring Solution for Elderly

The myHalo solution from Halo Monitoring is a significant improvement over current emergency response devices available for senior citizens today. Current solutions require the senior to signal for help by pushing a button on the device. Recent studies have proven these “panic button” solutions are ineffective. In contrast, myHalo can automatically detect emergency situations – such as a fall – without requiring the user to press a button.

Related posts:

1. New PERS Product – Wellcore Provides Automatic Fall Detection A new product offering has recently hit the internet publicity...
2. Automatic Fall Detection According to the following article, one in three elders will...
3. Phillips Lifeline Adds Passive Fall Detection Several personal emergency response system manufacturers have upgraded their product...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Laurie Orlov at Aging in Place Technology Watch keeps up to the minute with these things, and she has a review of Lifeline’s recent announcement.

The passive detection comes at a price — an additional monthly fee. This is to be expected, though one wonders if the price of these things is going to come down as most technology products get cheaper as time goes on.

Philips Lifeline achieves passivity — plus startups and trade associations emerge | Aging In Place Technology Watch

Philips Lifeline is launching an upgraded PERS (aka Medical Alert) service that includes passive fall detection — similar to the capability included in products from Halo Monitoring launched in January 2009 and Wellcore, launched in January 2010.

Related posts:

1. New PERS Product Features Automatic Fall Detection Laurie Orlov has called for four features that ought to...
2. New PERS Product – Wellcore Provides Automatic Fall Detection A new product offering has recently hit the internet publicity...
3. Automatic Fall Detection According to the following article, one in three elders will...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The Guardian Alert 911 system is a simple alternative to systems that are monitored by a central station.

The Guardian Alert 911 system operates similarly to other help button systems: just push the button and it will dial 911 to put you in touch with your local 911 dispatcher.

Though the system is very simple and doesn’t provide some of the nice extras that come with other personal emergency response products, the simplicity makes it easy to use and inexpensive to set up and maintain.

Guardian Alert 911 Life Alert Systems PRICE | Seniors Alarm Monthly

Why did you create Guardian Alert 911?
We created this product because of the great need of loved ones or a disabled person to be able to instantly contact a 911 operator in the event of an emergency. These individuals want to lead more independent and safer lives. Countless accidents and deaths occur every year that could have been prevented if 911 was able to be reached quickly.

Related posts:

1. Review of Typical Personal Emergency Response Systems I recently found a health blog commenting on personal emergency...
2. What is a Personal Emergency Response System? A personal emergency response system is a way of communicating...
3. Personal Emergency Response Systems are good business Here’s an interesting item. While the economic woes makes it...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

But with the cost of a degree of loss of privacy and the feeling that Big Brother is watching, the bad guys are having a more difficult time getting away with their bad things … and that’s a good thing.

Bruce Kelly, who is a Home Security Specialist, has given a brief overview of some recent developments in the home security industry. In addition to personal emergency response systems, Bruce reviews some other significant areas of improvement in home security technologies — including something we’ve seen on TV and the movies, but probably don’t have at home yet: fingerprint locks.

geekmytech » Blog Archive » New Home Security Technologies

Fingerprint Door Locks: Today, fingerprint door locks are one of the newest forms of technology, which can be used on front, back, or garage doors. Different from coded devices where a person would enter a special code, the fingerprint door lock actually recognizes a person’s unique fingerprint.

This means that anyone in the household, as well as friends, can have the fingerprint encoded and then any time they need to enter the home, they would place the finger onto the door lock, which would read the print and allow access. Anyone without the fingerprint in the system would never be able to get inside the home.

Related posts:

1. Ohio Senator Proposes “Home First” Health Care to Save Money Ohio Senator John Carey proposes that seniors should be allowed...
2. Security of your medical records Here at BASK Enterprises LLC, we are extremely concerned about...
3. PERS System Vital Part of Home Health Care for Elderly Congratulations are in order to New Hampshire-based Live Free Home...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The legal problems are interesting. GPS is beginning to be used in some personal emergency response systems, and these systems might run afoul of applicable state law, especially if the person being tracked has not consented and/or is not aware of the existence of the GPS tracking.

It appears, though, that GPS has very handy uses in protecting property. Here’s a link to a good article by Brickhouse Security about using GPS to protect your car.

Tracking Vehicles and Other Items Using Hardwired or Wireless GPS Devices | BrickHouse Security Blog

It seems like almost everyday there’s another mention of GPS tracking. From tracking company cars to monitoring a teen driver, and everything in between, GPS tracking is utilized more and more for safety, security, and to improve efficiency. There are some important guidelines to remember when installing your GPS tracker to maximize its effectiveness.

Related posts:

1. Using GPS to Monitor Alzheimer’s Patients You’ve heard of Alzheimer’s patients taking unauthorized walks, endangering themselves...
2. GPS Video Combination For Catching Thieves and Recovering Stolen Property Technology is making the lives of dishonest people and those...
3. Recent Developments in Home Security Technology The rapid advance of communication and data technology is having...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Now a manufacturer has proposed to make a PERS unit that monitors your heart and notifies the central station in the event of a heart problem.

Waynes Gridiron: The New Era of Medical Devices – Is It Here?

Under an agreement with med mobile, the Cardiac Network system includes a Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) with an integrated GPS, which can provide highly accurate tracking information if the system detects a cardiac emergency. Much like the General Motors’ OnStar system, Cardiac Network allows patients to speak directly with the monitoring center, where medical technicians can communicate directly with the patient’s physician and with emergency response personnel.

The first device of its kind, the monitoring device is connected to a secure, central database that holds all ECG data of each patient. A user-friendly online interface allows both patient and physician to access information 24/7.

This product is certainly going to be a significant player in the PERS marketplace in coming months.

Related posts:

1. MediPendant(TM) Offers Two-Way Voice Through Pendant A new product is becoming available. The product is called...
2. New PERS Product – Wellcore Provides Automatic Fall Detection A new product offering has recently hit the internet publicity...
3. New PERS Product Features Automatic Fall Detection Laurie Orlov has called for four features that ought to...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

In addition, the distribution company offers a central station monitoring service that promises to stay on the line with the user until help arrives.

We here at BASK Enterprises are proud of our personal emergency response system, manufactured by Linear Inc., and monitoring provided by Rapid Response, the leader in central station monitoring. But the product offered by MediPendant is certainly worthy of attention.

The PERS manufacturers are building more sophistication into their devices, which is a great advantage for our growing senior population.

Medical Alarm Concepts Establishes National Dealer Network | TradingMarkets.com

This program offers dealers a medical emergency alert system that is different from all of the PERS (Personal Emergency Response systems
) currently on the market. The MediPendant(TM) is exclusively monitored by LifeSafety Monitoring(TM), a division of Rapid Response. The call center is unique in the fact that all operators are certified Emergency Medical Technicians
(EMTs). In addition, LifeSafety Monitoring(TM) offers the unique ability to stay on the line with the customer until help arrives, as well as a proprietary three-way calling feature that allows a call bridge between the end user, the operator, and the first responder. Bilingual operators are also available. A list of dealers can be found on the product website: www.MediPendant.com. MediPendant(TM) is also one of the only medical alert programs to offer online purchasing along with free UPS ground shipping, which makes it convenient to service a nationwide customer base.

Related posts:

1. GeoSkeeper Combines GPS with Voice Communication The explosion of communication technology in recent years has made...
2. New PERS Product Monitors Your Heart Personal emergency response system technology is heading in the direction...
3. New PERS Product – Wellcore Provides Automatic Fall Detection A new product offering has recently hit the internet publicity...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The PERS industry has been criticized in the past for failing to address some of these issues. Though the product offered by Wellcore may still have some issues (false positives generated by the automatic-detection algorithm, for example), it represents a significant step forward in the technology. Time will tell how the Wellcore product is accepted by the marketplace, and whether other manufacturers will continue to advance the technology. (Incorporating GPS technology would be a natural step. Note: Wellcore has attempted to incorporate GPS technology by connecting its device to the user’s cell phone.)

Check out the press release below, published at bizjournals.com.

Update: Wellcore Announces Automatic Fall Detection and Wellness Monitoring System

Wellcore Corporation, a Silicon Valley-based company dedicated to developing solutions that promote wellness, safety and security, unveiled today the most advanced, intuitive and affordable Mobile Personal Emergency Response System (M-PERS) product available for seniors who want to stay safe and live more active, independent lives. Utilizing motion detection and advanced pattern recognition, the patent-pending Wellcore System offers automatic fall detection, online monitoring, and text-to-speech messaging. The Wellcore System will be available for pre-orders from www.wellcore.com on February 18, 2010 and will be available via firstSTREET beginning in March 2010 with more retail e-commerce sites and stores soon to be announced.

Related posts:

1. New PERS Product Features Automatic Fall Detection Laurie Orlov has called for four features that ought to...
2. Phillips Lifeline Adds Passive Fall Detection Several personal emergency response system manufacturers have upgraded their product...
3. Automatic Fall Detection According to the following article, one in three elders will...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The idea is to get shoes, for example, equipped with a GPS device to keep track of where the wearer is. The GPS device could be tracked online or used to show police or rescue personnel where the person is.

Brickhouse has proposed several interesting uses for GPS devices, including tracking wildlife, bus or commuter train scheduling, sports applications, and keeping track of valuable equipment.

Top 5 Uses for GPS You Never Knew About | BrickHouse Security Blog

The proposal to use GPS to keep track of patients with dementia has even led to government programs designed to implement the idea. The Indiana state legislature has passed the “Silver Alert Program,” which proposes to use GPS technology to aid in tracking patients with dementia.

Here’s an excerpt from the Brickhouse Security blog’s entry (or you can click through at the link above).

Anyone who has a loved one afflicted with Alzheimer’s Disease understands the worry and ramifications associated with wandering. Alzheimer’s can cause someone to wander and possibly forget their home address. Having patients wear GPS devices can help ensure their safety because loved ones or hospital faculty can log online and see exactly where the person is.

Related posts:

1. Technology to Keep Track of Wandering Alzheimer’s Patients One of the worries for those suffering from Alzheimer’s (and...
2. GPS Tracker – How, When, and Where to Use It GPS tracking is becoming more and more a part of...
3. Memory Loss, Dementia and Alzheimer’s It helps to understand the difference between these different terms....

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.