What is a Personal Emergency Response System?

A Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) is a device or service designed to help individuals access immediate assistance in the event of an emergency, especially seniors or people with disabilities. These systems are widely used to enhance safety and independence, particularly for those who live alone or are at risk of falls or medical emergencies.

Originally pioneered for seniors and the infirm, the PERS device is increasingly being deployed for solo workers, such as delivery drivers and technicians in the field, and those in hazardous environments, such as construction workers. And in a sign of the times we live in PERS systems are now available for women, students and kids who feel in a threatened environment or situation. Today’s panic button is for everyone – see the new Personal Safety Alarms from Bay Alarm.

The key features of a PERS include the ability to alert a third party to the user’s distress, especially if the user is unable to do this autonomously. This benefit is obvious for elderly users with remote caregivers or monitoring centers. Typically the PERS will include an emergency button on a small, wearable device such as a pendant, wristband or clip-on device. The button will allow the user to summon help with a single press.

Many systems include a speaker and microphone, enabling direct, two-way communication with a call center or emergency services. Many systems include, for a monthly charge, 24/7 monitoring with a center wherein operators are available around the clock to respond to calls for assistance.

Some systems, such as smartwatches paired with a smartphone, lack the benefit of a call center, and instead decide algorithmically to alert emergency services directly (subject to either approval or lack of response from the user).

A dedicated medical alert smartwatch, by comparison, eliminates the smart phone’s extraneous features and complexity, and focuses purely on accurate emergency detection and the alert function, with a dedicated monitoring center standing by – arguably a more pure representation of the PERS concept.

GPS tracking is commonly either included or available for a charge in most systems. Since the GPS system is globally accessible, it provides a relatively simple way to track the location of the user – very important in the case of an emergency, especially if the user cannot communicate.

Since falls are typically the most damaging of accidents and the most common among seniors, automatic fall detection is a highly desirable feature of any PERS system, and is available for an additional charge from most of the manufacturers. Some devices can detect a fall and send an alert automatically, even if the user cannot press the button.

Most dedicated PERS systems will have a base station, typically located in the home for individual seniors, and a connected wearable device that stays with the user. Systems can use landlines, cellular networks, or Wi-Fi for communication, or a combination.

Even with the use spreading throughout all of society, still the most common use today of a PERS system is for a medical emergency, for quick access to help during a stroke, heart attack, or other sudden health issues. Accidents such as falls can be included in this category. The GPS feature is especially helpful in the case of a patient with diminished cognition, who may “wander” and get lost or separated from a caregiver.

The benefits of a PERS connection with remote helpers are clear, providing peace of mind for both users and their families, promoting greater independence by allowing users to remain in safely on their own, and by reducing response times in the event that an emergency does arise, thus potentially saving lives.

PERS: Which is Best For YOU?

Choosing the right PERS system depends on individual needs, lifestyle, and budget, since a large variety of devices vary widely in features and functionality. This is especially important if choosing for a senior under your care. For the healthy individual more concerned about safety than accidents or health alarms, the following criteria are less relevant, and ease of use combined with portability may be most important.

First, one should consider the user’s specific needs, understanding the user’s health, mobility, and living situation. Is there chronic illness like diabetes, heart disease, or epilepsy that might require frequent emergency assistance? Some systems are better suited for medical monitoring or specialized alerts.

Is there a high risk of falls, requiring a system with automatic fall detection? What’s the cognitive ability? If dementia or Alzheimer’s is present, features like GPS tracking and geofencing can help caregivers stay on top of things.

One should evaluate lifestyle and mobility, establishing where and how the PERS user spends most time, whether homebound or active, for example. The living or working situation is an important element also, to ensure the system has adequate connectivity range (in a multi-story home or building, for example).

Connectivity in general is an important element to consider when choosing a device, making sure your infrastructure matches the system requirements. Items such as battery life, two-way communication, add-on services and – the most crucial aspect – ease of use for the user, are all things to take into account.

PERS pricing can vary significantly, so budget and subscription costs matter. Most systems require an upfront equipment fee and a monthly monitoring subscription. And as with any purchase of technology, reputation and user reviews are important means to evaluate the reliability of a vendor.