I just watched a webinar called Monitoring for More than Senior Moments. One of the participants was Jason Ray, the Vice President of Business Development at Simply Home. If you are a regular reader of Housing Matters you will recognize Simply Home as the electronic remote activity monitoring system which allows a loved one or caregiver to be notified in the event of an emergency. It differs from the well known medical alert systems in that the monitoring takes place automatically without the need to push a button or otherwise call for help. The system has the ability to monitor medication through a special medication dispenser as well as monitor cooking and send an alert or even automatically turn off the stove if it is left on! The ability of a system like Simply Home to automatically call for help when needed is a great benefit and it would be an amazing product if that is all it could do. The ability to help prevent emergencies from happening in the first place can be a potentially much larger benefit.
The power of a system like Simply Home to prevent the occurrence of serious injuries or illness among seniors living alone is incredible. I recently read that the annual cost of missed or incorrectly taken medication is $290 billion. We often hear stories of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease wandering out the door and getting lost, often with tragic results. The Simply Home system features a GPS watch that can pinpoint the location of the wearer remotely from anywhere with an internet connection. The medication dispenser will notify a loved one or caregiver if medication is missed. A sensor on a refrigerator or cabinet can keep track of whether meals are being missed. A sensor can automatically turn on the lights when you get out of bed during the night. The sensor which turns the stove off it is left on with no motion in the kitchen can prevent a fatal house fire. All of the information collected by the sensors is stored so that trends which may point to an imminent or progressing condition can lead to preventative measures. There is even a service available called Virtual Care Management which will assess the data for you and alert you to potential problems. The combination of ways the system can be set up is virtually limitless. In short, rather than simply calling for help after there is a problem, Simply Home can help prevent problems from happening in the first place.
If you or a loved one desires to remain in your home, but you have concerns about being able to do so safely, please get in touch with me to arrange for a home monitoring assessment. There is no charge for the assessment, and there is the potential to maintain your independence for many years longer than would otherwise be possible. Each system is configured for your individual needs and the system can be modified as needed if your needs change. Please don’t wait until after a traumatic event occurs to ask for help. The old saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” is truer today than it has ever been. Take a few minutes to find out how Solid Rock Enterprises, Inc. and Simply Home can help you maintain your independence in your own home safely and comfortably for years to come. Please give me a call at (540) 384-2064 or email me at cmoore@solidrockenterprises.com. I welcome the opportunity to help you maintain your independence.
