Last week, my father fell while alone in the apartment of his continuing care retirement community. I am so thankful that he was wearing his “alert” necklace. He was able to push the button, which sent an emergency signal to the security staff in his senior living building. In a matter of minutes, they were in his apartment, helping him up off the floor. Thankfully, he was not seriously injured. A continuing care retirement facility means that while my father lives in a fully independent apartment, there is a nursing home on the same property. So in a situation such as this, one of the registered nurses from the nursing home was called to his apartment to evaluate him after the fall. This gives me great peace of mind, to know that he has access to a full medical staff 24/7. Otherwise, in this case, the security officer would have had to call an ambulance to transport him to a nearby hospital.

When you are evaluating a senior living facility, be sure to ask specific questions about the safety and security measures the facility offers. In my father’s case, each apartment comes equipped with an emergency pull-cord in the bathroom. But the “alert” necklace that he wears was an optional feature that we had to order through his maintenance department.

Have you or a loved one been helped by an “alert” necklace or other safety feature in a senior living facility? Share you comments below.