Alerting Devices from Albuquerque Nonprofit Resource
Improve Independent Living Safety
Need a visual alerting device when the doorbell rings? How about a product to shake you awake if the fire alarm goes off, and you cannot hear it? A wide variety of alert systems help those with hearing loss, low vision or mental illness to have minimal impact to quality of life and little or no negative impact on safety. There are alerting devices to flicker a lamp, activate a strobe, signal a pager (visual alerts), or trigger a siren/horn (auditory), or vibrate or shake (tactile).
Alerting systems are made for the individual experiencing the disability, the family, and caregiver facilities. Alert devices range from pill dispensers, intercom systems, emergency alerts, help alerts, living aids, and signalers for phone, doorbell, and sound. All alert solutions from our Albuquerque nonprofit store help you maintain independence, ensure safety, and experience an improved quality of life.
Paging systems with one-way communication will work in the home or in a large senior care facility. Large-venue pagers will interface with existing call systems and will allow staff to be away from a workstation and receive a page for assistance. Intercom systems allow two-way communication and are ideal for in-home caregivers as they have a range of up to 1,000 feet. In-home intercom or pager systems are inexpensive and make communication easy for both the caregiver and the patient.
Emergency alerting systems may be used in place of or in conjunction with an existing communications setup. For example, a senior-care facility might already have an audible and visual system, but when hearing aids are removed at night or a low-vision resident is sleeping, a shake alert (bed shaking) system is the best answer to ensure safety. A sound alert will pick up the signal from the existing audible alarm and send a signal to a shake disc that has been placed under a pillow or mattress. Another option is to place a flickering lamp or an inexpensive strobe next to the bed. One unit that picks up an alarm sound can send a signal up to 150 ft to multiple beds fitted with shake awake units.
Home safety alert systems are used to call for help or to be kept informed of what you can no longer hear. Help alert pendants sold through our nonprofit Albuquerque independent living resource center have no monthly fees, unlike other help alert systems on the market which cost up to $600 per year. Once the emergency pendant is pressed, it activates your home phone to begin calling family, friends or 911. Pendants may be worn or placed throughout the home on baseboards in the event of a fall. Other alerting systems for the home add to your independence by keeping you from missing phone calls, visitors or the alarm clock. There are emergency alerts to keep you safe in the event of a fire.
Living Aid alerts often assist caregivers who have concerns about patients who wander, get out of bed without assistance, take medication without supervision, or have other issues that can be difficult to monitor and may cause harm if not caught early. If Alzheimer’s or dementia is a concern, wander alerts come in the form of step mats, motion sensors, or door-release systems. The caregiver may be informed with a pager, lamp flicker, siren, shake-awake, or strobe when a door is opened, weight is placed on a floor mat or if motion is detected.
Other helpful alerts include an automatic pill dispenser or vibrating watch with multiple alert settings. The pill dispenser locks, offers 28 alerts, and the alarm will sound for a half hour or until medication is dispensed. This ensures over-medication does not occur and medication is taken as scheduled. Vibrating watches are ideal if someone is on the go or has a hearing loss. Watches may have up to 32 alerts and will either vibrate or beep.
Visit, email or call us to assess your independent living needs. Begin with these questions:
- Is the alert for the workplace, home, or caregiver environment?
- Would you like to be alerted to events such as motion, phone, doorbell, door knock, dog barking, baby crying, fire, customer entrance, etc.?
- What type of alert do you prefer: strobe, lamp flicker, loud signal, pager, etc.?
- How many rooms should receive the signal and do you need to receive all signal types in all areas?
- Do you need to receive the alert when away from the home or outside in the yard?
