I always said that if I ended up being rich, I'd buy a house for my mum. She's always rented and been at the mercy of the whims of landlords and real estate agents who ask her to leave at any time. I've made some smart investments over the last 10 years, and I am ready to be able to buy her a nice modest house so that she can live in her own home. This blog is all about the search for a house for my mum and has a lot of tips on buying real estate for family members.
There's a scene in the 2011 film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel that raises some relevant questions. An older couple is being shown around a retirement unit, one of the features of which is a medical alert button to request assistance after a sudden fall or other emergency. As one of the characters quite rightly queries, what if they're not quite able to plan their sudden fall to take place right next to the panic button? If you or an older family member are considering moving into one of the many retirement villas on the market, should the potential new home be fitted with a medical alarm? Is it even necessary?
Existing Medical Alarm Buttons
Of course, it's not necessary for everyone. Regardless of a person's age, they can be able-bodied to the point where a medical alarm seems like overkill. Dedicated retirement homes might already have a medical alarm button fitted, but the question remains: what if the medical emergency does not occur within a convenient proximity to the button?
If the Need Should Come
An existing medical alert button should not be a major selling point when it comes to choosing retirement villas. If the need should eventually arise to call for assistance, such a system can easily be fitted to an existing property, without relying on a particular location for the alert button. But how does it work?
Remote Assistance
A medical alert system can be of little use when it can only be accessed from a particular location. This is why a wearable alert system is more beneficial, and it is simply a bracelet or necklace with a panic button. Any retirement unit can have such a system fitted, since it only requires access to a telephone line. The wearable component works in conjunction with the system's base unit, which is connected to the telephone line. When the alert is triggered, the base system automatically calls for assistance. In some instances a new telephone outlet might be required (connected to the existing line) to allow for the base unit to be positioned so that it can provide coverage to the entire property (including the backyard). But this depends on the size of the retirement villa and the location of the existing telephone outlet. A system with a fall alert can be helpful if there are tripping hazards in the retirement unit. This detects a sudden change in speed and elevation (the fall itself) and sends an automated alert, which can be overridden if it was a mere stumble.
So while the ability to call for medical assistance can be helpful to some people, the lack of such a system should not influence your choice of retirement villas. After all, it's easy enough to install an effective system should the need ever arise.
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