Page 14 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, February 12, 2021 avvya yavvy en oniorior avvy S ior io iori by Jim Miller How to Choose a Medical Alert System Dear Savvy Senior, I am interested in getting my mom, who lives alone, a medical alert system with a wearable pendant button that will let her call for help if she falls or has a medical emergency. What can you tell me to help me choose one? Too Many Choices Dear Too Many, A good medical alert system is an eff ective and aff ordable tool that can help keep your mom safe and living in her own home longer. But with all the diff erent products and features available today, choosing one can be challenging. Here are some tips that can help. Three Key Questions Medical alert systems, which have been around since the 1980s, provide a wearable help button – usually in the form of a neck pendant or wristband – that would put your mom in touch with a dispatcher who could summon emergency help or contact a friend or family member as needed. To help you narrow down your options and choose a system that best fi ts your mom’s needs, here are three key questions you’ll need to ask, along with some top-rated companies that off er these products. Does your mom want a home-based or mobile system? Medical alert systems were originally designed to work inside the home with a landline telephone, which is still an option. But since fewer and fewer households have landlines these days, most companies today also off er home-based systems that work over a cellular network. With these systems, pressing the wearable help button allows you to speak to a dispatcher through a base unit located in your home. In addition, many companies off er mobile medical alert options, too. You can use these systems at home, but they’ll also allow you to call for help while you’re out and about. Mobile alerts operate over cellular networks and incorporate GPS technology. They allow you to talk and listen to the operator directly through the pendant button, and because of the GPS, your location would be known in order for help to be sent. If your mom doesn’t leave the house very often, she may not need a mobile system, but if she is still active, she may want added protection outside the home. Should her system be monitored or not? The best medical alert systems are monitored, meaning that the help button connects you with a trained operator at a 24/7 dispatching center. But you also have the option to choose a system that isn’t monitored. With these, when you press the help button, the device automatically dials a friend or family member on your programmed emergency call list. These products can often be set up to call multiple people and to contact emergency services if you don’t get an answer from someone on your list. Should you add a fall-detection feature? Most medical alert companies today now off er the option of an automatic fall detection pendant for an additional fee of $10 to $15 per month. These pendants sense falls when they occur and automatically contact the dispatch center, just as they would if you had pressed the call button. But be aware that this technology isn’t full proof. In some cases, this feature may register something as a fall that isn’t. The alarm might go off if you drop it or momentarily lose your balance but don’t actually land on the ground. Top Rated Systems Here are four top companies, rated by Consumer Reports that off er home and mobile monitored medical alert systems: • Bay Alarm Medical: Fees range between $20 and $40 per month; BayAlarmMedical.com; 877-522-9633. • GreatCall’s Lively Mobile Plus: The device costs $50 plus a $25 to $40 monthly service fee; GreatCall.com; 800-650-5921. • MobileHelp: Monthly fees run $20 to $45; MobileHelp.com; 800809-9664. • Phillips Lifeline: $30 to $50/month, plus a onetime device/ activation fee of $50 to $100; Lifeline.Philips.com; 855-681-5351. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 617-387-2200 or Info@advocatenews.net ~ LEGAL NOTICE ~ MALDEN PLANNING BOARD VIRTUAL & REMOTE PUBLIC HEARING The Malden Planning Board will virtually and remotely hold a public hearing at 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 on the petition of Generation Helpers Malden, LLC, on behalf of Irving Court Associates L.P., seeking to amend the special permit granted in Case #13-18 under Section 12.12.030 of Chapter 12, Revised Ordinances of 2020 as Amended of the City of Malden (formerly known as Sections 300.1 and 300.3.4.8 of Chapter 12, Revised Ordinances of 1991 as Amended) which allows medical center use of property in the Central Business zoning district, namely, to amend the condition regarding transfer of the special permit, at the property known as and numbered 219 Centre Street, part of the property known as and numbered 225 Centre Street, Malden, MA, and also known by City Assessor’s Parcel ID 075 271 106. Petition and plans are available for public review on the City website under Permit # INT-036372-2021 at https://permits.cityofmalden.org/EnerGov_PROD/SelfService#/home. By: Kenneth Antonucci Clerk In accordance with Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18, and Governor’ Baker’s March 23, 2020 Revised Guidance on Order by the Governor Prohibiting Assemblage of More than Ten People, this hearing will be virtual and conducted via remote participation to the greatest extent possible. No in-person attendance by members of the public will be permitted, and all effort will be made to permit remote public attendance and participation in this virtual hearing via technological means, in the manner specified below, and if available, via public broadcast of the meeting by Malden Access Cable Television on public access television channels. Additional information/guidelines for the public can be found here: https://www.cityofmalden.org/DocumentCenter/View/2487/Public-information-on-PublicMeetings-and-Hearings-during-the-Declared-State-of-Emergency-related-to-COVID19PDF Members of the public who wish to attend virtually and participate remotely may do so using the following information: https://cityofmalden.zoom.us/j/92446642398?pwd=N0djeU43ZWU1K0ltUFhsREpxajdaQT09 Webinar ID: 924 4664 2398 Passcode: 539276 Or Telephone: Dial for higher quality based on your current location: US: +1 646 518 9805 or +1 929 436 2866 International numbers available: https://cityofmalden.zoom.us/u/aAxsMTJhb If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact Maria Luise, ADA Compliance Coordinator at mluise@cityofmalden.org or 781-397-7000, Ext 2005. February 12, 2021 ~ Home of the Week ~ SAUGUS...Conveniently located 7 room Garrison Colonial offers 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, spacious living room open to dining room, kitchen with center island and ceramic tile flooring, newly finished sunroom, large master bedroom, finished lower level offers family room (unheated), second kitchen with ceramic tile flooring, updated hot water and roof, central vacuum. Easy access to major routes, restaurants and shopping. Offered at $489,900 335 Central Street, Saugus, MA 01906 (781) 233-7300 View all our listings at: CarpenitoRealEstate.com View the interior of this home right on your smartphone.
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