“Help—I’ve fallen and can’t get up"

We’ve all seen the commercial—“Help—I’ve fallen and can’t get up."  Unfortunately, this is a concern that increases as we age.  Imagine this happening to one of your loved ones, they have actually fallen and cannot get to a phone to call for help. 

Consider these statistics:

+ On average, one out of three people age age 65 and over fall each year
+20% of those who age 65 and over who fall each year require hospitalization and rehabilitation services. 
+There are over 270,000 hip fractures caused by falls in the United States each year. 

LIFELINE FOR YOUR LOVED ONES WHO LIVE ALONE  OR WHO ARE AT HIGH RISK FOR A LIFE-THREATENING FALL.   

In keeping with the American Red Cross mission to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies---we have done our research have partnered with Philips LifeLine as our personal response provider.  The subscriber wears either a necklace or bracelet LifeLine call button, and a CarePartner Communicator is set up in the subscriber’s home.  If the button is pushed, a representative of the LifeLine response center calls the subscriber to discuss their situation.  Most of the time, the subscriber just needs to have a loved one contacted to help them get up, which LifeLine will do.  However, if the situation is serious, the LifeLine responder will contact the local emergency system and get immediate help on the way—they will also stay in contact with the subscriber until help arrives and will also contact everyone on the subscribers call list to inform them of the situation.  The LifeLine response team is available 24/7/365.  If the subscriber has pushed their button, but cannot speak due their circumstances, the LifeLine team will contact 911. 

And now there is LifeLine Autoalert, a special button that can detect a fall and call for help even when the victim is unable to push the button.  Here's a closer look at how it works ...



There is no long-term contract—subscription fees run on a monthly basis—starting around $40/month; and the American Red Cross has FREE installation coupons! 

The Philips Lifeline system recently introduced a new cordless phone option which has received rave reviews from the Lifeline clients.  You can learn more about LifeLine by visiting their website at www.lifelinesystems.com or by calling 1-800-959-6989.  Please use the program code of PA-820—it will associate your subscription with our American Red Cross Chapter and help make you eligible for the FREE installation.  You can also call Debra Myatt, Director of Health & Safety Services at ARC, Lower Bucks County Chapter at 215-946-4870 x107 for more information, or to request a LifeLine brochure.   

Interested in learning more about caregiving and protecting your loved one?  Request our new Family Caregiving book which covers topics such as Home Safety, Care Giving Skills, Body Mechanics, Healthy Eating, Caring for the Caregiver, Legal & Financial Issues, Dementia and Caregiving Resources, and comes with a 23 minute DVD — all for just $25.  It's a valuable household resource for caregivers and their families.