Which Is Better: Fixed Wall Switches or Wireless Emergency Pendants

Each has its place. In some circumstances, it may be difficult for a tenant to physically get to a fixed pull chair switch whereas a pendant will work anywhere in an apartment or facility. On the other hand, many independent seniors will resent having to wear a pendant. This will be especially true for seniors who do not feel that they have any immediate or threatening health problems. They may end up throwing it in a drawer and forgetting where it is. A good solution is to install fixed pull switches with handing beaded chains in every apartment and/or the table top call switch. Offer the pendants on an as-needed basis. The facility may consider leasing the pendants to the residents to generate additional monthly income.

If wireless is the option of choice, wireless transmitters may be easily installed on frequently opened doors or drawers such as the refrigerator door, the silverware drawer or bathroom door. If the door is not opened within a selectable time of either twelve or twenty-four hours, an alarm is generated by the computer. These check-in transmitters may be easily installed one at a time on an as-needed basis or all at once when the initial system is installed. If the resident leaves for an extended period of time, the inactivity alarm will activate only once. Then the resident returns and opens the door or drawer, the transmitter will automatically reinstall itself into the daily check-in monitor loop without any action on the part of the staff. This eliminates the possibility of human error and the need for “vacation bookkeeping”.

The following are important considerations when evaluating any wireless emergency call system:

SUPERVISION

The system must know if a pendant or transmitter has stopped working or if its battery is low and then alert facility staff. Pendants and transmitters should have the capability of checking in by sending a test signal at least once each minute. Using unsupervised pendants for medical emergency call should not be considered as it will put resident’s lives at risk and create unnecessary exposure and liability for the facility.

TOTALLY WIRELESS

The system should be totally wireless and not rely on telephone lines which are an ongoing monthly expense to the facility. Telephone lines are an unnecessary liability and introduce an element of chance into the transmission of a life saving alarm. This is because the signal must rely on passing through local telephone company copper wires to their central station switch and back again to the facility.

WORKS ANYWHERE

An emergency call pendant should work anywhere in the facility such as the dining room or exercise room and not be limited to operation only in the resident’s apartment. The system should have the ability to detect pendant activation out-of-doors on the walking trail or at the tennis court.

LOCATION DETECTION

The system should be able to provide the general location of the resident. This would be especially true for out-of-doors applications. Adding locators, pendants may be located to within ten feet. A Nurse Call wireless emergency call system SHOULD provide ALL of these important features.

Ultimately the final decision should be on the individual resident. When you decide on a specific emergency call system, it should have the option of both wall mounted and wireless this way you can provide your residents with alternatives to the emergency call system.

CareCaller strives to provide their clients with the best nurse call systems. Care Caller achieved this by bringing together the most reliable and innovative hardware with the most experienced and knowledgeable technicians and staff.