[Scan-DC] GPS & Other Safety Devices for Elderly to Be Demo'd Jan 21 in Fairfax

[Alan Henney]

From: sfulton at soaringspr.com [mailto:sfulton at soaringspr.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 1:44 PM
Subject: GPS & Other Safety Devices for Elderly to Be Demo'd Jan 21 in
Fairfax


Would you be interested in reporting about the safety devices and
monitoring system such as described below?

Suzanne T. Fulton, Principal
S o a r i n g s, LLC<http://www.soaringspr.com/>
public relations and marketing services

^^^
GPS & Other Safety Devices for The Elderly to Be Demonstrated Jan 21
in Fairfax
Comfort Keepers Invites Public to View Technologies for Extending
Independent Lifestyle

HERNDON, January 5, 2009 - To raise awareness about the array of
technologies available to address safety needs of the ever-growing
population of elderly people who want to live independently, the
owners of two local Comfort Keepers(r) companies invite the public and
media to preview a new line of home safety technology, SafetyChoice,
the evening of Wed., January 21, from 4:30-6:30 pm, at Hilton Gardens,
3950 Fair Ridge Drive in Fairfax, VA.  Such safety technologies
include portable personal emergency response system that uses global
positioning system (GPS), pressure-sensitive mats, smoke and carbon
monoxide detectors, door and window contacts and more designed by
Guardian Home Security exclusively for Comfort Keepers, a family of
agencies that provide in-home care for elderly and disabled adults.

Comfort Keepers staff members will demonstrate the devices and answer
any questions about a medication management program.


The need for technological resources:

By 2030 seniors 65 and older will represent more than 22% of the total
U.S. population, with seniors 75 and older being the fastest growing
segment.  This population is increasingly looking to live
independently in their own homes.  As their needs become more complex
and urgent, skilled care-givers are needed. As there is already a
shortage of skilled caregivers, one solution to meeting the needs of
these elderly folks is leveraging the use of technologies such as the
Internet, global positioning systems and more efficient and sensitive
hardware sensors to supplement human resources.

Statistics reveal that an Alzheimer's or memory-impaired person who
has wandered has a 50% chance of dying if not found in the first 24
hours.  In addition to breaking bones, older adults who fall are at
risk for traumatic brain
injury,<http://www.cdc.gov/media/subtopic/matte/pdf/CDCHelpSeniorsLive
BetterPreventBrainInjury.pdf> according to the Centers for Disease
Control. Moreover, an average of 218,000 deaths occur each year
because of medication misuse, and studies have found that medication
non-compliance among the senior citizen population is very high. The
inability to manage medications is one of the leading reasons why
seniors need additional, and often more expensive, care-such as
assisted living facilities or nursing homes: Twenty-three percent of
nursing home admissions are related to medication problems; 80% of
assisted living residents have medications managed by their
facilities. Up to 48 percent of community-dwelling elders have
medication-related problems, and much of that is preventable.

Some insurers are beginning to consider covering such devices as part
of the continuum of care for certain elderly folks. See
article<http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/12/22/bisb1222.htm>
recently published in American Medical News.

Technology to be demonstrated:

SafetyChoice, is a broad suite of technology-products and services.
Such technologies are monitored in a single central station that can
meet customers' needs in a seamless manner.  It is the only medical
central monitoring station that meets the standards set by
Underwriters Laboratories. The central monitoring technicians stay on
the phone with the customer from the time of initial alert until the
emergency responders have arrived on the scene and/or the problem has
been resolved.

SafetyChoice's core technology is the Personal Emergency Response
System, or PERS.  A sensitive two-way microphone provides voice
contact between the monitoring station and the client once an alert is
sounded either from the console or from pendants/wrist bracelets that
communicates up to 300 feet (indoors) with the console.  The PERS can
serve up to 16 individuals or 16 different accessories that provide
additional coverage.

About Comfort Keepers:

Comfort Keepers(r) is one of the leading providers of in-home care for
seniors and other adults requiring additional care.  Ms. Toni Reinhart
owns Comfort Keepers located in Herndon in Arlington, which covers
Arlington and parts of Fairfax County and Eastern Loudoun County.
visit
www.comfortkeepers.com/caregivers/248<http://www.comfortkeepers.com/ca
regivers/248>.  Fairfax Virginia Comfort Keepers is owned by Michael
and Laura Pierce 703-591-7117,
www.comfortkeepers.com/caregivers/211<http://www.comfortkeepers.com/ca
regivers/211>.
-30-

Contacts:
Ms. Toni Reinhart, president
Comfort Keepers, Herndon, Va.

or
Michael or Laura Pierce
Comfort Keepers, Fairfax, Va.