Personal Emergency Response Systems

A Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) is an electronic device designed to let you summon help in an emergency. If you are a disabled or an older person living alone, you may be thinking about buying a PERS (also called a Medical Emergency Response System).

How a PERS Works

A PERS has three components: a small radio transmitter (a help button carried or worn by the user); a console connected to the user's telephone; and an emergency response center that monitors calls.

When emergency help (medical, fire, or police) is needed, the PERS user presses the transmitter's help button. It sends a radio signal to the console. The console automatically dials one or more pre-selected emergency telephone numbers. Most systems can dial out even if the phone is in use or off the hook. (This is called "seizing the line.") Most PERS are programmed to telephone an emergency response center where the caller is identified. The center will try to determine the nature of the emergency.

If the center cannot contact you or determine whether an emergency exists, it will alert emergency service providers to go to your home. With most systems, the center will monitor the situation until the crisis is resolved.

Shopping Checklist

To help you shop for a PERS that meets your needs, consider the following suggestions:
Check out several systems before making a decision.
Find out if you can use the system with other response centers. For example, can you use the same system if you move?
Ask about the pricing, features, and servicing of each system and compare costs.
Make sure the system is easy to use.
Test the system to make sure it works from every point in and around your home. Make sure nothing interferes with transmissions.
Read your purchase, rental, or lease agreement carefully before signing.

Questions to Ask the Response Center

You also may want to ask questions about the response center:
Is the monitoring center available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
What is the average response time?
What kind of training does the center staff receive?
What procedures does the center use to test systems in your home? How often are tests conducted?