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Personal Emergency Response Paper

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Perception of Using a Personal Emergency Response System among Community-Dwelling Older Adults
With advancements in technology, assistive devices have facilitated older people to be independent for a longer period of time. The Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) is one example of a device that has aided older adults living with chronic illness and disability (Mann, Ottenbacber, Fraas, Tomita & Granger, 1999). In addition, the trend of living alone amongst older people has increased dramatically from 1935 to 2011 (US Census Bureau, 2010). One-third of the adult population who are over the age of 65 fall each year and the risk of falling increases with the advancement of age (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). Falls, therefore, have become one of the major health challenges in the health care system if there is a delayed or absence of medical attention. Prevention or early detection of such incidences could minimize the severity of falls related injuries (Gurley, Lum, Sande, Lo & Katz, 1996). Some of the devices that keep older adult secure during emergencies, based on Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS), have reduced mortality rates significantly (Berstein, 2000).
Concept and importance of a PERS
The history of a PERS started from 1972 …show more content…
The usage of PERS reduced cost of early institutionalization contributing to a saving of almost $3 billion a year. Several studies have identified the use of PERS contributed to decrease hospital admission and hospital stay significantly (Koch, 1980; Caln, 1987; Dibner, 1992; Roush & Teasdale, 1995). Despite having several advantages, a survey discovered that less than 50% of the PERS users showed compliance to this system (Levine & Tideiksaar, 1995). Others felt challenges with either having no idea how to activate or how to wear a PERS (Mann, Belchior, Tomita & Kemp,

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