Personal Emergency Response System
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than one out of four older adults fall each year, but less than half tell their doctors or family members. Falling once doubles the chances of falling again, often leading to serious injuries such as hip fractures and traumatic brain injuries.
To address this growing concern in Knox County, the Office on Aging received a grant from the East Tennessee Foundation in 2013 to offer Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) service to low-income seniors. In partnership with VRI, a company with over 30 years of experience, the Office on Aging delivers a multi-faceted program to allow qualifying seniors who are at high risk for falls participate in a sliding scale payment plan and receive an affordable medical alert system.
Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) helps preserve independence so that older adults can live more confidently knowing that help is available with just the push of a button. The PERS service offers both landline and cellular unit options, so that clients can get help if a fall occurs, regardless of where they are located.
Benefits of the VRI Personal Emergency Response System include:
- 24/7 monitoring
- No phone required
- Two-way speaker
- Fall detection
- Location detection
- Water resistance
- Extended battery life
- Broad service area
- Wearable options
Office on Aging clients may be eligible for a discount on the purchase of VRI products. Call us at 865-524-2786 to find out if you qualify to receive a discount through the Office on Aging.