| Personal Response Systems |
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A personal response system (PRS), sometimes called a PERS (personal emergency response system) answers the need of many older people for both security and independence. Many organisations encourage their use, but for the consumer choosing from among the many brands on the market, buying a PRS can be confusing. |
| What is a standard PRS? |
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A PRS is a relatively simple tool to help keep the user in contact with friends, family, and, if needed, emergency services. Each system has three elements: a portable radio transmitter (help button), a console connected to the user’s telephone, and a response centre to monitor the calls. In case of an emergency (a fall, chest pains, suspected intruder, etc.), the user simply calls for help by pressing the button on the radio transmitter. The console picks up the signal and automatically phones the response centre. The call is routed to the response centre where the caller is identified through special coding. The monitoring centre's first response is to talk with the user and verify that an emergency exists. This can be done through two-way voice communication or by calling the user back on the phone. Next, monitors will call responders or emergency services to answer the call for help (even if they can’t reach the user by phone). The features offered by many PRS providers are expanding at an astounding rate. Some systems now offer services such as companionship — the user just pushes the transmitter button and can talk with the response centre for any reason. Other systems offer a speaker phone feature with their PRS that allows the user to answer the phone from wherever they are in the house, preventing accidents and aiding the disabled. Staff at the response centres often receive extensive training in such fields as gerontology and stress management, so they can better serve their clients. |
| What does a Viewcare PRS offer? |
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Although our PRS systems are still simple they have extra features. Each system has four elements:
In case of an emergency (a fall, chest pains, suspected intruder, etc.), the user
simply calls for help by pressing the button on the radio transmitter or the
system can decide for its self after a sensor is operated to call
automatically.
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