| Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) FAQ |
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Table of Contents
Updated August, 2006 [ top ] A) PERS stands for Personal Emergency Response System. It is a system that allows someone who has safety or health concerns to summon assistance at the touch of a button. FYI: Although PERS is a descriptive acronym for this type of product, there may be other acronyms or different terminology used by different companies. [ top ] Q2) Of what does a PERS usually consist? A) There are usually three components to a PERS: a small radio transmitter (a help button carried or worn by the user and/or a transmitter that sits on a counter); a console connected to the user's telephone; and an emergency response center that monitors calls. [ top ] A) The way a PERS works is straightforward. If a user has an emergency situation, he or she presses a button on the transmitter which then signals the console and the console dials the preprogrammed emergency response center where the call is answered and assistance is provided. [ top ] Q4) Does a PERS work from anywhere? A) No, a PERS will have a range limitation and some may experience interference when used in different places (for example, a PERS in a city may have more interference than one in the country due to the greater number of radio signals, cell phone signals, wireless Internet signals, etc.) . Different systems will have different limits so that is something that you should research before buying a PERS. [ top ] A) A PERS can be bought, rented or leased. Different companies have different options. [ top ] Q6) How much does a PERS cost? A) Price can vary greatly. Normally they range between $200 and $1,500 for the actual system and then most companies charge a monthly monitoring fee (usually between $10 and $30). [ top ] Q7) How does the monitoring company know who to contact? A) Information on whom to contact is given to the response center at the time of purchase or rental. Options on whom to contact may include the local 911 center (police, fire, ambulance), a family member or close friend, or a medical professional. NOTE: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in cooperation with the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) provides a fact sheet about PERS at www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/services/pers.htm [ top ] Q8) Who are some companies that supply PERS? A) Some providers are listed below: LifeGuardian Security Center MedicAlert AlertOne Pioneer Medical Systems, Inc. There are many other PERS providers listed on Yahoo! and that listing can be found at: dir.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Business_to_Business/ [ top ] |
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