More on home monitoring systems

In response to our blog post on aging in place resources a few months ago, we've received a steady stream of requests for ratings of home monitoring systems. These are electronic devices that provide a way for an elderly person to summon help if there is an emergency. There are two basic types:

Pendants and wrist bands. A personal emergency-response system is one. Made famous by the "I've fallen and I can't get up" TV ads, these battery-operated systems require the person to wear a pendant around the neck or a device on the wrist. In an emergency, he or she pushes a button to activate it and then speaks into a microphone. The device sends a signal to a call center, which will contact local emergency services or a caregiver. Cost is about $30 a month. Two national providers of such devices are Philips Lifeline and Advanced Alert. The downside to this low-cost security is that if there is a crisis, the wearer needs to be conscious and able to push the call button.

Motion monitors. Another type of service involves monitoring the elderly person's environment for motion. Infrared motion sensors placed around the home determine if there is a lack of movement for a certain period of time. They can detect, for example, if your parent enters the bathroom and doesn't leave. About six companies make these detectors. QuietCare's service uses an average of five to seven sensors, and it costs $90 to $100 a month. One advantage of these systems is that they're unobtrusive; they don't need to be worn and activated if an emergency occurs. A drawback is that they can trigger false alerts.

Consumer Reports has looked into these services in a preliminary way and found that testing them presents some logistical challenges. The service component—the response from the monitoring company to a signal—likely will vary widely based on location. Compliance with the instructions—for example, will the elderly person wear the pendant at all times?—also is a factor. We will continue to study this issue to see if we might be able to provide some guidance down the road.

For those of you who are considering these services now, perhaps the best advice we can offer at this time is to network with other caregivers and share experiences. Some useful Web sites include the National Family Caregivers Association, American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, Center for Aging Services Technologies, Children of Aging Parents, Agingcare.com, and your local Area Agency on Aging (to find one nearly, click here). Some of these sites include forums where you can solicit advice from other users.

You can also share information by posting your comments here.