Choosing a home alert system can be quite a hassle, but you probably already know that. Unlike other meaningless purchases, this purchase could be the thing that saves your loved ones’ life in their time of need. So, how do you make such a decision? Here is everything you need to know in order to make the right choice.
Consider Your Needs
While their main purpose is to alert you, not all home alert systems function in the same manner. Therefore, your choice of home alert system should completely depend on your case and what you need. If you or your loved ones are prone to falling, you’ll need a system that detects falls, or a device on your person which you can then use to call for help. On the other hand, if you’re hard of hearing, but are fully capable of walking and maintaining your balance, you should consider buying a system that specializes in notifying you of phone calls, doorbells, and alarms. Make sure you take into account all your needs before you start looking for a system. That way, you’ll be able to let your needs dictate your purchase and not the opposite.
Mobility
One key feature of a good home alert system is its mobility. There’s no point in buying a system that ties you down to a certain place, and there is no point in paying for a mobile system if your loved one spends most of their time at home. When buying a system, consider where your loved ones spend most of their time, even if it’s in the house, in which room do they stay the most? If they’re maintaining an active lifestyle around the house, they’ll be better off with a long-range home alert system. If they rarely move, there’s no need to pay extra for a base unit and a long-range wearable device.
Reliability
For your sake and your overall peace of mind, having a reliable system is essential. If the motion-sensors on your loved ones’ fall detection system aren’t working as they should, this poses an additional risk. Likewise, if you constantly call to check on your loved one who happens to be hard of hearing, you need a reliable system that you trust will help notify them of your call. One device breakdown means they won’t answer the call, which will cause you unnecessary anguish. Not to mention, if the device fails once, it might fail again, so every time they don’t answer a call, you’ll have a great deal of uncertainty to deal with. For their safety and your peace of mind, make sure you’re investing in a reliable system.
Functions
Now that you know what you need, how do you want your system to respond to your needs? In case of an emergency, would you like it to phone you? 911? An emergency monitoring center? Would you like a system that shares with you the location of your loved one at all times? How about something that monitors activity? There are many available systems with various functions to serve you and your loved ones. From personal notification receivers to wifi-based alert systems and cellular-based systems, it’s all there.
Features
As with buying any device, certain features like battery-life, shock-resistance, water-resistance, and smartphone compatibility are important to keep in mind. For fall detection devices, it’s a problem if you can’t wear them in the shower, or if they break upon impact with the ground. For monitoring devices and other home alert systems, smartphone compatibility is always a good thing to have, not just for you as an emergency contact, but also for your loved ones if they know how to use a smartphone.
Customer Support
While quite underrated, good customer service should be one of the factors that dictate your choice of home alert system. If you face a problem with your system or if you face trouble installing, calibrating, or setting it, having a responsive customer service agent with you on the line can save you a great deal of trouble. Not only that but because those systems are essential in many cases, every minute of downtime counts. That’s why when your system breaks down, you need someone who will fix it or help you fix it as soon as possible.
With all that in mind, you should now be fully equipped to pick the best alert system for your home. However, keep in mind that when it comes to home alert systems, setting a budget without prior research is not the best idea. Make sure you know the market and the price ranges first before you decide how much you’re willing to spend. Don’t forget that, at the end of the day, the system you’re purchasing is a home essential, and so, high-quality is necessary. While an inexpensive device may be more attractive, quality should be your main concern.
