The Bask Blog
Calculating and Comparing the Cost of PERS Systems
June 28th, 2010
Filed under category: Personal Emergency Response System
One of the difficulties with PERS Systems is the use throughout the industry of varying pricing structures. Often a system is sold to the end user with an additional monthly monitoring service agreement required. Sometimes the system is rented, with no up-front cost and monitoring included. Other times, the initial purchase price is the only cost involved.
There are several things to keep in mind when comparing the cost of various PERS systems
- Will you own your PERS system?
- Can the system be monitored by a central station?
- Who will provide the monitoring service?
There are advantages and disadvantages to owning your own PERS system. If you own the system, then you can take it with you should you move to a new home. A pure rental, on the other hand, might be upgraded or replaced if the unit should become defective or obsolete.
If you’re just paying a one-time purchase price with no monthly service agreement, you may not be able to have a monitoring company to provide assistance in the event of an emergency. Often these systems merely “dial 911″ and leave the emergency response up to the local 911 authorities.
Sometimes a system comes with a pre-arranged agreement with a monitoring company. While this may be convenient, it limits your ability to choose a higher-quality or lower-cost monitoring company.
Having these things in mind, it can be a minor hassle to compare the costs of various systems. To help you with that problem, we have made a simple calculator that should help you compare the cost of various systems and service providers. Just click on the link to our PERS Cost Calculator to compare the costs of various systems. You can see and compare how much various arrangements might cost you by the day, the month, or the year.
We hope the PERS Cost Calculator gives you some assistance in making a wise purchasing choice. If you have any questions or comments about the PERS Cost Calculator, you can leave a comment below or send a question to us using our contact link in the sidebar.
New PERS Product Features Automatic Fall Detection
March 24th, 2010
Filed under category: Elder Falls, Personal Emergency Response System
Laurie Orlov has called for four features that ought to be incorporated in all PERS products in the future: portability (more than 400 feet from the base), long battery life, simplicity, and passivity.
When Laurie says “passive,” she means that the PERS device the user has will automatically notify the central station of a fall even if the user cannot — or neglects to — push the panic button. A new PERS product promises to do just that.
…continue reading New PERS Product Features Automatic Fall Detection
Phillips Lifeline Adds Passive Fall Detection
March 23rd, 2010
Filed under category: Personal Emergency Response System
Several personal emergency response system manufacturers have upgraded their product offerings this year. Phillips Lifeline is trying to keep up with a recent announcement that they are adding passive fall detection to their PERS product.
…continue reading Phillips Lifeline Adds Passive Fall Detection
Guardian Alert 911 – Personal Emergency Response System
March 20th, 2010
Filed under category: Personal Emergency Response System
We are justly proud of our personal emergency response system, and we like to draw attention to it whenever possible. But we also like to keep our readers and customers aware of what’s happening in the emergency response industry.
The Guardian Alert 911 system is a simple alternative to systems that are monitored by a central station.
…continue reading Guardian Alert 911 – Personal Emergency Response System
Recent Developments in Home Security Technology
March 13th, 2010
Filed under category: Home Security, Personal Emergency Response System, Video
The rapid advance of communication and data technology is having a dramatic impact on the security industry generally. Video seems to be omnipresent — everything we do seems to be recorded for display on Youtube or reality TV.
But with the cost of a degree of loss of privacy and the feeling that Big Brother is watching, the bad guys are having a more difficult time getting away with their bad things … and that’s a good thing.
Bruce Kelly, who is a Home Security Specialist, has given a brief overview of some recent developments in the home security industry. In addition to personal emergency response systems, Bruce reviews some other significant areas of improvement in home security technologies — including something we’ve seen on TV and the movies, but probably don’t have at home yet: fingerprint locks.
…continue reading Recent Developments in Home Security Technology
GPS Tracker – How, When, and Where to Use It
March 2nd, 2010
Filed under category: Uncategorized
GPS tracking is becoming more and more a part of our everyday life. Most of us probably have GPS tracking capability in our cell phones already (although it may require some setting up to get it to actually work). And you should also know that there are laws in the U.S. to prohibit the use of GPS tracking to keep track of a person. (See this Wikipedia article for a brief discussion of the possible legal ramifications.)
The legal problems are interesting. GPS is beginning to be used in some personal emergency response systems, and these systems might run afoul of applicable state law, especially if the person being tracked has not consented and/or is not aware of the existence of the GPS tracking.
…continue reading GPS Tracker – How, When, and Where to Use It
New PERS Product Monitors Your Heart
February 22nd, 2010
Filed under category: GPS, Personal Emergency Response System
Personal emergency response system technology is heading in the direction of giving users significantly more protection than merely summoning assistance. Among the advances put forward recently by manufacturers are GPS technology, to locate the user, automatic fall detection, and two-way voice communication.
Now a manufacturer has proposed to make a PERS unit that monitors your heart and notifies the central station in the event of a heart problem.
MediPendant(TM) Offers Two-Way Voice Through Pendant
February 21st, 2010
Filed under category: Personal Emergency Response System
A new product is becoming available. The product is called “MediPendant,” and offers the user the ability to engage in two-way voice communication with the central station directly through the pendant itself.
…continue reading MediPendant(TM) Offers Two-Way Voice Through Pendant
New PERS Product – Wellcore Provides Automatic Fall Detection
February 17th, 2010
Filed under category: Elder Falls, Personal Emergency Response System
A new product offering has recently hit the internet publicity machine with a good deal of noise — it’s a personal emergency response system that incorporates automatic fall detection, central station notification, and motion pattern recognition. The device even reminds users to wear the device and sends warnings to family or caregivers if the device is left unworn for a period of time.
…continue reading New PERS Product – Wellcore Provides Automatic Fall Detection
Using GPS to Monitor Alzheimer’s Patients
February 17th, 2010
Filed under category: GPS
You’ve heard of Alzheimer’s patients taking unauthorized walks, endangering themselves with all manner of hazards. Brickhouse Security blog has proposed a possible solution to the problem of wandering Alzheimer’s patients: have them wear a GPS device.
The idea is to get shoes, for example, equipped with a GPS device to keep track of where the wearer is. The GPS device could be tracked online or used to show police or rescue personnel where the person is.
