Proudly Canadian - Hospital Owned & Operated
Frequently asked questions
Personal Emergency devices are indispensable this time of year:
Falls & Slips: Ice and snow increase the risk of injury, especially for seniors with limited balance or mobility.
Cold-Related Health Risks: Hypothermia and frostbite can develop quickly in older adults, even indoors if heating systems fail.
Isolation & Slow Emergency Response: Snowstorms and icy roads can delay help from family or first responders — making monitored protection even more vital.
Dehydration & Fatigue: Seniors often drink less in winter, leading to fatigue or dizziness — increasing the likelihood of falls.
Personal Emergency Response Systems, are not a luxury but an essential safety solution. Gives you the confidence and independence to stay in your own home and go out knowing help is available should you need it.
Connect Care's GPS Safe Watch and the GPS Safe Pendant/Clip devices use intelligent fall detection to sense a sudden fall and automatically send an alert, even when the user can’t press the button. That means you get protection when you need it most.
GPS Accuracy and Nationwide Coverage
Whether a senior slips near their driveway or experiences distress while walking to the mailbox, GPS-enabled location data ensures help is sent to the exact spot.
Pre-Integrated AI-Powered Monitoring and Faster Response Times
Through advanced AI and professional monitoring infrastructure, alerts are handled quickly and efficiently, helping reduce false alarms while ensuring genuine emergencies get immediate attention. This is technology built for real-world reliability.
Peace of Mind for Families
Families can be rest assured that loved ones are safe 24 hours a day - 7 days a week. Family members who are listed as responders will be notified in case of an emergency.
Wearable Comfort and Modern Design
Our devices are sleek, discreet, and easy to wear as pendants, on a belt clip, or on the wrist. A modern, lifestyle-friendly device that seniors actually want to wear.
While smartphones are valuable tools, they aren’t optimized for emergencies. Personal Emergency devices are purpose-built to provide fast, reliable, and personalized help at the press of a button—wherever and whenever it’s needed.
Here's Why:
Personal Emergency Devices Are Designed to Be Worn Everywhere—Even in the Shower
Unlike smartphones, which are typically set down or left charging, modern Personal Emergency devices are lightweight, wearable, and water-resistant. They’re built to be worn 24/7—even in high-risk areas like the bathroom, where most in-home falls occur, according to Stanford Medicine. If a senior falls in the shower, a Personal Emergency device with two-way voice allows them to speak directly with a trained care specialist and receive immediate help.
Longer Battery Life = Less Hassle
Today’s smartphones have improved battery life, but they still require daily charging with moderate use. In contrast, Personal Emergency devices like the GPS Safe Watch and the GPS Pendant/Clip which are optimized for safety and efficiency—often lasting days between charges. This means seniors or individuals with limited mobility don’t have to worry about their device dying during a critical moment.
Personal Emergency Devices Offer One-Button Emergency Access
Smartphones involve unlocking screens, navigating apps, or voice commands—all of which may not work smoothly during panic or physical distress. Personal Emergency devices are intentionally simple: just press one button, and you’re instantly connected to a live emergency care specialist who knows who you are and what you need.
Emergency Care Specialists Have Access to Your Critical Info:
Calling 911 from a smartphone connects you with a dispatcher, but they won’t have access to your medical history, allergies, or preferred hospital. Personal Emergency providers can store and transmit this vital information to responders in real-time—saving precious minutes and reducing medical errors. Our Personal Emergency devices also include GPS tracking, fall detection, and more.
Companies that provide solutions to care for aging adults understand how important it is for people to feel empowered regardless of their age.
Aging in place, or the ability to live independently and comfortably at home for as long as physically possible, has become an increasingly popular trend in recent years. There is a heightened desire to remain in one’s home with a sense of independence and autonomy among aging adults.
The ability to age in place promotes a sense of well-being and satisfaction, a positive quality of life, and a boost in self-esteem for seniors. Yet as people grow older, the realization of this desire becomes increasingly difficult. With age comes mobility challenges, the potential for social isolation and in many cases, cognitive decline, all of which add to the complications of aging independently at home. These challenges impact one’s ability to maintain proper healthcare, personal care, nutrition, sociality, household care, and money management to name a few.
The growing preference to age in place has led to a variety of changes in the way we approach senior care. In this article, we will explore some of the current trends in aging in place and how new strategies and technologies are expanding to support this movement.
More Than Just An Emergency Device
Our new and state-of-the-art devices are discreet, waterproof and offer the longest battery life available in the industry. Integration with our award-winning 24/7 monitoring service ensures immediate, caring support in multiple languages. What sets us apart from the rest are more than just technology. It is the innovative proactive services that can help to better the lives of seniors who use them.
Trends in Technology
There is a wide range of technological advancements in devices, apps, software, and the use of artificial intelligence, all being harnessed to support independent living and aging in place. Here are some examples.
Wearable technology, from fitness trackers to personal emergency response systems (PERS), that can help seniors keep track of their activity levels or get help immediately in the event of a fall or accident.
Remote health monitoring systems which can track an older adult’s movements, medication adherence, and other important health indicators.
Telehealth systems that allow seniors to connect with healthcare professionals remotely and receive care from the comfort of their own home.
Patient engagement systems that get patients more actively involved in their healthcare with a higher degree of compliance.
As technology continues to advance, we can expect to see even more innovative devices and technology solutions designed to support aging in place and improve the quality of life for older adults.
At a glance Each year, millions of older people—those 65 and older—fall. In fact, more than one out of four older people fall each year, but less than half tell their doctor. Falling once doubles your chances of falling again.
Falls are the leading cause of injury among adults aged 65 and older.
One out of 10 falls results in an injury that causes the older adult to restrict their activities for a day or more or to seek attention from the healthcare system.1
Each year, there are about 3 million emergency department visits due to older people falls.2
Each year, there are about 1 million fall-related hospitalizations among older adults.2
In 2019, 83% percent of hip fracture deaths and 88% of emergency department visits and hospitalizations for hip fractures were caused by
falls.3
Each year, nearly 319,000 older people are hospitalized for hip fractures.3
Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI).4
When an emergency arises, every second counts. For senior citizens, this couldn’t be more true. As we age, our bodies naturally become more susceptible to injury, slower to recover, and more vulnerable to complications. This makes the speed and quality of emergency response not just important—but absolutely critical.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are the leading cause of injury among adults aged 65 and older. These accidents account for nearly 1 million fall-related hospitalizations each year in the United States alone. Even more alarming is the fall death rate, which in 2021 reached approximately 78% per 100,000 older adults. This staggering statistic highlights just how vital it is that seniors receive immediate attention when emergencies occur.
The faster a qualified operator can assess a situation and dispatch the appropriate help, the greater the chance of avoiding long-term damage, or even saving a life. In the world of personal health and safety, especially for older adults, response time can mean the difference between a minor incident and a life-altering crisis.
A proactive and rapid intervention has helped prevent situations from escalated, ultimately reducing risk and preserving well-being.
Conditions that make you more likely to fall
Research has identified many conditions that contribute to falling. These are called risk factors. Many risk factors can be changed or modified to help prevent falls. They include:5
Lower body weakness
Vitamin D deficiency (that is, not enough vitamin D in your body)
Difficulties with walking and balance
Use of medicines, such as tranquilizers, sedatives, or antidepressants. Even some over-the-counter medicines can affect balance and how steady you are on your feet.
Vision problems
Foot pain or poor footwear
Home hazards or dangers, such as:
Broken or uneven steps
Throw rugs or clutter that can be tripped over
Most falls are caused by a combination of risk factors. The more risk factors a person has, the greater their chances of falling.
Healthcare providers can help cut down a person's risk by reducing the fall risk factors listed above with fall prevention interventions in both clinical and community settings.
After a fall Many falls do not cause injuries. While not all falls result in an injury, about 37% of those who fall reported an injury that required medical treatment or restricted their activity for at least
one day.5 These injuries can make it hard for a person to get around, do everyday activities, or live on their own.
Falls can cause broken bones, like wrist, arm, ankle, and hip fractures.6
Falls can cause head injuries. These can be very serious, especially if the person is taking certain medicines (like blood thinners). An older person who falls and hits their head should see their doctor right away to make sure they don't have a brain injury.7
Many people who fall, even if they're not injured, become afraid of falling. This fear may cause a person to cut down on their everyday activities. When a person is less active, they become weaker and this increases
their chances of falling.8
Founder of the Shock Trauma Institute in Baltimore, R. Adams Cowley, is widely recognized as the father of the golden hour concept, which states that “the first hour after injury will largely determine a critically injured person’s chances of survival.”
The Golden Hour
The concept of the golden hour has been widely debated since 1975, and whether or not the one-hour time frame is actually as important to a person’s survival after a traumatic injury as was once thought. Regardless of what side of the fence you find yourself on, we can all agree on this; if you, or someone you know got hurt (*knock on wood*), you or they would want help as soon as possible. When you boil the golden hour down to those terms, it becomes logical and practical messaging: receive help as soon as possible.
Personal Emergency devices can improve the response time of an injury, especially for those who are incapacitated. The Personal Emergency devices can help in two ways: if the person is able to speak or move after a fall or an injury, they can press the button on a Personal Emergency device and talk to an operator. Or, if a user falls, these devices with fall detection will sense the fall and call an operator automatically. An operator can then assess the situation, even if the user is unable to speak and send EMS to the location of the device.
Moments That Matter
Our compassionate and highly-trained operators are available 24/7, and backed by a full-redundant network of monitoring specialists, providing industry-leading response times.
Our dedication to the fastest response times in the industry, as well as to innovative and proactive systems and devices, ensures that those in need get help quickly, efficiently, and compassionately, and well within the “golden hour”.
Choosing the right medical alert device for a senior involves considering several key factors to ensure safety, usability, and peace of mind. Here are the main points to guide you:
Key Features to Consider
24/7 Emergency Monitoring: Look for systems with round-the-clock professional monitoring that ensures immediate response anytime help is needed.
Automatic Fall Detection: This feature detects falls automatically, which is crucial because seniors may not always be able to press the emergency button after a fall.
GPS Tracking and Mobility: For seniors who spend time outside the home, GPS tracking helps locate them quickly in an emergency. Mobile or wearable systems enhance safety on-the-go.
Ease of Use: The device should be simple, comfortable, lightweight, and intuitive for the senior to wear and operate under stress.
Two-Way Communication: Enables direct voice interaction through the device to communicate with responders or family in emergencies.
Battery Life and Water Resistance: Long battery life reduces the risk of the device losing power. Water resistance allows wear during bathing and other activities.
Choosing a Reputable Company: Choosing a reputable company for a Personal Emergency Device (PED) is critically important because such a device is relied upon for urgent assistance during medical emergencies, falls, or other sudden health issues. A reputable company ensures reliability, prompt emergency response, high-quality customer service, clear pricing, and trustworthy monitoring, which are essential for the device to function effectively when every second counts.
Additional Considerations
Coverage Area: Ensure the device and its monitoring service operate reliably in the senior’s residential area.
Monitoring Center Quality: Choose providers with certified center's staffed by trained professionals dedicated to senior care.
Set-Up and Support: A user-friendly installation process and responsive customer support are important for ongoing use.
Budget and Fees: Consider monthly monitoring fees, contract terms, and whether there are any hidden costs.
Customization: Certain systems offer language options, voice activation, or app integration for family monitoring.
Choosing a device that fits the senior’s unique lifestyle, mobility, and comfort level will maximize the effectiveness and ensure they feel secure and independent while guaranteeing quick access to emergency help if needed.
Choosing the Connect Care Medical Alert Service offers several key benefits. It is a hospital-owned and operated service for over 35 years and all net proceeds support hospital programs and services.
Reliable and high-quality care, the system is easy to use, featuring water-resistant our GPS Safe Watch, Pendant or Belt Clip devices, enabling 24/7 monitoring and two-way voice communication to connect users with professional help.
Additional advantages include affordable pricing, no equipment purchase requirement, no long-term contract or landline dependency, and the GPS location is added for enhanced safety with the GPS Safe Watch and the GPS Safe Pendant/Clip.
Serving a wide range of users, including seniors living alone, individuals discharged from hospital needing extra support, and those with medical conditions or fall risks. The personalized customer service, and hospital ownership make it a trusted choice across Canada.
Overall, Connect Care provides dependable emergency assistance, promotes independence, and supports the Canadian healthcare system by reinvesting profits locally, making it a wise choice for medical alert services in Canada.