Wellcore Personal Emergency Response System

A Personal Emergency Response System has become somewhat of an obsession for me recently and there are a lot of reasons for it. It began with my viewing of the Freedom Alert Personal Emergency Response system commercial which of course reminded me of that ole I've fallen and I can't get up commercial. It's always been a favorite of mine, but it's really not funny anymore.

I'm at the point of my life when I must make some decisions for some elderly family members and a personal emergency response system is on the forefront of my decision making. What I'm trying to accomplish is some sort of assisted living device without have to enter anyone into a real assisted living situation because at this stage it is not warranted and financially not feasible.

Technology has provided a way for many senior citizens to keep their independent lifestyle without needing even part time in home care and this is something we should all take into account. But as far as medical alarms are concerned, there are many options.

My favorite this far has been the Freedom Alert System, and prior to that the Guardian Alert 911 system, both manufactured by LogicMark. The main reason I preferred these two devices was the inexpensive cost, great features, and the lack of a need for a monitoring contract. The devices allowed users to contact help in various forms directly from their system without the cost of a monitoring service. To me this was a good deal.

But, these systems do have their drawbacks, and frankly they were things I hadn't considered. But, that's what's so good about doing research. You learn things.

My concerns were as follows:

• What if the user is unable to call for help by pushing the button?
• What if the user does not want to wear the device all the time?
• What if the user strays out of the range of the base unit and cannot get help?
  

The above concerns are solvable with some adjustments in one's routines and some practice using the device but should it really be so hard? These are supposed to enhance the quality of life and not become a chore.

A company called WellCore has introduced a personal emergency response system in the spirit of those that I like but with solutions to three issues I was having. Let's find out what those solutions are.

First, the Emergency Response Pendant we see with several other systems has been replaced by the WellCore Mini Sensor. It is a small clip on device weighing about 2oz which is much more attractive than the devices we are used to. It's very understated, completely waterproof, and can be clipped onto a pocket or lapel without attracting too much attention. They did this in an effort to encourage more people to wear it.

One of the amazing features of the Wellcore is that even if you don't want to wear it, it will remind you to do so. It's internal sensors can tell if it is not in use and will beep up to 3 times within an hour to remind you to put it on. If there is no response by you, the device will automatically email or text your caregiver to let them know you are not with your device.

Next, even though it still has a panic button to call for help, the Wellcore has built in fall technology which is advanced enough to activated itself should the user fall and be unable to speak or move. This value of this feature is immeasurable.

Perhaps the most impressive feature of this particular personal emergency response system is that it's mobile! One of the concerns I've had with the majority of systems I've researched is that you cannot be protected if you leave the home. The base units usually are hooked into the phone line and have a range of a few hundred feet. This is fine when you are in the home, but what about when you are on the go.

The WellCore is blue tooth enabled which means it can sync up to a cell phone and you will have the same protections out when you are out and about as you would in the home. You can either press the panic button should a need arise or the fall sensor will summon help should you be unable. Either way, this mobile function is wonderful.

Something unique to cell phones these days are their GPS capabilities. This means that the 24 monitoring center run by WellCore can track your location outside the home and send help. I should point out that the operators try to determine the nature of your emergency before they send help. If they cannot, they dispatch emergency services immediately.

Even the WellCore base unit is a little more advanced than many personal emergency response systems I've seen so far. The difference being although the WellCore sends information through the phone, it is also capable of sending and receiving information over broadband computer lines. Today, many people are ditching the cost of their phone lines in lieu of VOIP which is often free. This has been a hick-up when deciding which emergency response system to purchase, but these companies are trying hard to keep up with the times.

The Console of the WellCore Personal Emergency Response System also has a few other nice features. There is a speaker button so you can talk into it without having to pick up the phone. Further, there are message buttons on the front where caregivers can leave messages for playback. For instance, someone can email you through the WellCore web portal and then with the press of the button the machine will actually read the message for you aloud.

The web portal itself is rather interesting. It is a website with a very simple user area which keeps track of very valuable information. Let's say your son lives across the country and wants to keep a watchful eye on how you are doing. He can log into the site and there are graphics showing the information the WellCore device has gathered in real time. He can chart changes in your activity over a day or several days. Further, if you are in need of more exercise, as long as you carry the transponder, he can see how many steps you've taken in a day and any patterns which may emerge across several days or weeks. And finally, the device can monitor sleep patterns. If you are not sleeping through the night the activity can be monitored. So the information available to yourself or your caregivers online is really something.

Well, the WellCore Personal Emergency Response Systems comes in various form but I will start by saying the first systems were shipped in March 2010 so this product is fairly new. The WellCore comes with a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee and any monitoring subscription does not begin until your system has been installed and tested.

Having said that you can purchase a Single User System for $199.99.

The Single User Wellcore System includes:

• Personal Activity Monitor (1)
• Base Unit (1)
• Telephone cord
• Power Supply
• Armband
• User Guide and Install Guide

Wellcore Service Subscription REQUIRED for use

No Contract Required, Cancel any time for a full pro-rated refund of the unused portion:

• Monthly Plan $49.99/month
  Automatically billed to your credit card each month
• 6 Month Plan $274 save $25
  By purchasing 6 months in advance, you save $25 off the monthly rate
• Annual Plan $549 save $50
  By purchasing 12 months in advance, you save $50 (the equivalent of one month free service)

The WellCore Two User Emergency Response System is $299.99

The Two User Wellcore System includes:

• Personal Activity Monitor (2)
• Base Unit (1)
• Telephone cord
• Power Supply
• Armband
• User Guide and Install Guide

Two User Wellcore Service Subscription REQUIRED for use

No Contract Required, Cancel any time for a full pro-rated refund of the unused portion:

• Two User Monthly Plan $79.99/month
  Automatically billed to your credit card each month
• Two User 6 Month Plan $454 save $25
  By purchasing 6 months in advance, you save $25 off the monthly rate
• Two User Annual Plan $909 save $50
  By purchasing 12 months in advance, you save $50

In my opinion the units themselves are extremely reasonable and the features are terrific. However, the monthly monitoring fees are my barrier to entry and lead me to conclude that the Freedom Alert System is right for me. But, if cost is not an issue I believe the WellCore Personal Emergency Response System is a superior product and would be perfect for anyone in the market for a Medical Alarm System

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