Burglaries are a serious problem. Break-ins are not just financially damaging but psychologically, too, especially if the burglar enters the home when family members are present. One way you can protect yourself and keep your family safe is to install a home alarm security system. If you have never had an alarm, then you may have a lot of questions.
As technologies have advanced, alarm systems and security systems have moved away from professional installation and many systems are designed to be installed by the user. We have put together a quick guide to take the hassle out of choosing an alarm for your home and ensure peace of mind.
Types of Home Alarm Systems
Home alarm systems vary immensely and you can choose an alarm to suit your budget and home.
You can choose from one of the following systems:
Hard-wired
This is one of the most inexpensive burglar alarm options and works by running from your telephone line. They are not as secure as a wireless option as thieves can render the alarm redundant by cutting the phone line. This is not the best option if your home has land lines that are exposed. This is often the case in older homes and a wireless system would be a better option.
Wireless
Some systems are considered to be wireless when the components such as sensors are not hard-wired into the home. The system can be moved if you do. The system does still run off a landline so once again older homes with exposed land lines are at risk.
Cable
Cable systems run off your broadband Internet connection. If you have an older home again ruthless thieves can cut cables which will sever the connection to the monitoring system. If you choose this type of system, it is best to have a backup battery for your router. This will protect you in the event of unexpected outages.
Cellular
Cellular systems are a good choice as they communicate to the monitoring station via a cellular signal. It operates on a separate network to your cell phone so it is still fully functional should there be any problems with your network coverage.
If your line is cut then there may still be help at hand. With broadband and Internet connections, there is a constant stream of data which passes from the alarm panel to a central station. If the data stream stops because the line has been cut then this will be treated by the station as a potential cut line and would be treated in the same way as an alarm.
You should, however, have a backup battery in place as any loss in Internet connection will result in an alarm being raised. To avoid the issue of cut lines, a 100% wireless and cellular system is the best option.
Protect Your Family With The Best Alarm Systems
Before you invest in an alarm system, you should consider your home, budget, and location. Many neighborhoods have been badly affected by crime, especially in areas of poverty.
Preparing To Protect Your Home – Some Statistics
So, what if an alarm system is out of your budget for the time being, what can you do? You can still take some measures that will reduce your risk of burglaries. Buy some alarm signs and stickers and display them in clear view in your windows and front yard. This will deter 60% of would-be burglars who are considering your home as their next target.
You should also be aware that 85% of break-ins are through doors rather than windows and most burglars choose to gain entry from the back of the home where they are less likely to be spotted. Bearing these statistics in mind, you should set up your home accordingly. Make sure that every exterior door has a motion sensor and that there are sensors on the windows at the back of the home as burglars will rarely attempt a break-in at the front of the home via a window.
However, if you have a home in a very secluded area then consideration should be given to windows at the front of the property too. We will talk a little more about sensors further on in the guide.
So, What’s The Best Alarm Setup?
From experience, and considering the statistics we mentioned, we recommend your system should have the following as an absolute minimum.
- Door sensors for every exterior door
- Window sensors for the rear of the home
- Motion sensors that cover large areas of the home
What are the Kinds of Protection Options Offered by Home Alarm Companies?
Now that you have decided which alarm system to install the next thing to consider is what kind of protection you think you need and what your budget will allow. A basic alarm system should include a control panel and door sensors. Let’s take a look at the components that alarm systems include in a little more detail.
Control Panel
Control panels vary from company to company and offer differing functions. New features are constantly added but the most common features include the following:
* Alarm system control buttons are used to arm and disarm your home. When you are at home you can arm just the door sensors to protect from intruders while disarming the indoor sensors.
* Status buttons allow you to see what triggers have been activated. You can see a history of any motion sensors that are tripped in addition to the actual alarm being set off.
* Emergency buttons allow you to contact emergency services at the touch of a button so that help can be on its way as soon as possible.
* 2-way calling is available with some systems. This means you can talk to an operator at a call centre to either get help with your emergency or make them aware of a false alarm. This is a good option for disabled or elderly homeowners. A 2-Way voice system can allow you to speak to a responder up to 75 feet from the home for instances such as fire or intruders in the home when it is not safe to be in the property.
* Door and window sensors are included in typical alarm systems. They are the same type of sensors and have a transmitter and a magnet that detects whether the door or window is open or closed. They will not be triggered however if the glass is broken.
* Motion sensors use body heat to detect motion. They work at a 90-degree angle from up to 45 feet away. The best place to locate these sensors is in the corners. That way the 90-degree coverage will be effective along each wall and will provide maximum coverage. They should be installed no higher than 5 feet from the floor so that they are able to detect ground motion. Another option is to install the sensors between the wall and ceiling pointing downwards so that the entire room is covered. This is suitable for when you wish to use fewer screws for the setup.
* Glass break sensors are something you should definitely consider if your home has large windows and large glass sliding doors. If you want to protect your home from a burglar breaking glass to gain entry, you will need glass break sensors. They can detect the frequency of glass breaking from over 10 feet away so it is not always necessary to install a sensor on each window. Pay particular attention to windows at the back of the home.
* More Sensors are available with more sophisticated systems such as video monitoring devices.
Other Considerations
What other things should I consider before purchasing an alarm system? It is best to check out a few more things before you go ahead and invest in an alarm system to protect your home and family.
Fire and Medical Coverage
Most alarm systems can be used to protect your ho
me from fire and provide medical response in an emergency. Many alarm companies will give you the option of installing a smoke detector at the same time as you set up your alarm system. This detector rather than just beeping in the event of smoke gives the added security of being linked to the alarm system.
In the event of a fire, the system will send a signal to the local fire department and help will be on its’ way immediately, potentially saving lives. It is also possible to let your alarm company aware of any medical emergencies but for elderly or disabled home-owners a mobile medical device is a better option.
Check Out the Competition
With many companies using similar equipment, it is best to check out other factors rather than equipment when making your choice.
Customer Service
Find out how good the customer service is by reading genuine online reviews. Conduct a thorough search and make sure that the company have a good response to emergencies and positive feedback. You can also check out friends, family, and neighbors to find their recommended alarm companies.
100% Wireless System
If you have an older home where cut lines could be an issue then make sure you go with this kind of system with a battery backup to adequately protect yourself from intruders.
Central Monitoring Station
You should make sure you use a reputable company that has a good monitoring station. Larger companies such as ADT have several monitoring stations in case of high volumes so that you can be assured that help is always at hand when you need it.
We recommend that you stick to well-established companies and you should be looking to pay no less than $30 a month to pay for a good service. We hope you found the guide helpful and good luck in finding a company to keep your home and family safe and ensure peace of mind.
With an increasingly ageing population, society is faced with the need to address how best to deal with the needs of the elderly. It is generally accepted that the best thing for all is to keep elderly people out of hospital and in their own homes if at all possible.
Everyone wants to maintain their independence but at the same time be safe. It can be a worrying time for a relative knowing that an elderly relative is living alone with age-related medical issues.
We have all heard horror stories of elderly people falling in their own homes and being left overnight or longer before emergency services are called.
Medical alert services and devices give elderly people the freedom to live independently whilst feeling safe that help is quickly on hand when they request assistance by simply pressing a panic button. These devices vary and it is best to consider the individual’s mobility and health issues before going ahead and purchasing a system.
To begin deciding which device is most suitable, an evaluation of the individual’s current and future needs is best. For example, a person who has had a stroke may not be able to communicate and a person with dementia may lose the ability to understand how to operate some systems over time.
Free trials may be available with some services that you can try out to see if the individual is happy and able to use the system effectively.
What Are Medical Alert Devices Exactly?
A medical alert system generally consists of a base unit and either a bracelet or pendant. It is sometimes referred to as a personal emergency response system (PERS) or a medical emergency response system (MERS).
When the wearer needs help, they simply press the button on their pendant or bracelet. This distress call is then sent wirelessly to the base unit and a monitoring center will then answer. The user can then communicate their emergency if possible to the help center through sensitive microphones and loud speakers.
It is imperative that wireless signal is reliable as otherwise the wireless distress signal may not reach the base unit and help will not arrive.
How To Choose Medical Alert Devices
First of all, it is important to recognize that a medical alert system is NOT the solution for everyone. When deciding on getting a system put in to place for a loved one, you must take advice from the health professionals dealing with your relatives’ medical needs.
In some circumstances, such as severe dementia, sadly the home may no longer be a safe environment. There comes a time that some elderly people need 24-hour care provided in nursing homes.
However, if health professionals agree that living independently at home with the addition of an alert system is the best option for a relative, then there are lots of things you need to consider.
The choice of devices varies greatly from a basic device that will alert an emergency response team at the touch of a button to more advanced devices that include a host of features, such as movement sensors, fall detection, well-being monitors, and even fitness trackers!
Things to Consider
Contract & Fees
A consideration to bear in mind when deciding on a system is the contract and fees associated with the service. Many of the actual devices are exactly the same from service to service and are manufactured by the same people. In addition to which, most services outsource the monitoring centers rather than having their own centres. Thus, the only difference from one provider to the next may be the terms and conditions as well as the price.
Some services will offer cheaper deals for services paid for longer periods of time such as annually or bi-annually. You may also want to look into terms and conditions such as ease of cancellation. Unfortunately, with aging, any further deterioration in health may mean that the individual is no longer able to stay at home and cancellation and refund policies should be a consideration.
Also, some policies may incur fees if a certain number of false alarms are received by the monitoring centre. It is, therefore, best to check out the fine print before you sign up. While most providers offer ethical cancellation policies, it is best to review the terms before you sign up. The last thing you need at an upsetting time due to bereavement or a parent’s declining health is to deal with an aggressive company.
What Type Of Device Is Best?
One of the key things to consider when getting a device is that if your elderly relative is not wearing the device then it is essentially useless! Devices are essentially either bracelets that look like a watch or a pendant worn around the neck. It might be that a male relative may not want to wear a pendant or a wristband may be painful for fragile skin.
Another consideration is if the individual is able to easily remove the device or if it is best the device stays on at all times. If the individual is likely to find removing the device difficult or simply forget to replace it, then a waterproof device should be what you are looking for.
In any eventuality, a waterproof device is a good choice. With one in three of all people over 65 years of age experiencing a fall every year, the bathroom is one of the most dangerous places in the home—and not just for the elderly! It makes sense to have help on hand when bathing and showering.
Range
Plenty of elderly people are still very active but enjoy the peace of mind that a device brings. They may still enjoy gardening or doing DIY in the shed so check the range of the signal to ensure that the person is covered at all times whilst being able to stay active and enjoy pastimes.
Battery Life
Depending on your relative’s competence and frequency of visitors, battery life should be a consideration. With some devices having a battery life of up to 90 hours, you can be assured that your loved one has a working device for days. If, however, your relative has daily checks, this is a less important factor.
Other Considerations
Multi-Person Medical Monitoring
If you have two elderly parents still living at home check out services that will cover two people for a small additional cost.
Check-In Service
The better service providers will provide a check-in service which is a check that the company makes regularly often for no additional cost. The caller will make a check on the individual and check that the system is fully operational.
Fall Detection Add-On
This is a life-saving feature and should definitely be a consideration if your relative has limited mobility and has had previous falls. Often with a fall, the person loses consciousness and is therefore incapable of summoning help. There are pendants on the market for a small additional monthly cost that are designed to detect such common emergencies and inevitably save lives.
Evaluating the Monitoring Center
As mentioned previously, many service providers outsource rather than having their own monitoring center. It is a good idea to test out a typical response time for an emergency. It is recommended that the time it takes for the call to be answered is less than one minute. Any longer than this, then look elsewhere to find a service that will provide an immediate potentially life-saving response that your loved one deserves.
Tried & Tested
Bearing in mind all of the considerations we have discussed, we have taken a look at some of the services on the market. Here are some of our top picks and what we like:
LifeFone At Home and On-The-Go With Fall Detection
LifeFone offers an On-The-Go or At-Home service both with Fall Detection. This means that more active seniors can get help whilst out and about for any eventuality. We love this On-The-Go GPS tracking feature for more active users. Other great features include:
- Fall Detection – with many companies, you will pay extra for what we think is a really valuable feature.
- No Contract – you can cancel at any point, just pay monthly.
- No Start-Up Fees – no initial fee to sign up.
- Long Range – reception up to 1500 km away.
- Full Refund – any unused prepaid service will be fully refunded in unfortunate circumstances, unlike other providers that may require payment.
On the downside, while the GPS feature makes the device fully mobile, there is just 300–600-foot reception from the base unit.
ADT On-The-Go Medical Alert Plus
We think ADT On-The-Go Medical Alert Plus is also a good choice. There are three different monitoring systems to choose from and the middle tier is the option we like. It won’t cover users out and about but it is a good quality at-home medical alert device. It has a feature called FOREVERate™, which means that, once you have signed up, it is guaranteed that the monthly fee will never change. Other features include:
- No fees – pay monthly.
- Temperature Sensing to detect fire and freezing conditions.
- Fall Detection Pendant available for just $14.99.
- 24/7 Monitoring.
The device does not have GPS monitoring, though, and you need to be within 600 feet of the base.
Mobile Help Duo
The Mobile Help Duo is a top pick and it is a good price. It includes at-home as well as mobile monitoring. You can also get an alert sent to a family member in the event that a call for help is made. Other great features include:
- Extra Wearables – you can get two pendants or bracelets.
- No contracts – stop the service whenever you like.
- Promotions that include no fees.
- Savings when paid annually.
Fall detection is, however, an additional fee and when a promotion is not running you will need to pay an activation fee.
Medical Guardian
Medical Guardian is a specialist in providing medical alert systems. The device is water-resistant and you can get additional pendants for extra users without paying an add-on fee making it a great choice for elderly couples. Features available with this service include:
- Long Range – one of the longest ranges on the market.
- No fees – pay monthly.
- No contracts – cancellation is free.
- Annual savings available.
Unfortunately, this device does not have the facility to talk to an operator through the pendant but you can speak to a representative through the base unit.
Conclusion
Medical alert systems are a great way for people to maintain their independence and stay in their own homes whilst remaining safe. If you are caring for an elderly relative then these devices bring safety and peace of mind. We hope you found this guide helpful.
