Convincing a Loved One

Everyone has pride, and very few people like to admit that they are getting old or that they need help. What personal emergency response systems actually do is maintain independence and increase quality of life for those who use these services or products.

Still, the subject needs to be approached with care and concern for the dignity of others. Here are some tips on how to talk to your loved one about the need for increased attention.

First of all, ask the person to sit down for a talk. Tell them that you want to talk to them about something that is really important to you. Then you can appeal to them on one of a number of levels. Here are a number of strategies:

• Tell them you are worried about them. Be honest about how you feel, if you lose sleep over them, if you are scared for them, or if you wonder about them several times a day.
• Explain to them that many people who live alone have accidents. Don't frighten them with statistics of fatalities, but tell them that 1 in 3 elderly people fall at home. Of these, those who break bones can take very long to reach the help they need.
• Explain to them that these products can help them keep their independence. These products can prevent the need for extra help or for other intervention (including admission to a senior's home)
• Appeal to their practicality: these products are as logical as buying insurance. Whether or not you ever need them, they are a wise thing to purchase.
• Many other people who have bought these were initially insulted but later they came to realize the increased security and peace of mind these products gave them and their families.

Assisted living facilities may cost $125/day. Skilled nursing facilities are even more.