"Worst Fear" Solutions: A loved-one who needs help and can't get it

A woman lives alone at home. She is autonomous and strong. She mows the lawn, cooks, and manages her daily life like she has done for decades. She rejects the idea she needs any special considerations. She is 75 years old.

Her family observes the same thing, but has a slightly different perspective. They see the woman as strong and autonomous. But, they are worried for her safety. "What if" they often think about falls, emergencies, and unexpected medical conditions. Whether the dangers are real or perceived they worry about who will be there to help.

Many people find that a PERS or "Personal Emergency Response System" is a solution to the above concerns: A loved one wants to live at home/the family is concerned about that person's well-being. Its a natural and common situation.

At the core, a PERS is a link between the user and fast (possibly emergency) assistance. The user wears a small pendant, wrist band or belt clip with a button. When the button is pressed, the user is put in contact with a central station, which can contact friends, family, or emergency services depending on the situation. While you will see differences in prices and customer service, many companies (including my company) out there offer something close to this core package.

Most people are unaware that there are companies out there that offer services beyond the base level PERS.

At my company, we are able to add on additional features such as "activity monitoring" where family and friends are given piece of mind knowledge that the user is active and completing his/her daily routine. We offer programmable reminders for things like medication. We even offer fall detection, where if the user falls down and is unable to activate her emergency button, the system detects the fall and still treats the event as an emergency.

A "PERS" may be just the thing that you need to strike a balance between autonomy and safety/piece of mind.

If you have any question about PERS or how they work, please contact (Security@adsalarm.com) me and I'll be happy to help!

Adding an Alarm System Increases Your Home's Value

The alarm industry is a unique industry, especially in times of difficult economic conditions. Here are two general rules that highlight the problem.

When the economy is poor, people tend to have less money and look to cut back costs.
When the economy is poor, crime increases.

For the person considering an alarm, but having difficulty justifying the cost, here are two important monetary factors to consider.

1. Consider that adding an alarm system increases your home's value. (Check out the following webpages: http://www.realestateproarticles.com/Art/7660/271/Better-home-security-can-increase-house-value.html http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/77155/america_properties/increasing_the_value_of_a_home_in_chicago.html). Conversely, consider the potential home devaluation of a home theft. With the Internet and surplus of information, people are able to search for occurrences in the police blotter at specific addresses. Burglar alarms, which operate as theft deterrents, can help keep your house out of the police blotter, which may be especially helpful if you go to sell your home.
2. Consider the cost of a potential theft. This is especially true when you store important equipment (e.g., power tools, parts, etc) at your home. I have met people who were devastated by the business disruption and problems caused by having important items stolen from their home or garage. When economic times are good, replacing household items may be easier. When times are tough, it may be impossible to replace your most important goods.

It may be more difficult to say yes to a burglar alarm when times are tough. Yet, a burglar alarm is an investment--in your home and in your life. It can protect your property in difficult economic times and add value to a very important asset, your home.

Annual Fire Alarm Testing and Inspections: Are You In Compliance?

A lot of businesses do not annually inspect or test their fire alarm systems. The obvious reasons for inspecting and testing a fire alarm system are to make sure the system is working properly, protect lives, and protect property. Aside from these basic reasons, there are many reasons for inspections and testing that you may not be aware of:

1. You may be under the rules of NFPA 72. The National Fire Alarm Code (NFPA 72) requires all commercial fire alarm systems to be inspected and tested annually. Many municiple and state governments have adopted NFPA 72. In the Chicagoland area, a great many of the AHJ's (Authorities Having Jurisdiction) have adopted some version of NFPA 72.


2. You may be under the rules of NFPA 101. The Life Safety Code (NFPA 101) requires repair and testing in accordance with NFPA 72.


3. It may be a requirement of OSHA. OSHA regulations (29 CFR 1910.164-1910.165) require annual inspections and testing of fire alarm systems if you or your system is governed by the applicable OSHA standards.


4. Your insurance company may require compliance with certain fire codes and regulations as a condition of insurance. Consult your insurance policy and/or contact your insurance company for information regarding conditions of insurance.


5. You may be concerned about your liability in the event that a fire occurs and your system in not inspected or tested consistent with the applicable laws of your jurisdiction.
   

If you are concerned about inspections and testing for your fire alarm system, you should contact your alarm company. If you're an existing ADS customer or would like information on becoming one, please contact us at 630-844-6300. We are here to help.