A.
Definition and Purpose
Emergency Response - a personal response system installed in
a frail, elderly client's residence for use 24 hours in signaling for help at
the push of a button. Emergency response is usually a small radio device
transmitting a coded signal or message over existing telephone lines to a
control station, such as the local hospital or police station which has the
elderly person's name, address, phone number and emergency contact on file.
Assistance is sent to the older person's home if he/she does not immediately
respond to a phone call. Emergency response devices can be worn around the neck
or wrist and can be activated in emergencies while away from home.
The purpose of Emergency Response is to:
1. allow older persons to remain living
independently at home and yet have the capability of being able to summon
assistance, should the need arise;
2. offer peace of mind and provide respite
and reassurance for concerned families and caregivers;
3. call for help in emergency situations for
those who are unable to do so;
4.
give the older adult a feeling of confidence and security in his/her own
home;
5. allow the elderly
individual freedom of movement outside of his/her home; and
6. prevent or delay premature
institutionalization of the frail, handicapped, disabled or homebound
elderly.
B.
Eligibility
Any frail, elderly Mississippians 60 years old and above,
living alone or temporarily alone, amputees successfully using prosthesis, and
heart patients are eligible for emergency response services. Priority is given
to seniors in most need and case managed clients.
Unit of Service
Unit of service equals one 24 hour day of service to a
client.
C.
Minimum Program Requirements
Each service provider offering Emergency Response Systems
funded by Title III of the Older Americans Act or other funds through
contractual agreement with an Area Agency must adhere to the following
requirements:
1.
Service
Activities
The following sequence of events occurs in the provision of
emergency response:
a. An emergency
response home unit device is connected to the client's telephone line which
sends an automatic call for help at the Emergency Response Center when the help
button on front of the device is pushed.
b. When the signal for help is received, the
Emergency Response center responds by immediately calling the home of the
client.
c. If there is no answer at
the client's home, a "responder" will be called. A responder is a friend,
neighbor or relative whom the participant has chosen to be called in case of an
emergency. This person should live nearby and have access to the
home.
d. Upon arrival at the home,
the responder presses the reset button on the home unit to signal the Emergency
Response center that help has arrived.
e. The Response Center will then call to see
what the situation is and what sort of help is needed.
f. For serious situations, an ambulance or
police will be dispatched to the client's home.
g. The home unit is equipped with a timer
which alerts the Center for help when the client fails to reset the timer in a
specified period of time.
h. The
Emergency Response device dials the Center automatically when the client's
phone is off the hook or during a power failure.
2.
Location of
Service
Emergency response services will be provided through the
installment of a home unit in the client's home, and a base unit at a hospital
medical Center or police department or any other base station where 24 hour
coverage is available seven days per week.
3.
Access to Service
Participants can access emergency response service through
referrals from doctors, health and social service agencies, hospitals and
private individuals.
4.
Delivery Characteristics
a. Each participant shall have a case record
which includes:
(1) screening/intake
instrument:
(2)
assessment;
(3) plan of
care;
(4) documentation of services
provided, dates and times;
(5)
client's name, address, phone number, physician, and two contact persons' names
and addresses;
(6) health and
medical information (illnesses and medications);
(7) authorization releases; and
(8) confidentiality agreement form.
b. Emergency response services
shall be available 24 hours per day, Monday through Sunday, including
holidays.
c. A "test" call is
required on a monthly basis to assure that the unit is in working order. This
is a requirement of most distributors.
d. The emergency response system is designed
for easy and convenient use by the elderly client with the following features:
(1) Home/away switch - inform the Center if
the client is home or away for more than 24 hours.
(2) Reset button - let the Center know that
help has arrived.
(3) Standby
battery - allows the unit to function for ten hours in the event of a power
outage.
(4) Help button - to be
pressed for emergency assistance instead of the personal help button worn
around the neck or wrist.
(5)
inactivity timer - alerts the Center automatically when the client is unusually
inactive.
(6) Built-in speaker
phone - allows two-way voice communications without lifting the telephone
receiver.
e. The client
shall be allowed the opportunity to contribute to the cost of the
service.
5.
Staffing
a. There
must be a person assigned to monitor the home base unit at all times.
b. There must be a person designated to be
responsible for the day-to-day operation and installation of the emergency
response home unit.
c. Volunteers
shall be used in the provision and delivery of the service.
d. There must be a person, neighbor, relative
or friend, designated as a "responder" for each client who receivers an
emergency response system.
e. There
must be a designated person to supervise the emergency response staff and
handle emergencies after work hours, weekends and holidays.
6.
Training
a. All
emergency response service staff must receive training on home unit devices,
its features, operational and installment procedures.
b. Staff must receive training on emergency
procedures, first aid, CPR, Heimlich techniques, etc.
c. All staff shall receive orientation training which
includes:
(1) introduction to the State Unit
on Aging, its policies and procedures;
(2) introduction to the service providers,
policies and procedures; and
(3)
community resources.
7.
Emergency Response
Coordination duties shall include:
a. Public relations to generate donations and
referrals.
b. Speaking to civic
groups and increasing public relations through the media, including TV, radio
and the newspaper.
c. Securing
referrals from physicians, home health agencies, individuals and social
workers.
d. Demonstrating the
operation of the system to those interested and possible subscribers, the
hospital Emergency Department staff, and local organizations.
e. Installing the emergency response system,
obtaining medical information and contracts from subscribers and transferring
information to the emergency room, connecting the communicator and instructing
subscribers on its use.
f.
Maintaining the systems through monthly checks on system use, trouble shooting
calls, and consulting with Emergency Response personnel when
necessary.
g. Maintaining accurate
records which include inventory, monitor readouts and emergency
calls.
h. Insuring that a screening
form is completed on all subscribers and updated as required.
i. Attending meetings as required by the
funding source.
