I learned many lessons as a caregiver. One was that the challenges are unexpected. Sure, there are many big things that are often talked about, like memory loss, advanced care planning, health concerns and more.
Yet, the little things can sometimes feel worse. They’re often draining. And, because they’re such small issues, many caregivers never address them.
That’s why this post is focusing on a portable caregiving paging system. Specifically, we’re talking about this one:
The system comes from Health Products and Kapok is an affiliate for that site (you can read our disclaimer here). But, that’s not why we’re featuring the system. I’m sure you can find a similar system in plenty of other places.
The reason for featuring the system is simple – I wish I’d seen it as a caregiver. Truly. It would have made such a huge difference.
My Personal Experience
I was a caregiver for around 3 to 4 years. It’s hard to pinpoint any more precisely, as I was caring for my partner, who was reasonably able to care for himself when we first met and his health gradually declined over time. Towards the end, I also helped support his mother.
As the most able-bodied person in our household, I was responsible for many roles. Sometimes I was the only person able to do a specific task, which was frustrating at times, as I was also the one with the most on my plate.
Still, the workload wasn’t too bad at first. It only started to be a big deal when we moved into a two-story house. As the only one who could use the upstairs, I had the top part of my house for a study so that I could work.
That distance made communication difficult. And, when I was needed – it was often urgent.
Despite attempts at a solution (including a basic intercom system), the most common approach was where my partner would simply yell for me. That wasn’t a fun experience, nor a practical one. It contributed to hypervigilance that extended far beyond caregiving, but that’s another story.
I don’t know whether a paging system would have solved every challenge that we faced, but it would have helped – a lot.
Honestly, that’s the thing with adaptive tools and related products. They can have dramatic impacts. Some will entirely resolve time-consuming or frustrating problems, while others will take the edge off issues that you experience.
The Portable Caregiver Paging System
The system that we’re focusing on is a simple one, making it perfect for a home. It comes with a single pager and two call buttons.
As you can probably guess, your family member presses the call button when they need help and then you get an alert on the pager.
The call buttons are pretty cool. They’re small circles that can be mounted onto surfaces, used on a pendant, clipped to a belt or simply carried in a person’s pocket. This style makes them useful in many different situations.
There are two different tone settings to choose from – a door bell or an alarm clock. Either one would be an effective way to alert you.
Another interesting aspect is the focus. The system comes from a site called Elder Depot. This site has an emphasis on supporting caregivers and empowering seniors. As such, you’re getting a product that is designed for the home environment.
The manufacturers will have also taken home needs into account.
Finally, the company has a strong emphasis on quality and support. This includes a 90-day manufacturer’s warranty on the system itself, along with the customer service that Elder Depot itself provides.
Advantages
- The call buttons are versatile. The ability to wear them as a pendant or mount them makes them useful in many situations.
- The entire system is portable. You could easily take it with you to the park or some other location.
- The system costs $59.95. This is relatively inexpensive for the function that it offers.
Limitations
- There is no intercom component. Family members are only able to alert you – they cannot send a message.
- The 150-foot range may not be enough for all situations.
- The system is independent. You cannot add any additional devices to it. This means you’re limited to the two call buttons and one pager. That may not be enough in all situations.
- While the system’s portability is an advantage, the system seems to be mostly designed for indoor use. This may make it less practical in an outdoor environment.
- There doesn’t appear to be any way to differentiate between the call buttons. This could be a problem in a large house or if you are caring for two people.
Is the Paging System Worth It?
The usefulness of this system will really depend on your situation.
It would have been exactly what I needed, as each family member could have worn one. Recieving an alert would have let me know when I was needed – without me needing to constantly be on alert.
You could also simply have the button in key rooms, like the bathroom, so that your family member can easily call for help.
However, the system wouldn’t work as well if you need to be able to communicate with your family member. If nothing else, check the system out to see if it would suit you.
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