For those ready to take the world by storm, safety planning can present a unique challenge. It’s not about creating a bubble to live in or eliminating exhilarating adventures; it’s about safety spending that opens windows instead of closing doors—and knowing the difference.
Many seniors fall at either extreme when it comes to how much they’re willing to spend on safety. Either they purchase everything the market has to offer, or they refuse to invest anything of the sort lest a safety system represent the beginning of the end. Instead, there’s a middle ground—a path to safety spending with promise of support for continued activity.
What Most People Don’t Expect About Senior Safety Spending
Safety spending for seniors extends far beyond the traditional medical alert systems and fall detection devices we think of. The greatest cost is invisible: it’s the home installments and adjustments to insurance policies and upgrades in technology that keep you connected and covered.
What most people don’t see coming is that small expenditures compound over a lifetime to prevent exorbitant one-time expenses. An installation of a grab bar in a bathroom costs $200; a hip replacement surgery costs $50,000; falls are the leading cause of death for seniors and occur most often in the bathroom. A medical alert system costs $30 a month ($360 a year) —having someone home 24/7 who feels comfortable providing assistance without an extra expense helps avoid assisted living.
When evaluating medical alert options, understanding the Life Assure medical alert cost and similar providers can help determine which comprehensive coverage options offer the best value. Look for companies that provide GPS tracking, fall detection, and 24/7 monitoring – features that support active lifestyles rather than limiting them.
Are Smart Safety Technology Investments Worth It?
Gone are the days of clunky emergency buttons for those who are supposedly getting ready to hunker down for good; modern day systems are catered toward people who want to be active, not sedentary, so why not invest in safety devices that support that endeavor?
Systems with GPS are now similar in look and sound to FitBits and Apple Watches. They not only serve as a locator for families and activity monitoring for health intents and purposes, but they also—thankfully—don’t scream “I’m an elderly person who fell” before emergency responders can arrive. This is technology that proudly blends in instead of forcing elderly individuals into becoming even more vulnerable.
Safety applications for smartphones deserve consideration as well; those seniors who regularly engage with their phones can appreciate the convenience some apps can bring, similar to the medical alert system, but with more bells and whistles for active seniors’ appreciation—medication reminders, health tracking, monitoring family members with easy communication.
As well, home monitoring systems are no longer just cameras taking videos; they monitor daily activities, note patterns and flag changes to family members without being invasive. Ideal for the well-traveled senior, such systems help family members know everything is okay even when they’re not present.
Travel and Adventure Safety Budget
When active seniors spend money on their travel budgets, or hobbies and recreational pursuits, incorporating safety costs into these considerations isn’t always an added expense: sometimes it’s less costly than dealing with emergencies while away from home—and sometimes it’s just unavoidable.
As we age, travel insurance becomes more expensive—but it’s also the difference between an inconvenience and becoming financially destitute while on vacation. That comprehensive travel medical insurance can amount to several hundreds of dollars after going abroad for more than 14 days—but emergency medical transportation charges from a foreign country certainly exceed that amount by far.
Then there’s adventure activity insurance—a niche many active seniors don’t think about. If you’re skiing, running, cycling or doing something adventurous with known risks, standard medical alert systems and traditional health coverage won’t help. There are specialized options that average less than $100 yearly—but they provide financial security.
Portable safety equipment provides peace of mind for the senior who spends time outdoors or in remote areas—satellite communicators, portable first-aid kits, back-up communication lines—all expensive. But far less expensive than rescues or needs that take much longer than anticipated emergent services.
Home Safety Improvements Supporting Independence
Where you make safety improvements go a long way in compounding your investment once it’s done. Most cost-effective improvements are those that prevent issues from happening at all.
Home modifications may require initial investment but overwhelmingly pay off in dividends once completed.
For example, bathroom safety improvements reign supreme—they’re where a majority of serious falls happen. Non-slip tile floors, grab bars (added later), raised toilets, improved bathroom lighting—you can get all these items at Home Depot for less than $100 total. Now factor in the average cost of hip fractures—nearly $40,000 from surgery to hospitalization to rehab.
Improved lighting is another excellent improvement with an immediate ROI. Motion activated lights prevent falls; better lighting on stairs means fewer injuries—and confidence moving around the house means open doors at night when it’s safe and secure. LEDs have reduced costs without compromising lighting capabilities.
Kitchen safety modifications often go without mention—and carry implications to the person who wants to continue preparing meals. Automatic shut-off appliances (stove), improved drawer hardware and ergonomic tools prevent accidents from happening—and add features so making meals isn’t stressful.
Smart Decisions on Safety Spending
The most cost-effective improvements to safety spending resonate best when they’re consistently features enjoyed instead of constantly policed.
Investments that avoid problems instead of responding otherwise are the best kinds of investments. For example, consider how good safety spending makes you feel—if you feel hampered by improvements then you won’t use them. If you feel embarrassed about certain aspects then you’re less likely to call for help.
Instead, look for things that can pass for naturalized elements of an active lifestyle as opposed to added benefits.
Versatile solutions provide concern relief—but it’s not enough for them to be minimalistic solutions either—find value where there are multiple concerns solved. A medical alert system with GPS promotes emergency response, family communication via technology merger and location findings.
It’s all about building a framework to link appropriate resources that support desired outcomes rather than limit expected progressions when it comes to safety spending as an active senior—it makes creating freedom easier than difficult!