| As the largest population segment in the U.S. | | | | elderly person does. According to the National |
| becomes older, Baby Boomers are finding | | | | Safety Council, one person in the United States |
| themselves thrown in to a caregiver role for their | | | | dies everyday from using a bathtub or shower. |
| aging parents. Many of these elderly parents are | | | | While hot water is relaxing, for elderly it can relax |
| moving in to their children's houses, which are | | | | the muscles to the point they lose the ability to |
| often not equipped to handle the special needs | | | | get out of the tub on their own. This is why |
| the elderly have. One of those needs is to be able | | | | some sort of waterproof communication device is |
| to easily communicate with their caregiver | | | | needed to summon a caregiver's help. Whatever |
| whenever a situation arises. | | | | device is chosen, it must be battery powered |
| An elderly person needs to be able to summon | | | | since with anything else there is a risk of |
| help at any time whether he or she is in the | | | | electrocution. Cordless phones or portable radios |
| bedroom, bathroom, or outside. There are medical | | | | could be used for this application, but they aren't |
| alert devices that require monthly membership | | | | waterproof and they won't survive a drop in the |
| dues, but for an elderly parent living in the same | | | | tub. |
| house as the caregiver, this may be overkill. The | | | | Many caregivers install a waterproof outdoor |
| solution many people go with is a wireless | | | | intercom on the wall of the bathtub where it can |
| intercom system. Wireless intercoms can easily be | | | | easily be reached. With a single press of a button |
| placed throughout the house in key areas to | | | | on this outdoor intercom the person in the tub |
| ensure caregivers can be reached when needed. | | | | can carry on a conversation with the caregiver. |
| These battery powered intercoms are portable | | | | This same outdoor intercom could be placed |
| and have a battery life of up to 12 months. They | | | | outside the home in a location where the parent |
| have a range up to 1000 feet and you can use as | | | | likes to sit during the day. If the parent is |
| many of them as you want. Plus they provide | | | | wheelchair bound, this outdoor wireless intercom |
| digital security so other people can't listen in to | | | | could even attach to the wheelchair so it's always |
| your conversations. | | | | within reach. |
| One of the key areas that needs readily available | | | | Once a caregiver installs a wireless intercom |
| communication is the shower or bathtub. Most | | | | system everyone involved feels more secure |
| elderly people still want the independence of taking | | | | knowing that a means of contacting assistance is |
| a bath by themselves if they are capable. But, | | | | always available. |
| bathing is one of the most dangerous activities an | | | | |