Better with Age

Your phone can do a lot — but it can’t call for help when it’s charging in the kitchen and you’re on the bathroom floor. Here’s what actually separates a medical alert system from a smartphone, and when each one is the right answer.

Your phone can do a lot — but it can’t call for help when it’s charging in the kitchen and you’re on the bathroom floor. Here’s what actually separates a medical alert system from a smartphone, and when each one is the right answer.

Your phone can do a lot — but it can’t call for help when it’s charging in the kitchen and you’re on the bathroom floor. Here’s what actually separates a medical alert system from a smartphone, and when each one is the right answer.

Video games aren’t just for younger generations — and the research backs that up. For older adults, gaming can mean a daily puzzle, a trivia match with a grandchild, or a card game with a friend across the country. Here’s what the evidence actually shows, and the simplest way to get started.

Yes — and it’s simpler than most couples expect. One base unit covers the home, each person gets their own button and response plan, and the system knows exactly who pressed. Here’s how couples coverage works and what to ask for when you call.

Yes — and you should. A help button that has to come off in the bathroom is missing from the one room where it matters most. Here’s what the waterproof rating actually covers, how fall detection works in the shower, and the habit that keeps the button on every time.

It depends on the system. A home system covers the house and yard. A mobile system with GPS covers the grocery store, the senior center, a grandchild’s game, and a winter in Florida. Here’s exactly how far each one reaches — and what snowbirds should do before they go.

One button press reaches a trained specialist — not a menu, not a machine. They check what’s happening, follow your response plan, and call your daughter, your neighbor, or 911, depending on what the moment actually needs.

One button press reaches a trained specialist — not a menu, not a machine. They check what’s happening, follow your response plan, and call your daughter, your neighbor, or 911, depending on what the moment actually needs.

August is National Wellness Month — and you don’t need a big plan to take part. Six small habits, any one of which can stick past September and make a real difference in energy, balance, and independent living.