By Laura Silvernale
Visiting Nurses Agency

For seniors living in their own home, emergency situations can be very threatening when no one is nearby, available to help. For those recovering from surgery or individuals with a history of falls, disabilities or limited physical ability/mobility, peace of mind is available with the press of a button.

The Minnesota Visiting Nurse Agency (MVNA) provides the Philips Lifeline personal response service (click here for contact info). Through Lifeline, quick assistance is available whenever personal support is needed, especially in a medical emergency. It allows seniors to live independently and confidently in their own homes. Ana Kari, MVNA’s Lifeline program manager, described it as “independence with peace of mind.”

“I live in an isolated area and I’m afraid of falling, especially when I’m outdoors on my porch,” said Marian*, a client of MVNA. “Lifeline offers great security.”

A lightweight, waterproof button is worn around the neck or wrist and can summon help 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Seconds after pushing the button, a trained personal response associate from Lifeline has access to the caller’s complete health history and can quickly connect them to the care they need - a neighbor, a relative or even an ambulance if needed.

To prepare for such a critical role, personal response associates at Lifeline, undergo intensive training in issues related to aging and stress management before they become certified to answer help calls.

MVNA is a non-profit agency which provides a full range of home health care service to seniors in the Twin Cities metro area and frequently recommends the Lifeline service to its clients. Lifeline services from MVNA are competitively priced, at a little more than a dollar a day, and are offered on a month-to-month rental basis to anyone in the six-county metro areas.

The Lifeline service was introduced in 1974 by a husband-and-wife team of gerontologists - Drs. Andrew S. and Susan Dibner. Today, including MVNA clients, Philips Lifeline supports more than 2,500 community partners and more than 500,000 elders across North America.

Helping seniors live with confidence is a mission we hold close to our hearts at MVNA, and one that all of us take seriously. We are proud to be a part of an organization that helps support the active and independent lifestyle of elders in our community.

*Name changed to protect privacy.