Lifeline Program
Freedom and independence for Magic Valley residents!
Helping seniors live with confidence is a mission the St. Luke's Magic Valley Health Foundation Board holds close to their hearts and takes seriously. Since the Foundation established the Lifeline emergency response program in 1986, more than a thousand seniors in the Magic Valley community have been encouraged to keep an active and independent lifestyle.
“My family insisted that I get
Lifeline, but now that I have it, I feel more comfortable
moving around the house. I can go downstairs to my quilt
shop or outside to work in my garden knowing that I can get
help with just a touch of a button. Everyone always thinks
it happens to someone else and not to them. But you never
know when you might fall where no one can see or hear you
and not be able to get help. I have recommended it to my
friends.” M. DuBois
By pushing a lightweight waterproof button
that can be either worn around the neck or wrist, a subscriber
has immediate access to MVMC staff that take time to fully
understand the caller’s situation. Hospital staff efficiently
help the subscriber obtain quick assistance if personal support
is needed, especially in a medical emergency. The subscriber
only has to be within 100 to 400 feet of the unit (depending
upon the structure of the home) in order to activate the
system.
“I have fallen 7 times in the last 2 ½ years,
of which 2 times I was taken to the hospital in an ambulance.
With Lifeline, I know I can get help immediately from the
Buhl Quick Response and Magic Valley Medical Center
Paramedics. I feel that Lifeline has allowed me to stay in
my own home. It is very simple to use and the Lifeline ladies
have been wonderful to me.” B. Smith, 71
Lifeline is there when loved ones or caregivers can’t
be. It allows both seniors and their families to go about
their day-to-day activities with peace of mind. The local
program is the second largest in Idaho at 292 units and provides
a sense of freedom for subscribers no matter their age. Currently
the program serves individuals aged 48 to 102 in six of the
eight Magic Valley counties.
By 2030, 20% of the U.S. population will be over the age
of 65 years.1 As of 2002, 13% of Magic Valley’s 165,289
residents are seniors over the age of 65.4 For most people,
the years after the age of 65 are a time of good health,
independence, and integration of a life’s work and
experience. But eventually, most adults will have one or
more chronic illnesses to contend with.
Senior year's
may be characterized by physical and psychological distress
and frailty. Anxieties about falling or being incapacitated,
and ability to get help can also lead to less physical activity
and a decline in ability to live on their own. Research tells
us that 30% to 50% of elderly people fear falling - a fear
that can cause them to lose confidence and restrict their
normal range of healthy activities.5
Each year over a quarter of elderly people have at least
one fall.2,3 For seniors, falls in and around the home are
the most frequent accident. In 2002, Idaho reported 58 deaths
from falls in the home.4 Could some of these deaths have
been prevented if help had been received in a timely manner?
For elderly people, falls can be dangerous and debilitating,
often marking the end of independent living and increased
needs for family and external support.5 Even a minor fall
or incident can have serious physical and psychological consequences
if help doesn’t arrive in a hurry. Early intervention
can prevent unnecessary medical complications for a senior
in the event of a fall. Lifeline, the leading Personal Response
Service, ensures that homebound, at-risk older adults receive
the immediate assistance they need 24-hours a day, 365 days
a year.
“Not knowing when I could get help was very scary!
I fell outside in my yard and broke my leg. I lay there yelling
for help quite awhile before a stranger finally stopped to
help me. After that, I got Lifeline. It is nice to know they
are there and it gives me a feeling of security.” B.
Glasgow, 84.
No matter what the age, health concerns or special needs
for Lifeline clients, they will always be in close touch
with Magic Valley people who care and are ready to send the
needed assistance, whenever needed. Seniors are free to go
about daily activities with more confidence and less worry.
Life is unpredictable and a call for help could be needed
at anytime day or night. The confidence and peace-of-mind
that comes from the Lifeline emergency response system helps
ease anxieties and potential feelings of isolation.
Learn
more about MVRMC's Senior's
Services..
The St. Luke's Magic Valley Health Foundation Board is proud to provide Lifeline as
a way for families to protect their loved ones and experience
the comfort and peace of mind that comes from living with
the security of Lifeline. For more information on Lifeline
call 208.737.2065 or email
Kerin DuBois at the MVMC Community Connection office.
For other St. Luke's Magic Valley Health Foundation programs, email
Larry W. Baxter, Executive Director of St. Luke's Magic Valley Health Foundation
or call 208.737.2480.
-
Field MJ, Cassel CK, eds. Approaching death: improving care at the end of life. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 1997.
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King MB, Tinetti ME. Falls in community-dwelling older persons. J Am Geriatr Soc 1995;43:1146-1154.
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Wolinsky FD, Johnson RJ, Fitzgerald JF. Falling, health status, and the use of health services by older adults: a prospective study. Med Care 1992;30:587-597.
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Idaho Vital Statistics 2002 Annual Report.
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The New England Journal of Medicine 1996
