Aging at Home: Stress Less About Your Choice

Meet the personal emergency response service that can increase your independence and reduce your worry.

In our later years, safety and wellbeing is a subject often fraught with concern. But thanks to technology, more seniors and their families are approaching this chapter with renewed peace of mind.

Falling is a serious health risk for Canadian seniors.

According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, falls made up 81% of all injury hospitalizations involving Canadian seniors from 2017-2018. Factor in other age-related health concerns and it’s no surprise that most adult children encourage alternative living arrangements for their aging parents.

“Worry is probably the most prolific emotion that you have. You think about them all the time,” says Juggy Sihota, Vice-President of Consumer Health at TELUS, whose own mother had a heart attack 7 years ago and thankfully, fully recovered.

Aging Canadians want to maintain their independence.

A 2017 study by the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) and HomeStar reported 85% of Canadian seniors want to age in their own homes – and Technologies like TELUS LivingWell Companion are making that possible.

LivingWell Companion provides the reassurance that you’ll receive a rapid response, should a fall or health issue occur when you’re alone. It provides access to 24/7 emergency support at the push of a button or through an optional fall detection feature, and comes in two versions: LivingWell Companion Home for use in and around the house and LivingWellCompanion Go for longer excursions. Add the fact that the product is Canada’s most affordable personal emergency response service with no term-contract and no upfront fees, and it’s arguably the smartest choice.

If an incident occurs, emergency response is activated immediately, and trained operators will quickly assess the situation and contact loved ones and/or emergency personnel immediately.

With the LivingWell Companion Go, active seniors can access emergency support using the built-in GPS location tracking and automatic fall detection, wherever in Canada that there’s cellular service.

Talk with your adult children about your independent living plan.

It’s never too early for conversations about maintaining your independence. Solutions like well-lit pathways, non-slip mats and safety grab bars are a great start but considering a personal emergency response system like LivingWell Companion should really be top of the list. “LivingWell Companion offers seniors the ability to live an independent and dignified life, with support from us along the way,” says Sihota. “It’s a life-saving service at an affordable price.”

TELUS is providing health and wellness solutions to Canadians.

Over the last decade, TELUS has become a leader in technological innovation, and LivingWell Companion is just one of many healthcare services revolutionizing how Canadians can take control of their health. Other examples include Babylon by TELUS Health, a service that delivers virtual healthcare through your smartphone, and the TELUS Mobile Health Clinics, which provide care to vulnerable communities.

Sihota’s impressive career at TELUS has spanned 25 years. Experiencing her mom’s heart attack was a turning point and now, she dedicates her energy to the company’s health business – and why wouldn’t she? As she states so simply, “We are revolutionizing access to healthcare in the most meaningful way.”

Learn more about LivingWell companion at telus.com/companion or call 1-888-505-8008.