Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/1468357
6 | OHCC LIVING | JUNE 2022 | By Tom Porter, SERT President Wow, have things changed over the years! I remember my grandmother saying the biggest change she experienced in her life was the telephone. No longer did she have to jump on a horse or walk to ask for help or get the doctor. After March 31, 2023, the current OHCC EMS will no longer be supported by the HOA. While the system still works, the 40+ year old technology that it uses is kind of like my grandmother riding the horse to get help. This change will provide all residents with the opportunity to take a serious look into what you need to address your individual EMS needs. These are things you may wish to consider: • Do you need a medical alert system? • Do you need more of a comprehensive whole house alarm and notification system? • What technology will the new system use? (Cellular, Wi-Fi, or something else)? • Do you want a "smart" system where you can call your smart phone to make changes while you are away? Turn on/off the heating/ air conditioning for example. • Do you want a system where, if you fall anywhere in the house, you can ask the system to call for help? • Do you want the system to turn on/off your lights (both interior and/or outside)? • If the fire or carbon monoxide alarms goes off will the system immediately ask you if you need help? If there is no response, then the system will call for help as you have programmed it to do? • Do you want a system with a touch option to unlock/lock your doors? They even have locks that use your fingerprint as a key. (Wow, no more fumbling for keys???) There are many EMS on the market, and the modern technology is utterly amazing. From systems that only cost about $100 and then provide 24/7 coverage for only $49 a year to full house systems that monitor about everything that range over $2,000+ for the equipment plus monthly 24/7 monitoring fees. The new Apple watch will even monitor your heart rate and let you know if you are having an event and asks you if you need help. It will even detect that you may have fallen and asks if you are all right. My wife has one of these that she calls her "Dick Tracy" watch! If you live in OHCC you will know who Dick Tracy is… my grandson has no clue! SERT's mission is to help you stay safe! SERT will not recommend or suggest an EMS to you. We will, like in the article, pose questions you need to think about so you can make an informed decision. You are in control of your EMS of the future. You have months to make a decision. You can act now, wait, or do absolutely nothing. Kind of sounds like "Star Wars" - may the force be with you! Stay safe out there! THINGS TO CONSIDER