United Senior Alert, a division of United Alarm Services Inc. at 1087 Federal Road in Brookfield, is the dealer for Medipendant in Fairfield and Litchfield counties and southeastern New York state.
Dana Klesh, who owns United Alarm Services with Bob Rossman, Charles Colman and James Corbett, said that for at least 600 feet from the bay station a person can call for help by pressing the button on Medipendant.
"The average home will be well served," he said, indicating that some people might want to use one for security purposes, for example, as they walk from their office to an adjoining parking lot.
Mr. Colman, who retired in 2003 after a long career with the Brookfield Police Department that included a stint in 2000 as the acting interim commander, stated in a news release that with most other systems a victim would have to reach for a table or shelf to grab the device that would alert the call center of an emergency.
"It gives them a sense of independence," Mr. Klesh said regarding the pendant system in a recent interview at the company's office near the New Milford border.
"One of the biggest dif­ferences between this product and everything else that is out there is the ability to push a button and speak directly into the pendant and also the ability to speak to a licensed EMT," the Brookfield resident said.
Mr. Klesh said that the unit, which requires a simple installation, costs $179 and the monitoring charges are as low as $29.99 per month.
He said that they plan to make Medipendant available through pharmacies, durable medical goods facilities, and oxygen home delivery centers, as well as other businesses.
"We're trying to target the baby boomers, because they're the people who are going to care for those people and are going to sit down and say, 'This makes sense,' " Mr. Klesh said.
United Alarm Services has grown steadily during its 13 years of operation.
The company, which also installs sound systems in restaurants and offices, was initially located along the southern corridor of Federal Road but then moved to its current site as operations expanded.
It now monitors security at more than 5,000 homes and businesses combined in New Haven, Litchfield and Fairfield counties and has a staff of 30 employees.
Mr. Klesh said the company might hire more sales associates as it markets Medipendant.
For more information on the product, visit online at www.unitedsenioralert.com.