U.S. Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) Market - Industry Outlook & Forecast 2022-2027

The following factors are likely to contribute to the growth of the U.S. personal emergency response systems market:

• Raising Awareness for PERS Among the Geriatric Population
• Escalating Prevalence of Chronic Diseases and Rising Number of Injuries
• Increasing Adoption of Smart Wearable Devices for Health Monitoring
• Rising Number of Geriatric Population Living Independently

Medical alert systems, especially personal emergency response systems (PERSs), are becoming increasingly popular among all older people in the United States. PERS are primarily designed to allow the elderly and people with disabilities to quickly request/alert for assistance in an emergency. Communication technology and modern sensors, coupled with advances in data analysis, have enabled remote monitoring and management of older adults. The PERS system is one such technology that allows individuals, including older adults, to call for help during an emergency. Older people are often prone to falls and require medical attention in most cases. Additionally, for family members of active seniors, it is highly recommended to track and monitor their activities and remind them about medication. Additionally, for people with mild cognitive illness and who suffer from disorientation, PERS offers life-saving features like location tracking and geo-fencing. The growing integration between wearable medical devices and medical alert systems like PERS and healthcare facilities will enable remote access to patient data and offer essential home healthcare services and improve patient safety and health outcomes. The demand for such integrated wearable devices has gained more importance after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. They offer patients, especially elderly ones, safer, more accessible options for routine, preventive, and chronic care.

Introduction of Voice-Based and Mobile Medical Alert Systems

• The PERS technology was first introduced with an in-home medical alert system, where older adults could only receive emergency help and protection within their homes through a landline-based phone. Since then, PERS firms have extended their product lines to incorporate cellular-based systems that require no phone lines. This led to the introduction of a new segment known as mPERS.
• With the push of a button, most commonly worn around one's neck as a pendant or on one's wrist as a bracelet, the user can connect with an emergency operator who can dispatch help to the user's exact location; this is enabled by built-in GPS and Wi-Fi location detection. Some PERS products detect falls and trigger calls for support even when users' cannot press the medical alert button
• mPERSs include various devices, from watches and pendants to mobile phones. The easy-to-use SOS button on these devices makes them unique and easy to use. Some mPERS devices also have fall detection capabilities that automatically trigger a call for help

High Adoption of Smartphone Applications Among the Geriatric Population

• Although older adults have a relatively lower rate of technology adoption than younger people, they are currently more digitally connected than five years before. A selected group of older adults who are more affluent and highly educated uses various smartphone technologies and e-health platforms.
• Mobile healthcare has advanced to providing health services to users through phone calls with healthcare experts. In the U.S., it is estimated that the percentage share of people 65 years and above are likely to double by 2050. According to the CDC, around 36 million falls are reported every year in the U.S. Out of 36 million falls, approximately 20% will cause broken bones, head injuries, or other trauma.
• According to AARP, older people have increasingly accepted smartphones, mHealth technologies, and wearable medical devices over the past five years. People among the elderly who are socially isolated or have chronic diseases are at risk of accidents and are prone to fall sick often. Thus, an active healthcare management sector is imperative in the U.S.
• Smartphone technologies can assist older adults in their daily lives. Software in the form of an application can turn smartphones into an effective PERS, which can be upgraded with additional application-based features, paired with a Bluetooth alert button, or eventually replaced with a newer model.

U.S. Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) Market Scenario

• The U.S. PERS market is expected to grow at a higher single-digit CAGR during the forecast period. The major factors propelling the market's growth are increased awareness of PERSs in the country, the prevalence of chronic diseases, and the risk of fall injuries. Other factors such as the adoption of smart, wearable devices for monitoring health, the rise in the geriatric population living independently, favorable healthcare reforms, and financial assistance for older adults also contribute to the growth of the overall PERS market. However, the high cost of PERS and growing data breach concerns restrict the market's growth.
• This rise in the adoption of smartphones has led to the growth of the market. The wearable health device industry has also grown in recent years, and this trend is anticipated to continue in the upcoming years. Furthermore, technological advances in wearables may help patients adopt medical systems in the future. With the rapid growth in the elderly population, there is a rise in the demand for medical alert systems. PERS are extensively adopted and used throughout most western countries. Consequently, with the help of PERS, the elderly can age in the comfort of their own homes, and therefore, this factor is expected to propel the market's growth.
• The revolution brought by advanced technological platforms like the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence has provided significant opportunities to the vendors in the U.S. Personal emergency response systems market. Especially, AI-driven PERS and predictive analytics help in automatic fall detection and wanderer control of users and provide timely notification to caregivers and healthcare professionals. The personal emergency response systems market is witnessing a trend with the new technology replacing the traditional medical alert systems. Mobile-based PERSs are likely to dominate the overall medical alert systems market as the penetration of smartphones is very high in the U.S. among older adults.

MARKET SEGMENTATION

The Mobile personal emergency response systems segment is the major revenue contributor and fastest-growing segment compared to in-home PER systems. Personal response systems are no longer used just within the boundaries of homes with constant advances in the mPERS technology. Depending on the design and monitoring options, one can obtain assistance on vacation, while running chores, or outside the primary residence. An mPERS ensures that users can always call for help from their medical alert system, whether at home or away. Mobile systems use GPS technology to pinpoint the user's exact location and cellular technology to connect to a response center. In-home PER systems are for people who rarely leave the house. These systems are either connected to a landline or a cellular connection. They are majorly used by older people who are mostly bed-ridden or do not have an active life. Seniors, especially those above 80 years of age, will likely face more hurdles sustaining their independence. Reduced mobility and other factors due to aging make daily lives for older people difficult, and the dangers of not being able to get immediate medical help during emergencies are serious.

Among all end-users, the home care agencies segment accounted for a major share of around 31% in 2021 in the U.S. Homecare agencies are licensed businesses that employ caregivers to offer in-home care to the person requiring care. Homecare agencies can extend a senior's ability to live independently and make aging in place a possible alternative during every stage of the aging process. Homecare agencies use PERSs to assist their patients better. PERS and GPS systems are widely used to prevent serious long-term effects of falls or medical emergencies. Fall injuries are common among the elderly population and patients with chronic diseases. However, the direct-to-consumer segment is likely to grow at a faster CAGR of around 10% during the forecast period. According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the elderly population is expected to reach 80 million by 2040, which makes broader availability of target customers for PERS. Due to this, the U.S. encourages the development of dedicated home healthcare services to enable older adults to continue living in their homes, escalating the demand for medical alert systems in the country.

Segmentation by Type:

• Mobile Systems
• In-Home Systems

Segmentation by End-User

• Homecare Agencies
• Senior Living Centers
• Direct to Consumer
• Others

Key Vendors

• Connect America
• Medical Guardian
• VRI

Other Prominent Vendors

• ADT
• Alert One
• Aloe Care Health
• AT&T
• Cisco Systems
• Freeus
• HandsFree Health
• LifeFone Medical Alert Services
• MedGuard Alert Inc.
• MobileHelp
• Norton Control
• One Call Alert
• Lively
• QMedic
• ResponseNow
• Visonic

KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED

1. HOW BIG IS THE U.S. PERSONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEMS MARKET?
2. WHAT IS THE GROWTH RATE OF THE U.S. PERSONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEMS MARKET?
3. WHO ARE THE LEADING VENDORS IN THE U.S. PERSONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEMS (PERS) MARKET?
4. WHAT ARE THE GROWTH FACTORS DRIVING THE US PERSONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEMS MARKET?
5. WHICH END-USER SEGMENTS HOLD THE LARGEST SHARE IN THE U.S. PERSONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEMS MARKET?