Most people go through life not concerned about where they will live. They move from house to house, apartment to apartment, without really worrying about anything. However, senior housing is a huge issue.

The ideal situation would be for seniors to remain in their own homes. But the house seniors live in when they are 25 years old cannot be the same as when they are 70. The house must be retro-fitted to meet the needs of seniors. That means grab bars in bathrooms, better lighting, perhaps even a ramp. Many seniors live on fixed incomes and might not be able to afford these necessary improvements. That leaves them living in a house that could ultimately be dangerous for them.

People who find themselves in a money crunch might have to move to a new home. If they are still healthy, many seniors choose a retirement community. Houses in  such communities are built with seniors in mind so they have the items that they will need in a house. Also, these communities offer the companionship of fellow seniors.

Then there are assisted living or nursing homes. These types of senior housing are usually for seniors who have serious health issues and need medical monitoring.

So the ideal situation would be to remain in their existing houses. If this can be accomplished, seniors might want to compliment their independent lifestyles with a medical alert system.

A system would give you the monitoring you would get at a group home without having to move to such a facility, the last resort for most seniors. Even if you live alone, you never are truly alone — help is just the press of a button away.

Wherever you find yourself living, you want to keep yourself as safe as possible. A medical alert system would go a long way in achieving that goal.