Medical Care Alert, a manufacturer of wearable medical alert products for senior citizens, recently announced the launch of its HOME & AWAY ELITE pendant.

The new pendant weighs only two ounces and can be worn on a necklace or clipped to a user's hip. It connects directly to the AT&T Wireless network to provide seniors with instant access to emergency services in case of a fall or other personal emergency. The pendant is distinct in that it can notify emergency personnel of the user's GPS coordinates and can act as a two-way voice communication device. It also may provide automatic fall detection as an option.

Bryan Stapp, the president of medical care alert, said in a statement that the pendant conforms to users' active lifestyles.

“Today's older Americans live very active lifestyles,” Stapp said. “They want 24/7 protection everywhere they go. The HOME & AWAY ELITE system fits their active lifestyle with an easy-to-use, lightweight emergency pendant that protects them anywhere they go in the U.S.A.”

According to Stapp, the optional automatic fall detection technology can detect the difference between an actual fall and the effect of a user sitting down too quickly. It is meant to act as fail-safe when users cannot press the pendant's alert button themselves. The pendant first uses internal sensors to record a fall-style event and then connects with Medical Care Alert databases which compare that recorded data to thousands of logged fall patterns. It will then only connect to emergency services if an actual fall has occurred.

In addition to contacting emergency service, Medical Care Alert also indicated that the HOME & AWAY ELITE can contact a neighbor or family member who is programmed into the system. This way, no matter who users determine as their first line of emergency contact, they can also be connected with someone who can respond to their needs.