Scottsbluff, NE –Rheumatoid arthritis has increasingly limited Susan Wilder’s mobility and flexibility bit by bit over the past 38 years. Despite chronic pain, she lived independently on the outskirts of Mitchell without much concern until she suffered a serious fall.

“I fell down three metal steps to the concrete and nearly hit the car and no one was around. That’s when I realized I needed some kind of help,” said Wilder.

After 38 years of living with rheumatoid arthritis, Wilder’s brittle bones and damaged joints had caused her to suffer so many falls that she said she is “bruised from head to toe.” But as a 49-year-old living on disability, she was unable to afford a cell phone and unable to qualify for any assistance to get one.

“Due to my age, I fell through every crack when it came to financial assistance. I’m not a child and I’m not a senior citizen so basically, I was on my own, especially when I would fall,” she said.

Falls are the leading cause of injury deaths and the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As a person with rheumatoid arthritis, Wilder is in the high risk category for falling and for serious injury. That also made her the perfect candidate for Lifeline.

Philips Lifeline is a medical alert designed to reduce the risk of living alone. In the event of a fall or emergency, help is available at the push of a button for a little more than a dollar a day. Over 700 seniors in the Nebraska panhandle subscribe to Lifeline, giving them the confidence to live independently at home.

After remembering how much her mother appreciated having Lifeline service as a senior citizen, Wilder decided to contact Jane Parks at Regional West Lifeline.

Wilder was delighted to find out that she was an ideal candidate for the service and even happier to discover that she was eligible for a scholarship. She joined Lifeline last August.

“I haven’t had to call in, but they are so kind and call me every month to see how I’m doing,” she said. “It gives me a great feeling of security. I don’t feel so alone as a single woman now that I have Lifeline.”

For more information about Lifeline medical alert call Regional West Lifeline at 308-630-1121. Or call toll-free at 1-800-242-1306, extension 4845.

Regional West Health Services, with over 1,800 employees, provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people and communities of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming. With over 110 active physicians, 95 percent of whom are board certified or board eligible, plus an additional 25 consulting specialists, we offer care that spans more than 30 medical specialties. Regional West Medical Center, a subsidiary of Regional West Health Services, is accredited by The Joint Commission and is one of three Level II Trauma Centers in the state of Nebraska.