In 2030, when the last of the Baby Boomers has finally turned 65, senior citizens will represent a whopping 18 percent of the American population, up more than 5 percent of today’s senior population. According to the Pew Research Center, “the typical Boomer believes that old age does not begin until age 72,” however the CDC reports that one third of people over the age of 65 experience an injury-producing fall each year.

This gap between the perception about old age and actually being at risk for health problems that come with age shows that many older adults are not being proactive enough about maintaining their well-being as they age. A big part of it is the stigma that is still associated with medical alert devices.

It’s hard not to think about those iconic commercials from the early 1980s, where an old woman falls to the floor and cannot get up. She looked like a frail old lady with grey hair and a walker—a depiction of seniors that no longer applies to 65-75 year olds.

So exactly who are these modern day seniors? Today’s senior is active, savvy, and digitally connected. These forward thinking older adults might not see an immediate need for a medical alert device because of the attention paid to their health, but many medical alert device companies are now offering Mobile Alert Devices that are sleeker and more portable. Our favorite mobile medical alert system is the Mobile Guardian from Medical Guardian.

Mobile alert devices can be taken with you wherever you go, and with GPS technology built in, they can also be used as an On-Star alternative. Small enough to fit in your back pocket or purse, a mobile alert system is discreet enough to not draw major attention to the fact that you are wearing a medical alert device while at the same time providing you with the added layer of protection that you need as you age.

There’s no shame in taking good care of yourself. Invest in a medical alert device today.