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Compare Reviews for Medical Alert Systems
Medical alert systems may have come to prominence with a series of commercials featuring the line, “I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up,” but the security and peace of mind the systems offer is not a joke. A fall or injury can be devastating to an elderly person. Faster treatment can mean the difference between a full recovery and a long-term disability. Medical alert systems can help reduce response times, even when someone lives alone.
ConsumerAffairs Research Team
Top 10 of the Best Rated Medical Alert Systems
Top 10 of the Best Rated Medical Alert Systems | Show all features | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Life Alert Emergency Response reviews |  4.85791666667 Read 2414 Reviews | |||
 Philips Lifeline reviews | 4.77232142857 Read 672 Reviews | |||
 Alert1 reviews | 4.69887076537 Read 810 Reviews | |||
 Bay Alarm Medical reviews | 4.44966442953 Read 1372 Reviews | |||
 Medical Guardian reviews | 4.02150537634 Read 95 Reviews | |||
 LifeStation reviews |  Read Reviews | |||
 LifeFone reviews | Read Reviews | |||
 MediPendant reviews | Read Reviews | |||
 Walgreens Ready Response reviews | Read Reviews | |||
 MobileHelp reviews | Read Reviews | |||
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What features matter most?
Cost
Cost is often a major factor when looking at medical alert systems. Most people who are interested are also on a fixed income.
- Are prices fixed?: The more stable the pricing, the more likely a system is to be useful to those who need it most; if a senior buys the hardware and pays for monitoring, he may not be able to afford any price increases at the end of the year.
- Can customers pay in installments?: A monthly fee may be much more affordable than a lump sum, annual payment.
- Is there a contract term?: If the cost becomes too high, is there a contract with an early cancellation fee? Some companies have both month-to-month service and contract periods.
Effectiveness
Medical alert systems can function in a variety of ways, although the most effective tend to include two-way communication.
- Is there monitoring?: If something happens, is there a dispatcher at the other end of the device to talk with the injured person and determine the best course of action?
- Will an ambulance come automatically?: If the panic button is hit, will an ambulance be sent automatically or will the provider first try to make contact via phone or another communication method?
- Is the system only for falls?: What if there is a fire? Can a medical alert system help with that?
Encourage independence
The risk of injury is one of the major factors when seniors and their families decide it is no longer safe for seniors to stay at home, particularly when they live alone. Efficient medical alert systems can help extend that time and keep seniors out of nursing homes for as long as possible.
- Is the system safe?: For many seniors, one major danger in remaining at home is being alone. In the event of an emergency, the phone might be out of reach, or seniors may be non responsive. Can the medical alert system detect problems without someone pushing the button?
- What situations are dispatchers trained to handle?: The elderly can face a variety of health issues, and dispatchers need to be able to quickly get critical information from confused customers.
- How many falls does the system detect?: Medical alert systems, when used properly, can detect up to 95 percent of falls.
Other needed equipment
Although most medical alert systems are not much larger than a key ring, some systems may need additional (and often larger) equipment in order to operate.
- Does it need a landline telephone?: Many alert systems require a landline telephone.
- Will the service offer all needed equipment?: With a monitoring service, most companies install any proprietary equipment needed.
- Who takes care of installation?: Many seniors are either not physically up to the task of installing the equipment or do not have the necessary technical skills. The service provider should take care of any installation requirements.
System maintenance
If something happens to the equipment provided, it is important to know who is responsible for repairs or replacement.
- Does the system need batteries?: Changing out batteries might be a necessity, in which case the system should provide a notification when the batteries are running low.
- Who is responsible for repairs?: Over time, equipment gets damaged and needs repair or replacement. Customers should check to see if the company offers free maintenance services.
- Are lines covered?: Much like phone companies, monitoring services may need to run lines throughout homes. If this is the case, customers need to find out if lines are insured or if damage is the responsibility of homeowners.
Mobility
A system that only works inside the home has value but not as much as one that can go anywhere. The more portable the medical alert system, the more safety it provides.
- Will it work outside the home?: While the home is often the most dangerous place for an accident to happen, a more-mobile system helps ensure safety during shopping trips or while a senior is out visiting.
- Is there an app?: If the system only works in the home, some companies have an app that offers the same services via a smartphone.
- What is the coverage limit?: If the service does not travel, it is important to know how far one can go from the unit. For example, will the system cover the backyard, or would those areas be off limits when the senior is alone?
What are different types of medical alert systems?
Monitored
Like alarm systems designed to protect the home, a monitored medical alert system has a live person tracking activity on the other end. Monitoring helps ensure that there are minimal false alarms and 911 calls.
Unmonitored
Unmonitored systems have a series of numbers pre-programmed to call when the alarm is triggered. Instead of getting a guaranteed answer, the system just calls through the list until it reaches the final number, which may be 911.
Monitored with fall alert
This system is just as described; it is a monitored system that automatically detects falls. If the wearer falls and doesn’t manually trigger the alert, the system will still notify the monitoring company which will then try to contact the customer before notifying emergency services.
Unmonitored with fall alert
This type of system starts calling as soon as a fall is detected. The immediacy removes the necessity of pressing the trigger and can get help to a senior faster in the event of an emergency.
Who's it for?
Grandparent living alone
Grandma or Grandpa is used to living alone and values independence. Since no one lives with the grandparent, a fall or other simple injury could have dramatic consequences.
Recently retired
Although recent retirees are in generally good health, they may spend too much time alone at home. Many retirees have some difficulty adapting to a life that doesn’t revolve around work. They might spend weeks with very little contact to the outside world.
Newly-diagnosed epileptic
People with epilepsy generally respond very well to medication, but children and adult-onset patients may not be seizure-free until doctors find workable medication.
Uncontrolled diabetic
Diabetics can fall into comas or have seizures when their blood sugar goes too far outside the normal range. They may not be able to dial 911 to summon help.
Company reviews
With more than 7 million subscribers and 40 years of experience, Philips Lifeline is an industry leader in monitored medical alert systems.
- Two-way communication: Technicians initiate contact when the help button is depressed, offering prompt assessment of the situation and dispatching help as needed.
- Affordable pricing: The monthly subscription fee is one of the least expensive among medical alert systems at less than $30 per month.
- No phone needed: Many systems require the use of a landline in order to call the operator. Lifeline does not need home phone service, making the system even more affordable.
- Unmonitored service not available: Not every wearer needs the level of service offered by monitoring. An unmonitored option is typically less expensive and preferable for the recently retired.
- Best for Grandparent living alone, newly diagnosed epileptic, uncontrolled diabetic
Life Alert is far more than a medical alert system. It offers protection against carbon monoxide poisoning, home invasion, fire and smoke, and much more. It is an all-inclusive security package.
- Available nationwide: Call centers handle a variety of areas, with 200 percent more emergency staff per member than a traditional security company.
- Comprehensive service: This monitored service can notify police, fire departments and hospitals in the event of an emergency.
- Coverage on the go: Life Alert offers emergency services away from home using a cellphone emergency button.
- Price: Life Alert is more expensive than most traditional medical alert systems, but it does offer substantially more service.
- Best for Grandparent living alone, recently retired, newly diagnosed epileptic, uncontrolled diabetic
Twenty-five years of experience come to the fore to assist more than 200,000 annual customers. Alert1 is the recommended service from 10,000 healthcare professionals, making it one of the industry’s best options.
- Pricing: While subscription service is a little higher than the deep discount services, Alert1 does come with two free months of monitoring.
- Good reputation: Customers express high satisfaction levels with Alert1, and it has a high positive feedback rating on one of the largest review sites on the web.
- Free shipping: Not only is shipping free, but rush shipping is free. This allows new customers to get set up as quickly as possible.
- Monitoring only: Monitoring is only necessary for people with health issues that might prevent them from contacting emergency services, or for the elderly. Monitoring comes with a higher price tag, so when it isn’t necessary, some people may prefer to avoid it.
- Best for Grandparent living alone, newly diagnosed epileptic, uncontrolled diabetic
Sixty years in the business of protecting families has given Bay Alarm Medical critical insight into the needs of their customers. As a result, the company has won multiple awards for best provider in the medical alert system category.
- Free trial period: Customers can try the service for 14 days before making a decision. As long as everything is returned within the trial period, customers get a full refund.
- Free spouse coverage: Essentially, Bay Alarm Medical offers a buy one, get one free special. Customers who sign up can include their spouses free.
- Pricing: Bay Alarm Medical offers deep discounts when service is paid in a single annual installment.
- Equipment costs: Many companies offer medical alert system equipment free with the installation, but this provider has a one-time device fee, depending on the level of service chosen.
- Best for Grandparent living alone, newly diagnosed epileptic, uncontrolled diabetic
Customer service is the priority for Medical Guardian, and to provide the personal touch, the company offers service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and a personal safety consultant for customized care solutions.
- Medically trained operators: All operators are medical professionals, making them uniquely suited to assist in the event of an emergency.
- UL-Approved: This service is UL approved and includes 911-trained operators to help dispatch the right emergency service for each and every call.
- Equipment: Medical Guardian offers a Classic Guardian package that includes an easy-to-install base unit that works in conjunction with a waterproof pendant and/or wristband. Both the pendant and the wristband can access immediate help from up to 400 feet away from the base unit.
- Pricing: Good service comes at a cost, and Medical Guardian offers good service. It also has some of the higher prices in the industry, with mobile monitoring starting at almost $40 per month.
- Best for Grandparent living alone, recently retired, newly diagnosed epileptic, uncontrolled diabetic
To help ensure their customers’ safety, LifeStation sends all operators to a six-week training course designed to improve their handling of remote emergency situations.
- Best for Grandparent living alone, newly diagnosed epileptic, uncontrolled diabetic
As part of its commitment to providing emergency services, LifeFone includes a price lock, so the first price charged is the only price a customer will ever pay.
- Best for Grandparent living alone, newly diagnosed epileptic, uncontrolled diabetic
With three years of awards for best customer service and a commitment to using only the most up-to-date equipment, MediPendant has one of the most versatile systems on the market.
- Best for Grandparent living alone, recently retired, newly diagnosed epileptic, uncontrolled diabetic
Walgreens, one of the largest pharmacy chains in the U.S., knows health. It also knows that redundancy isn’t redundant when it comes to patient health. It backs up phone systems through multiple providers to prevent outages and has two call centers in dramatically different geographic locations, all to ensure the lines are always open.
- Best for Grandparent living alone, newly diagnosed epileptic, uncontrolled diabetic
MobileHelp stays on the cutting edge of medical alert technology. It combines GPS tracking and mobile service to create a system that always works and offers peace of mind to loved ones who just want to check in.
- Best for Grandparent living alone, recently retired, newly diagnosed epileptic, uncontrolled diabetic
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Disclaimer
Information in this guide is general in nature and is intended for informational purposes only; it is not legal, health, investment or tax advice. ConsumerAffairs.com makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information provided and assumes no liability for any damages or loss arising from its use.
