Best medical alert with fall detection
Compare cost, features and monitoring service
Falling is always a risk, even in the comfort of your own home. Slippery floors, crooked throw rugs and even a misjudged step can make any older adult susceptible to a catastrophic fall. Fortunately, medical alerts with fall detection allow them to continue living independently without the need for in-home caregivers.
Our 7 favorite medical alert systems with fall detection
When judging a medical alert system with fall detection, we look at cost, features and monitoring service to select our top choices. Each of these companies offer devices that allow older adults to push a button themselves and contact a monitoring center, which can contact emergency responders if necessary. None of these companies requires a long-term contract, and each offers a water-resistant fall alert device so older adults can wear them in the shower. These companies offer varying benefits for users and caregivers at a variety of budget levels.
- Our favorite medical alert with fall detection:
Medical Guardian - Our pick for budget fall alert systems:
Medical Alert - Our pick for fall alert system battery:
LifeFone - Our pick for caregivers:
Bay Alarm Medical - Our pick for multilingual support:
LifeStation - Our pick for fall alarm with voice extension:
Philips Lifeline - Our pick for mobile fall alert device:
GreatCall
Our favorite medical alert with fall detection
Medical Guardian
Medical Guardian offers fall detection with five plans: MGClassic, MGHome Cellular, Mobile 2.0, Active Guardian and Mini Guardian. With each, the fall detection pendant sends a signal to the base station, which contacts a Life Safety Consultant at Medical Guardian’s monitoring center. The consultant then identifies the issue and immediately contacts first responders if they do not hear a response from the user.
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Our pick for budget fall alert systems
Medical Alert
Whether you choose At Home Landline, At Home No Landline or On The Go, Medical Alert allows users to add fall detection to any of its plans. When adding fall detection, you’ll receive a wearable fall detection pendant in addition to the panic button that comes with the system. While fall detection is an additional $10 per month on top of your chosen plan, annual payments reduce that cost to just $9.17 per month.
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Our pick for fall alert system battery
LifeFone
LifeFone offers the best battery for any fall alert system on the market. Its battery lasts two to five years, and LifeFone offers a battery replacement guarantee for any spent batteries. For as little as $5 per month, you can add fall detection to any of the company’s four plans, which include both At Home and On The Go GPS plans. Any customer that is not satisfied with a LifeFone plan within 30 days of service can receive their money back.
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Our pick for caregivers
Bay Alarm Medical
Bay Alarm Medical offers fall alert devices with In-Home and GPS Help plans for an additional $10 per month. Loved ones can receive notifications of activity using the Caregiver Tracking App, available as an add-on. This app alerts loved ones of an older adult’s location, emergency call history and, if they’re using a fall necklace, any falls.
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Our pick for multilingual support
LifeStation
If your loved one speaks a language other than English, LifeStation may be the right option for them. Like most providers, LifeStation employs speakers of commonly spoken languages, but LifeStation also uses a translation service to interpret others. Customers can add fall detection to LifeStation’s At-Home plan, which does not require an additional pendant.
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Our pick for fall alarm with voice extension
Philips Lifeline
A common issue with in-home fall alert systems is the user’s distance from the base station. Since customers use the base station for two-way communication, it's usually impossible to talk to a monitoring representative if you're too far away. Philips Lifeline solves that problem by offering voice extension. For an additional $10 per month, users can expand their range by putting an extra Lifeline Communicator somewhere else in their home. This way, when a fall occurs, they're more likely to be close to a communicator.
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Our pick for mobile fall alert device
GreatCall
GreatCall’s fall detection is available exclusively with its on-the-go device, the Lively Mobile Plus. This fall button comes with an internal GPS and a battery life of up to 80 hours. The fall alert pendant is safe to wear in the shower, and when you press the button, it contacts one of GreatCall’s 5Star agents. Users can speak to a representative through the pendant, and 5Star agents then contact loved ones, emergency responders or even a locksmith.
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- $10/month fall detection
- Available with Classic, Home, Mobile, Active and Mini Guardian plans
- Free fall detection with qualifying plans
- Available with HomeSafe and GoSafe 2 plans
- $10/month fall detection
- Available with At Home and On The Go plans
How do fall detectors work?
Fall detection technology uses accelerometers and other sensors to detect fall movement and an algorithm to determine if the movement indicates an actual fall or a false alarm.
“Whether the device is a pendant or watch, the accuracy of the fall detection is based on the number of sensors included in a device and if there is algorithmic programming and AI support,” explained Chia-Lin Simmons, the CEO of LogicMark, which designs and manufactures medical alert devices. “The more sensors a device has, the more accurate fall detection can be. Most medical alerts only use accelerometers to sense falls and inform algorithms, which is a narrow scope of information to look at, as it only measures speed versus tilt, angle and height.”
So for the best accuracy, Simmons recommends looking for fall devices with additional sensors, such as a barometer to measure atmospheric pressure, a gyroscope to measure angular motion or an altimeter to measure altitude.
“Fall detection is reliant upon connectivity, whether it be cellular- or Wi-Fi-enabled connection,” said Simmons. “In cases where cellular network connectivity is low, some higher-quality devices will ping nearby Wi-Fi hubs to identify the customer’s location so they can dispatch emergency services.”
What happens when a fall occurs?
Sudden falls, whether at home or in public, are shocking. If you’ve fallen:
- Do your best to stay calm. Don’t try to get up too quickly. Instead, the National Institute on Aging recommends you stay on the floor, take a few deep breaths and evaluate whether or not you suffered an injury from the fall.
- If you have a medical alert device, hit the emergency button. Experts recommend hitting the button regardless of fall detection to be safe.
- If you have fall detection, your device triggers a call, either to a monitoring center or 911 directly.
- A trained representative from a monitoring center greets you and helps you figure out if you’re injured and in need of help.
- The representative then calls EMTs and/or loved ones, if necessary.
- If the representative tries to reach you through the two-way communication device and cannot hear a response, they call EMTs immediately. The lack of response could mean that you’re unconscious.
What to look for in a fall alert system
Many companies offer fall alert systems, and it’s hard to know which one to choose. With so many products on the market, it’s challenging to sift through the legitimate companies and the scammers.
Here’s what you should look for in a fall alert system:
- Clear pricing: Fall detection is often an add-on to an existing medical alert device. Be sure you understand any fees for monthly monitoring, equipment, activation, cancellation and repair before signing a contract. If a company is not being transparent about pricing or fees, do not work with it.
- Understandable cancellation policy: You may decide the fall alert system doesn’t fit your needs. To prepare for this possibility, understand your provider’s cancellation policy and any associated fees before you sign up.
- Attractive, comfortable pendants: Fall alert devices do not work if you do not wear them. Look for a pendant that you’re happy to wear around the house and in public.
- Water resistance: Slippery conditions are usually the cause of most falls for older adults in bathrooms and outdoors. Be sure your fall alert device works when you need it by purchasing a waterproof or water-resistant system.
- Truthful claims about accuracy: Fall alert technology is not perfect, and no company offers a fall alert system that is 100% accurate. If you find a company that does claim this, stay away. Scammers love to draw people in with claims that are too good to be true.
» MORE: Best medical alert bracelets
How much do medical alert systems with fall detection cost?
Most medical alert companies offer fall detection as an optional add-on and charge $5 to $10 a month for it.
“Medical alert systems with fall detection typically require a monthly fee, whether mobile or in-home. In addition to that fee, buyers should be prepared to pay sign-up or equipment fees upon purchase,” explained Simmons.
Unfortunately, Medicare parts A and B don’t cover medical alert systems. They don’t fall under what’s known as durable medical equipment — which includes home medical devices such as canes, oxygen equipment and wheelchairs. Medicare Part C plans may cover the costs of a medical alert system. Check your individual policy to find out if you qualify.
Because Medicaid coverage varies by location, you need to check with your state to learn if there is coverage for medical alert systems.
Some long-term care policies may cover a medical alert system. If you’re a military veteran, you can qualify for a medical alert system with fall detection. Check your local Department of Veterans Affairs location for more details.
Does fall detection work?
Fall detection is a wonderful new tool that helps monitor for most falls that may occur during an older adults's daily activities. However, since the technology is relatively new, it still has room for improvement. Fall detection adds extra protection for older adults who are prone to imbalance, but it does not work 100% of the time.
Because fall detection is not 100% accurate, consumers should follow these tips.
- Test your fall detection device: When you first receive your fall alert device, test out different movements with a caregiver or loved one to see when it triggers. Since most fall alarms work after a sudden movement followed by stillness, be sure to stay still after your fake fall. Note that harder falls and sudden movements are more likely to trigger the alarm. Gradual falls like sliding out a wheelchair may not trigger your fall alert.
- Learn how to cancel a false alarm: Whether you’re testing your fall protection device or you’re just bending over to pick something up, you’re likely to trigger a false alarm at some point. Upon receiving your fall alert system, learn how to cancel a false alarm. Typically, you can do so by pushing another button or by speaking to a representative.
- Wear the pendant outside of your clothes: For the best results, wear your fall necklace outside of your clothes. A fall pendant that gets caught up against your skin and shirt is not likely to register a fall. When shopping for fall alert necklaces, find one that you're comfortable wearing on the outside of your clothes. Some buttons are more subtle and attractive than others.
- Upon falling, press the button if you can: Whether or not your fall detector triggered an emergency call, you should push your button if you can. Fall detection safeguards you in case you fall and can't push a button, but if you can push the button, do so.
FAQ
Will fall detection systems work in the shower or bath?
According to Simmons, most medical alert devices are water-resistant. You’ll want to look for an IP67 rating. “IP67 means the device was tested and submerged 1 meter under water for up to 30 minutes. High-quality products will have IP67 validation done by a third-party company,” said Simmons. “The bath and shower are a very common place for falls so the technology has almost been standardized across the industry.”.
Do medical alert systems with fall detection require a monthly monitoring service?
Simmons says most medical alert systems have monthly monitoring service and operation fees. “Monitoring services ensure that 100% of calls are answered, so all medical alert device users are protected and can receive critical help in a timely manner. They can also be a stopgap in the case of a false button press or fall detection,” she said.
Who benefits the most from a medical alert system with fall detection?
Anyone who has an increased chance for falls could benefit from having a medical alert system with fall detection. This can include those who:
- Have certain health conditions that can affect balance and walking, such as diabetes or a heart condition
- Have fallen within the last year
- Have difficulty walking, standing up from a chair or navigating steps
- Are taking four or more different medications daily, including sleep medications
- Have vision concerns, such as from cataracts
Does fall detection work without WiFi?
According to Simmons, this depends on the type of medical alert system. “Many mobile medical alert devices rely on cellular connection, and 4G LTE is the current industry standard. Mobile medical alert devices with fall detection do not require Wi-Fi to operate fall detection,” she said. She explains some in-home devices do require a Wi-Fi connection.
“In areas with poor cellular service, Wi-Fi is a critical factor for medical alert devices. Keeping a device connected via cable or satellite internet or other methods may be the only way users in rural areas can get help,” Simmons added.
Bottom line
Though fall detection technology is not perfect, it provides an additional layer of protection against fatal accidents for older adults. If you can, choose a company that offers a monitoring service. Monitoring connects you with a professional who can quickly dispatch emergency assistance if necessary. Above all, choose a pendant that is comfortable and find a company that suits your lifestyle and needs.
