Medical alert systems allow seniors to stay independent while making sure help is available when needed. The devices can help prevent further injury or death after a fall or other emergency. Here are our top 4 options.
Top pick: Medical Guardian
- Free activation and free installation
- Free spouse monitoring with purchase of second pendant
Medical Guardian offers a top-quality service that is highly valued by its customers. With a monitoring center that is TMA Five Diamond Certified and a wide range of products to suit many different needs and lifestyles, Medical Guardian will provide the protection you need and the service you want.
At-home options include the Classic and Home models, for landlines and cell service connections, respectively. The Mobile Guardian offers help on the go with a wearable button and a mobile device that must be within 350 feet of the button for full functionality.
The Active Guardian is an all-in-one wearable device that has both GPS and Wi-Fi capability along with a two-way speaker to speak with an operator.
- Price: $29.95-$49.95 per month
- Monitoring center: TMA Five Diamond Certification, UL-listed
- Services: In-home and on-the-go
- Equipment: Landline or cell signal via AT&T cell service
- In-home range: 600 feet (Home model), 1,300 feet (Classic model)
- Activation fee: None
- Equipment fee: None (except the Mini Guardian which is a one-time fee of $124.95)
- Battery life: Mobile pendant battery lasts up to five days. In-home station offers 32-hour backup battery in case of power outage
- Contract required: None
- Automatic fall detection: $10 per month
- Special features: Wearable wrist button, automatic fall detection, wall-mounted buttons, voice-activated wall-mounted buttons, mobile app for family members
Best customer service: MobileHelp
- Risk-free trial for 30 days
- Free quote
MobileHelp and One Call Alert are two companies under the same ownership, and both provide great products to meet your monitoring needs. The equipment and services offered are the same, but pricing may differ slightly. The monitoring center for both is managed by Rapid Response and while it does not carry the TMA Five Diamond designation, it sets high standards for excellence. You can read more about the monitoring center on MobileHelp's site.
The element that sets both MobileHelp and One Call Alert apart from the competition is customer satisfaction. Both companies receive some of the highest customer reviews in the industry, and their customer service is second to none.
- Price: $19.95-$44.95 per month
- Monitoring center: UL-listed, Security Industry Association Certification
- Services: In-home and on-the-go
- Equipment: Landline or cell signal via AT&T cell service
- In-home range: 1,300 ft (Classic); 1,400 ft (Wired Home)
- Activation fee: None
- Equipment fee: None
- Battery life: At-home base station has 24-hour battery life in case of power outage. Mobile battery lasts up to three days
- Contract required: None
- Automatic fall detection: $10 per month
- Special features: MobileHelp Connect app for notification and tracking for family members
Best mobile devices: Bay Alarm Medical
- Risk-free trial for 30 days,
- Free spouse coverage
Bay Alarm Medical is one of our top picks for its combination of high-quality service at an excellent price point with innovative features you won't find with the competition. The company offers an array of reliable in-home and on-the-go devices that can be used via landline or cell signal, and its emergency monitoring center is certified with the best quality ratings. Customer reviews indicate a high degree of satisfaction with the company and its service.
Bay Alarm Medical's mobile devices, the SOS Smartwatch, the On the Go Help Button, and the Splitsecnd® In-Car Alert, are what set this company apart from the rest. The SOS Smartwatch offers a convenient, easy-to-wear solution for older adults who are still active. When you compare the real-life experience of wearing this watch versus other clunky mobile devices that often have to hang around your neck, there is no comparison.
Some mobile monitoring services require a user not only to carry a mobile button but also to bring a mobile base wherever they go, and they must remain within a few hundred feet of the base for full functionality. Bay Alarm Medical's On the Go Help button is smaller and easier to use than its competitors and doesn't require any other hardware to go along with you.
The Splitsecnd® In-Car Alert is a feature that isn't offered by the other companies on our list. You can place this device in your car and forget about it, but you get 24/7 in-car monitoring with location tracking and automatic crash detection that will send help within seconds of an accident. Bay Alarm Medicals's state-of-the-art devices make it easier and more convenient to stay protected no matter where you are.
- Price: $19.95-$39.95 per month
- Monitoring center: TMA Five Diamond Certification, UL-listed
- Services: In-home and on-the-go
- Equipment: Landline or cell signal via AT&T cell service
- In-home range: 1,000 feet
- Activation fee: None
- Equipment fee:
- At-home service: None
- Mobile service: One-time charge of $79 for GPS Help button; one-time charge of $179 for SOS Smartwatch
- Battery life: Pendants have five-year battery life with no recharging. In-home station offers 32-hour backup battery in case of power outage. Fall detection pendants have 12- to 24-month battery life
- Contract required: None
- Automatic fall detection: $10 per month
- Special features: automatic fall detection, location tracking, caregiver tracking, automatic crash detection, personalized fashion necklaces to cover pendants, savings for bundled services
Best warranty: Medical Alert
- 30-day money-back guarantee,
- Lifetime warranty on equipment
Medical Alert provides everything you need in an emergency alert system. With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and excellent customer reviews, you can be sure you're getting a quality product. The company earns the highest certifications for their 24/7 emergency monitoring center and offers Home and Mobile systems with long battery life and lifetime equipment warranties. A free mobile app for caregivers provides peace of mind for those wanting to ensure safety and security for their loved ones. Starting at $19.95 per month, Medical Alert offers excellent quality at a price point lower than many competitors.
- Price: $19.95-$42.95
- Monitoring center: TMA Five Diamond Certification, UL-listed
- Services: In-home and on-the-go
- Equipment: Landline or cell signal via AT&T cell service
- In-home range: up to 800 feet
- Activation fee: None
- Equipment fee: None
- Battery life:
- At-home device: 36-hour backup battery in case of power outages
- Mobile devices: battery life up to five days
- Contract required: None
- Automatic fall detection: $10 per month
- Special features: Mobile app for caregivers, automatic fall alert detection, wearable wrist button
(sources: health.com, caring.com)