

Updated · Oct 13, 2022
Updated: October 07,2022
Understandably, you’re worried about finding the best medical alert system for yourself or a loved one.
But relax.
I'm here to help you navigate through this complicated process so that you can find the most suitable option.
Here's what you'll find in this article:
So now, let's swiftly move on to the reviews.
Speaker
Two-Way
Support
24/7
Wearables
Available
Medical Guardian offers some of the best medical alert system services and features. It ensures that you have round-the-clock coverage with a professional operator. This solution comes with automatic fall detection, an in-home system, a wearable alert button with GPS, Wifi location tracking, smartphone monitoring, mini Guardian, and so much more.
Equipment and setup
Free
Value for Money
5/5
Money-back guarantee
30 days
Bay Alarm Medical has some of the best medical alert system services. It gives you peace of mind to know that there's a 24/7 operator on standby in case of any issues. Its parent company is Bay Alarm, which has over six decades of experience in the field. The solution has a help button, GPS, in-home, in-car, auto fall detection, SOS smartwatch, and so much more.
Advanced location technology
Yes
Advanced false alarm detection
Yes
Quick response
Yes
Philips Lifeline is among the best medical alert systems for seniors in Canada and the US. It's easy to use, and you can rely on it day and night for protection in and out of the house. It has auto fall detection, five location technologies, mobile pendants, phone apps, and two-way voice communication.
Flexible payment options
Available
FDA registered, and FCC certified
Yes
Shipment
Free
MobileHelp earned its spot on the Best Medical Alert Systems list because it offers round-the-clock protection. It has in-home and on-the-go gadgets, all of which work together to keep your loved one safe. The equipment has GPS tracking, two-way communication, a long-lasting battery, and a lockbox. It also has waterproof wristbands and pendants.
Shipping costs
None
Power back-up
32 hours
Lockbox
Free
LifeFone medical alert systems are some of the best in the industry. This company will offer you peace of mind with its 24/7 observation. LifeFone’s emergency alert system comes with both in-home and on-the-go units. Examples of features that you'll enjoy with this solution are fall detection, GPS, medicine reminders, battery back-up, among many others.
Technology
Non-wearable voice tech
Flood and smoke detection
Yes
Requires a landline
No
GetSafe is ideal for you if you're looking for a wireless medical alert system. It's UL certified and will give you peace of mind knowing that you or your loved one are under protection 24/7. It comes with a voice-activated mini console, base unit, help button, optional wearables, and flood & carbon monoxide detection devices.
Voice activation
Yes
Mobile apps
iOS and Android
Hands-free communication
Yes
Aloe Care Health is the best medical alert system for the elderly with voice technology. It allows users to call the hub directly. This solution offers some top-notch features: motion sensors, phone apps, temperature & air quality sensors, caregiver collaborations, and amplified voice.
Activation
Free
Lifetime price guarantee
Yes
Shipping
Free
ResponseNow is ideal for you if you're looking for the best medical alert system for the elderly that requires limited charging. This solution only needs three hours of charge twice a month. It has automatic fall detection, a help button, wearables, and two-way communication. It's also water-resistant and allows WiFi use.
On-site monitoring center
Yes
Large help button
Yes
Charge lasts
up to 10 years
Life Alert is another product that falls in the category of the best personal medical alert system. It offers emergency protection both in and out of the house. Some of Life Alert's features include fall detection, help button round the clock support, water-resistant wearables, indoor and outdoor protection.
A medical alert system also goes by the names Personal Emergency Response System (PERs), medical alert, or fall button. It’s a technology that monitors and protects vulnerable individuals such as the elderly, recovering, or disabled people.
It sends a signal to family members, caregivers, and friends in emergencies such as falls for immediate help. Some of the best medical alert systems also come with medicine dispensers to remind seniors to take medication on time.
These solutions can either be in-home or mobile since accidents can occur anywhere.
The original medical alarms utilized landlines, and some do so till today. Most recently, some systems use cellular networks or VoIP.
There are different kinds of emergency alert system components:
The medical alert systems are suitable for both in and out of the house. They come in different forms, such as:
These feel like you’re wearing a watch or bracelet. The bands are wildly popular with people that don’t want something dangling around their necks.
These have a lightweight medical alert button that you can wear around your neck like a necklace. Some solutions like Bay Alarm Medical have attractive pendant lanyards that you can match with different outfits.
The most significant advantage of these gadgets is that you always have your button within easy reach. If you don’t like displaying it to prying eyes, you can wear it underneath your clothes.
Everyone has worn a belt at some point in their life, the reason why these feel so natural. However, the wearer needs to keep checking that the unit doesn’t accidentally fall off.
A purse is a great way to carry your device. However, make sure that you don’t have any liquids in the same bag because they can spill and damage your equipment.
If you don’t fancy wearing a med-alert bracelet or necklaces, there are other options for you, such as:
Base units have an emergency button and two-way speakers. They can work with a landline or cellular network.
Voice consoles allow you to speak to issue commands when asking for assistance from the monitoring center. The gadgets also have a plug that you can pull to summon a live operator.
The gadgets come with a medical alert button that you can press whenever you need help. You can place them in convenient places in your home such as stairs, bathroom, laundry room, or kitchen.
The best medical alert system should keep the health and well-being of a loved one in check, whether in or out of the house. In other words, they signal for help from caregivers or family members in cases of hazards, such as falls, carbon monoxide, or extreme temperatures.
But how do they work?
The systems use GPS, wireless, voice, or data to track your movements for safety purposes.
Some emergency alert systems detect hazards automatically. A 24/7 monitoring center employee will see this from their end. Others require the pressing of a medical button to trigger a call for help.
Once that happens, the emergency center employee usually goes through your medical records for personalized care. The staff sends responders immediately to your location.
The company also contacts your family members, friends, or neighbors on your list. The monitoring center worker then stays on the line with you until the ambulance arrives.
There are different kinds of alarm systems, namely:
Monitored medical solutions work by connecting the person’s equipment to 24-hour monitoring centers via landline, cellular networks, or VoIP.
Instead of calling an emergency center, these indoor solutions call a family member, friend, or 911 to notify them of an emergency. They then play a recording to the recipient so that they can act fast.
Mobile devices use GPS tracking and are perfect for someone on the move. They come in the form of pendants or wrist bands and work both in and out of your house.
These are ideal for use by a nurse in close proximity to the individual that requires help. The user must carry the medical alert button for sending alerts to the responder’s pager/receiver.
So you’ve finally made up your mind to get an emergency alert system for yourself, parent, sibling, or friend.
It’s now time to compare medical alert systems, and you’re wondering what features to look for when narrowing down to the ideal product.
If you’re unsure of the equipment’s must-haves, here there are:
The last thing you want is device malfunctions due to water damage. Therefore, ensure that your system is waterproof and works well in fall-prone areas such as bathrooms.
Your solution’s speaker should mimic a mobile phone and allow communication to flow in real-time between you and the monitoring center. The sound should also be clear and detect even the faintest of noises.
The best medical alert systems for active seniors should check on your loved one periodically. This could be through motion detectors. Another way would by pressing a button after an alert from the monitoring center to do so, usually every 12 hours.
Your emergency alert system should detect when your loved one falls and is unable to call for help. There are situations in which one cannot press the help button, so this feature is crucial.
It’s not unusual for an older person to forget to take their medication. A quality system allows customizations for the best time to take medicine and sends the necessary reminders.
If your loved one is active, then they need help buttons that aren’t bulky. These allow the wearer to move around easily without carrying around gadgets that wear them out.
Most medical alert systems reviews concentrate on their use by the elderly. However, the following people can also benefit from emergency alert system use:
Here are some things to consider before you buy an alert system.
Pricing is an essential consideration when buying anything, whether it’s milk, bread, clothing, property, name it. After all, it’s impossible to purchase what you can’t afford; and the same case applies to alert buttons.
Solutions like Bay Alert Medical have affordable pricing while Medical Guardian has slightly higher monthly rates, but still reasonable overall. Others like Philips Lifeline have higher monthly rates.
You need medical alert systems for seniors that will send help right away when your loved one needs it the most, right? Fortunately, all the solutions on our lists have a fast turnaround when it comes to dispatching responders.
Protection for seniors should be both indoors and outdoors because accidents can happen anywhere. Ensure that your system has both for maximum monitoring.
According to alarming statistics, seniors aged 65 years and above die from fall-related injuries every 19 minutes. So, you need equipment that can alert you when your loved one stumbles and ends up on the floor.
If you’re looking for the best medical alert system with fall detection, look for one with a large button that is easy to locate and press.
Even better, get one with automatic fall detection.
One might fall and become immobile or unresponsive hence unable to call for help. If there’s no one else in the house, the injuries can worsen with time.
In such cases, you need a solution that can detect any sudden falls, followed by immobility.
Most falls happen in bathrooms during showers or baths. Therefore, look for a water-resistant emergency alert system to allow your loved one to carry it to the bathroom.
Besides the information on the monitored and non-monitored medical alert systems reviews above, I prepared a few more things.
Here a few tips for seniors that live alone:
These days, being 65+ doesn’t mean a direct ticket to a nursing home. Seniors can live meaningful and fulfilling lives, and there’s no shortage of communities and organizations that support this. Here are some of them:
Growing Bolder is a group of journalists and broadcasters that supplies digital content to seniors to keep them occupied. The content is inspirational and centers around living healthier lifestyles.
New Retirement helps people transition into their retirement. The websites offer tools and tips to help plan their finances when they get to an age where they can no longer work.
This organization works to ensure that every senior citizen gets access to affordable health. They counsel users on health insurance when making decisions and provide Medicare information for anyone who needs it.
Getting older doesn’t have to feel like you’re under house arrest. Road Scholar is a non-profit that offers adult learning adventures to engage and help them stay active in retirement.
American Corps provides friendship and help for older adults living alone. The group helps with tasks such as paying bills or shopping.
After reading the best medical alert system for seniors review above, it’s easy to see why they’re essential.
A quality alert system will monitor you around the clock and send you help when you need it the most. Some systems can remind you to take our meds or even monitor the surrounding temperature. If you’re aging or sick and live alone, this would be an ideal time to consider getting a medical alert solution. Even if you’re not, but you’re just looking for a way to keep an eye on your parents or other relatives, the best medical alert system will surely bring peace of mind.
You may also be interested in:
Unfortunately, Medicare doesn’t cover medical alert systems since it doesn’t view them as medical necessities.
Besides the price, there are other essential factors that you need to consider when choosing a medical alert system, such as:
Examples of the the leading systems that AARP recommends are:
Medical Alert is a good company. It’s affordable, easy to install, and reliable.
Life Alert doesn’t display rates on its website. However, I reached out to its customer service department and learned that it costs about $49/month.
The cheapest medical alert system is Bay Alarm Medical.
There are a couple of solutions that made it to my list of the best medical alert system tools and they are:
Deyan Georgiev
Deyan has been fascinated by technology his whole life. From the first Tetris game all the way to Falcon Heavy. Working for TechJury is like a dream come true, combining both his passions – writing and technology. In his free time (which is pretty scarce, thanks to his three kids), Deyan enjoys traveling and exploring new places. Always with a few chargers and a couple of gadgets in the backpack. He makes mean dizzying Island Paradise cocktails too.
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