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Life Alert Review: 10 Best Life Alert Medical Alert Systems

Julia

I have a chronic condition and a handicap, and I’ve had multiple falls and other home crises. I’ve used Life Alert and various other medical alert devices to keep me safe when on my own throughout the years.

This sort of equipment and service is often promoted to seniors, although I utilized Life Alert when I was younger. Because I’ve spent so much of my time at home alone, the gadget has been a lifeline, preventing injuries and nursing home placement. My own experience with Life Alert and other monitoring services is the basis for the following assessment.

At a Glance: Life Alert

Summary

What I enjoyed:

What I didn’t enjoy:

How Does It Work?

The LifeAlert medical alert system is a tiny rectangular white box with a help button and the business logo. Life Alert also offers separate services such as a GPS-enabled monitor that may be worn to alert for crises outside the house, as well as supplementary assistance buttons that can alert for emergencies in places in your home that may be out of range for the core monitoring service. These buttons are frequently installed in areas where individuals are more likely to fall, such as the restroom.

I lived in a 600-square-foot, one-story apartment when I used Life Alert, and I was never unable to reach the operator. Most of my crises happened in the bathroom, which was around 300 feet away from my device, or in my bedroom, which was about 400 feet away. Simply pressing the button on my necklace activated the system’s loud alarm. Within seconds, an operator would begin conversing with me. Despite being in another room, I had no trouble hearing the operator, and the operator had no trouble hearing me. If the operator had not been able to hear my response, emergency personnel would have been dispatched to my house.

The Configuration

Following a comprehensive telephone interview, the firm dispatched a technician to my home to install and test the gadget. Because of the company’s pandemic practices, it may now virtually coach the consumer through product setup. The installation normally takes only a few minutes, and either the technician or customer support will show you how to use the system correctly.

Application Scope

The basic system has a range of around 800 feet, and customers are normally provided with two monitors. With this coverage, a user can call for help from virtually anywhere in an average-sized home.

Detection of Falls Automatically

While Life Alert does provide GPS tracking outside the house for an extra fee, it does not have a system that automatically checks for falls.

Utilization Ease

It is really simple to use Life Alert. If a user falls or has another emergency, they just touch the emergency button, an alarm sounds, and they are connected with a Life Alert operator within seconds.

One potential issue with Life Alert is that emergency workers may not be able to reach the individual who has requested assistance. If the user falls and is unable to get up, they are also unable to answer a knock at their door. Other medical alert providers include lockboxes with their alarm systems, allowing consumers to secure a key on the outside of their home for use by emergency responders. Lockboxes are not available from Life Alert. If you purchase your own supplementary lockbox, Life Alert will record the access details in your file and provide them to emergency responders as needed.

I had no problems having emergency workers enter my home while using Life Alert. They’d knock, stop, and then walk in. However, I was living in a rural region at the time and felt comfortable enough to frequently leave my door open.

I’ve used lock boxes with various medical alert systems that let anyone in if they knew the right combination. There were times when the medical alarm operator did not provide the emergency personnel with the entry code. Entering my flat became a lengthy procedure as the emergency personnel had to locate the building management or maintenance personnel for spare keys. Fortunately, I received the assistance I required in both situations, but it might have been a disastrous ending for me if time had been more critical.

Emergency Connectivity in Real Time

Life Alert has its own 911 service, which is not outsourced like some other medical alert systems, and the Life Alert operators who react to alerts are medically educated. I always had timely replies from both Life Alert operators and emergency response people during my time with Life Alert.

Wearability

The alarm button can be worn on a lanyard or as a bracelet, as with other medical alert systems. I always go with the lanyard. I was concerned that, as a wheelchair user, I would continuously bump the wristband alarm against my wheelchair, causing it to alarm when I wasn’t in need. I forget I’m wearing the necklace alarm since it’s so small and light. When I lean too far forward, the panic button occasionally triggers by accident, but I just inform the operator that I made a mistake and do not want assistance.

Whether the user opts for a bracelet or lanyard, it is easy to forget to put it on. It is advised that the panic button not be removed to avoid forgetting—it is waterproof and may even be worn in the shower. Life Alert provides extra bathroom monitoring if the user chooses to deactivate the alert while bathing. A waterproof alarm can be installed within the tub or on a low wall within the bathroom.

Cost

Life Alert monitoring is slightly more expensive than typical monitoring systems. Inquire about potential promotional offers when signing up for Life Alert. The basic monitoring service, which includes the main unit and the pendant, costs $49.95 per month with a one-time setup charge of $198. GPS monitoring outside the house, as well as additional bathroom surveillance, costs an extra $20 each month. The bundle costs $89.95 per month if you want basic monitoring, GPS monitoring, and bathroom monitoring.

Be careful that the firm only provides three-year service contracts, which tie you in for 36 months of payments.

Most states fund the monthly cost of a simple monitoring system for people who qualify for Medicaid and are at risk of being placed in a nursing home. Life Alert, on the other hand, does not engage in this insurance scheme. Medicare does not cover it either.

Top 10 Best Life Alert Systems In 2022

Let’s take a look at the best life alert devices to use in 2022.

Contents hide
At a Glance: Life Alert
Summary
What I enjoyed:
What I didn’t enjoy:
How Does It Work?
The Configuration
Application Scope
Detection of Falls Automatically
Utilization Ease
Emergency Connectivity in Real Time
Wearability
Cost
Top 10 Best Life Alert Systems In 2022
#1. MobileHelp
Pros
Cons
#2. Bay Alarm Medical
Pros
Cons
#3. Medical Guardian
Pros:
Cons
#4. Medical Care Alert
Pros
Cons
#5. LifeFone
Pros
Cons
#6. QMedic
Pros
Cons
#7. Aloe Care
Pros
Cons
#8. GetSafe
Pros
Cons
#9. Philips Lifeline
Pros
Cons
#10. Lively Mobile Plus
Pros
Cons

#1. MobileHelp

Life Alert

The finest medical alert systems are dependable, simple to use, discreet, and technologically advanced. You can’t go wrong with MobileHelp if you’re searching for a solution that ticks all of these boxes.

Individuals in all 50 states can use MobileHelp’s mobile personal emergency response solutions. MobileHelp’s solutions feature industry-leading technology, and the company was even the first to offer a fully integrated system with GPS technology.

Pros

Cons

#2. Bay Alarm Medical

Bay Alarm Medical is a medical alert system with some of the industry’s highest client evaluations. This firm has been providing clients with peace of mind for over 70 years with its line of industry-leading medical alert gadgets.

Pros

Cons

#3. Medical Guardian

Medical Guardian distinguishes itself with premium features, the largest signal range, the longest battery life, and the best-in-class fall detection technology. This medical alert firm has been in business since 2005 and has been named by several independent review sites as one of the best medical alert systems on the market.

Medical Guardian provides five different device options to pick from, whether you want an on-the-go mobile system or an in-home system.

Pros:

Cons

#4. Medical Care Alert

Medical Care Alert is a family-owned and operated alert firm that services consumers in all 50 states. Several accolades have been bestowed upon the firm over the years for its great customer service, dependable monitoring centre, and high-quality goods.

Pros

Cons

#5. LifeFone

Some elderly people opt not to acquire a medical alert system because they believe it will be too expensive. While some systems are more expensive, you may also find low-cost alert systems with high-quality features and dependable support. In terms of value and pricing, LifeFone is one of the top medical alert systems on the market.

LifeFone is a well-known alert firm that has been in operation since 1976. The Better Business Bureau gave the firm an A+ rating, and U.S. News named it the #1 Medical Alert System of 2021. The magazine, News & World Report, LifeFone is committed to creating high-quality products and systems at reasonable prices for clients around the United States.

Pros

Cons

#6. QMedic

Some elderly people are more likely than others to require medical treatment. If you are a high-risk patient, a medical alert system with additional capabilities to follow your activities and ensure that you are cared for in the event of a fall both inside and outside the home may be beneficial.

QMedic manufactures medical alert systems that employ sophisticated monitoring, making them suited for high-risk patients who live at home. The organisation works in 46 states and assists older people in ageing freely while feeling secure in their homes.

Pros

Cons

#7. Aloe Care

When you push a button, the top medical alert systems do more than merely link you to a monitoring centre. They also make your life simpler by including tools that help you remain on top of your medical demands and keep your family members informed. Aloe Care is a medical alert device firm that prioritises its consumers. The firm develops dependable medical alert systems and provides caregiving services to its consumers, resulting in a collaborative solution for senior citizens.

Aloe Care provides three distinct packages, each with its own set of features and pricing. One in-home hub and one care button are included in the Essentials kit. Meanwhile, Essentials Plus covers you at home and on the move, and the Total Care package contains these capabilities as well as automated fall detection and motion sensors.

Pros

Cons

#8. GetSafe

Traditionally, medical alert systems relied on wearable devices with big buttons that might be pressed in an emergency. However, many people discover that accessing a button after a fall or other injury might be difficult.

GetSafe designed its home medical alert system with the goal of making aid more available to its consumers. As a result, the business has opted for voice-activated buttons that its clients may install throughout their houses rather than small wearable buttons.

Pros

Cons

#9. Philips Lifeline

If you recognise any of the firms on our list, it is most likely Philips Lifeline. Philips Lifeline is a well-known name in the medical alert sector since it was the first medical alert service in North America. Customers all throughout the country rely on Philips Lifeline to help them whenever they need it.

Since its inception in 1972, Philips Lifeline has assisted elderly people in remaining independent. Since then, the firm has continued to update its product range and extend its services in order to serve a larger consumer base of older people and carers.

Pros

Cons

#10. Lively Mobile Plus

AARP occasionally gives discounts on specific medical supplies to its members. If you are an AARP member, you should look for a home medical alert system that is included in your membership benefits. Lively is our top recommendation for an AARP discount.

Lively provides a variety of innovative services and technology to assist older people in feeling comfortable while living independently. Lively, formerly GreatCall, has been in operation since 2006.

Pros

Cons

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