Years ago The Senior List wrote about the need for more medical alert devices to work outside the home. Traditional alert systems worked (mostly) over traditional phone lines. These systems tethered the user to the home or the yard (at best). Today, many folks are moving away from “land lines” and over to cellular networks for improved mobility inside and outside the home. Recognizing a need for increased mobility, progressive medical alert system providers like SecuraTrac, Verizon Wireless and GreatCall are offering truly mobile solutions that offer more than land line based systems.
The new must-have medical alert system features include GPS monitoring, hearty battery life, medication reminders, access to nursing staff, and more. The Senior List has been following the medical alert system market for a number of years now, and we like where this is going (finally)! Check out our product reviews of the currently available medical alert systems. We’ve previewed the traditional products as well as the newer cell based mobile systems. There’s room for everybody in this growing market, land-line based systems AND cellular based medical alert systems! Competition in this space is welcome, and it will continue to drive manufacturers to innovate and get better. This market will be a lot of fun to watch in the coming years…
Tell us which devices you’d recommend… Or which devices you’d stay away from. If there’s one you’d like us to review, let us know in the comments section below.
Best to all,
Tim
About TimOnTech
Hi there! Any products out there yet that offering cellular mobility that are waterproof AND have fall detection?
Thanks!
Hi Torrey- There are a few providers out there with fall detection, but the waterproof feature has been difficult for them. The only one we’re aware of that is cellular based AND boasts of being “waterproof” is not on the market yet. It’s the new myHalo fall detection pendant from MobileHelp. Click through to find a link to the myHalo spec sheet. Hope that helps-
If anyone else has advice or info please feel free to share!
Please review, rate and compare 5Star urgent response system by greatcall to others, such as MobileHelp.
Hi Mary Ann! We did a comprehensive review of the GreatCall 5Star device. And we also provided a review of the MobileHelp device (quite some time ago). We understand there have been some changes over at MobileHelp, so they are certainly worth a more recent look. I’ll ask our writers to dig in…
Do you have any experiences to add? We love to get feedback on boomer/senior related products from our readers. It really is valuable to hear what others have to say. It also provides a feedback mechanism for the manufacturers. Many of them are quite good, but always looking for ways to get better!
Completely agree that GPS based systems open a whole new door for folks who are still active, work or travel. We spend a lot of time educating folks on the difference between a mobile emergency response system and a cell phone. There are certainly overlaps, but the real difference is in the dedicated monitoring center that can convey WHO you are, special medical information, and contact your list in the event of an emergency. We have a full run down article on this on our site http://www.medicalcarealert.com/faq-a/253.htm#ques3