Best Speakerphone Medical Alert Systems of 2024
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View Packages855-675-0754
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View Packages877-947-4512
Most home medical alert systems have a traditional base station and button setup. The user wears the button at all times, and if they fall or feel ill, they can press the button for help.
The speaker used to communicate with the medical monitoring center is in the base station itself. In most cases, it’s possible to communicate through this base station even if the wearer is in another room of the house.
Two-way speakers are a bit different. The wearer has a handheld unit with a speaker in it, through which they can communicate with the monitoring center. The unit can usually be worn on a lanyard or wristband, clipped to a belt, or carried in a purse.
The Best Speakerphone Medical Alert Systems
- Bay Alarm Medical : Waterproof Help Buttons
- Lively : Alexa Integrations
- Medical Guardian : Shortest Response Time
FYI: If you’re looking for my favorite devices overall, then you should check out my list of the best medical alert systems for seniors.
How We Chose Our Favorites
Companies evaluated | 25 |
Hours of research | 150+ |
Hours of product testing | 900+ |
Ranking criteria | 5 |
Finalists chosen | 3 |
Nowadays, most medical alert providers have some form of a speakerphone. Here is what I looked for when choosing my favorites:
- Size: Help buttons should be small and light enough that they’re comfortable to wear 24/7. Most help buttons can be worn as a necklace or bracelet, but some people prefer to place them in their pockets or bags.
- Long range: With home systems, you have to be within a certain distance of the hub or base station in order for your button to stay connected to the monitoring center. This distance ranges from 600 to 1,400 feet, but the size of your home determines your needs for range.
- Affordability: While some companies offer free equipment, you could spend anywhere from $100 to $150 or more on equipment. Then there’s an additional $30 to $50 each month for monitoring, with $10 extra per month for fall detection. Some companies charge activation fees, while others do not.
- Speakerphone volume: For people experiencing hearing loss, medical alert systems need speakers loud enough to hear on the other side of the house. All medical alert systems include speakerphones, but I prioritized the loudest ones for this article.
1. Bay Alarm Medical - Waterproof Help Buttons
855-675-0754
What We Like Most:
- Waterproof help button
- Free equipment
- 16-second response time
- Loud speakerphone
Overview
Bay Alarm Medical offers a cellular or landline home system, two mobile systems, and one package that combines home and mobile. However, no matter which product you choose, you’ll get a speaker you can hear loud and clear.
Standout Features
I bought the SOS Home, an in-home system that includes a base station and help button. It was functional so long as I was within 1,000 feet of the base station. Much to my delight, I could hear the speakerphone even when I was at that maximum distance. Moreover, when I did a fake fall, I got a response within 16 seconds. Compared to some other systems like Life Alert, which took 30 seconds to get back to me, this is pretty good. After all, every second counts in an emergency.
Along with my physical system, I got access to the free Bay Alarm Medical app, which let me see my help button’s battery level and location. That’s helpful if you need spouse monitoring or monitoring for another loved one. Plus, you won’t have to pay any more money each month to monitor more than one person. I was able to add an automatic fall detection button as well, which meant I didn’t need to push a button to get help.
Pricing
Bay Alarm Medical prices are pretty low, especially because the company doesn’t charge for the SOS Home itself. (I only paid $30 for the extra fall button.) Rather, prices start at $24.95 a month for the landline in-home system, $29.95 for the cellular in-home system, or $39.95 for the cellular in-home system with fall detection.
All contracts are monthly, there are no activation fees, and I got to try my system for 30 days. If I hadn’t liked it, I could’ve returned it and received a full refund. This is not the case for every company; for example, Medical Guardian lacks a trial period altogether.
Drawbacks
With other systems, I didn’t have to buy a separate $30 pendant for fall detection. Rather, with the Lively Mobile2 and the Medical Guardian MGHome Cellular, I just had to pay about $10 more per month and use my existing devices. So with Bay Alarm Medical, fall detection costs $30 extra, as I still had to pay that additional $10 each month.
Our Verdict
If you want a landline or cellular system and are okay with paying a bit extra for fall detection, the SOS Home will be the system for you. To learn more about Bay Alarm Medical, read my hands-on Bay Alarm Medical review.
Pros
- No long-term contracts
- Mobile GPS tracking
- Caregiver features
- Affordable systems
Cons
- No built-in fall detection
- Poorly-rated Android app
2. Lively - Alexa Integrations
855-403-6340
What We Like Most:
- Alexa voice commands
- 40-hour standby time
- 13-second response time
- Great caregiver tracking app
Overview
If you’re already in the Amazon ecosystem, you’ll love that Lively has a skill that connects you to emergency help through your Echo device. Lively also offers a traditional medical alert pendant, the Mobile2, for when you’re out of the home.
Standout Features
I’m a huge smart house guy, so when I found out there was a Lively Alexa skill, I was so excited to be able to contact my urgent response agents through my Echo speaker. All I had to say was “Alexa, call for help” on my existing speaker, which I could set to be as loud as I wanted, and I could get connected to the monitoring center.
But when I wasn’t at home, I used the Lively Mobile2, a mobile pendant with an equally loud speakerphone. When I pressed the urgent response button, I got a response within 13 seconds, even faster than the SOS Home.
For caregiver tracking, I used the Lively Link app, probably the most user-friendly and functional medical alert app I’ve ever tested. It lets me see the GPS location of the Mobile2 as well as changes in the user’s daily activity, the device’s system status, and its battery level. Caregivers can speak to each other through the app; their loved ones can get push notifications if the user has an emergency. This makes it easy for caregivers to stay on top of someone’s health and wellness, even if they can’t be physically present.
Pricing
Lively Mobile2 prices consist of $79.99 for the device itself and either $24.99 or $34.99 for monitoring. With that higher-tier, $34.99-a-month plan, I got 24/7 access to an on-call nurse who could answer any questions I had, plus a “care advocate” to help me meet my health goals. Like Bay Alarm Medical, all of Lively’s contracts are monthly. But unlike Bay Alarm, Lively charges an activation fee: $25 for an online activation or $35 over the phone. Lively has a 30-day return policy and a one-year manufacturing warranty.
Drawbacks
Alexa is only available if you have an Echo speaker or display, or a Fire tablet or cube, which range greatly in price. Here is the range you could pay for compatible devices. (Do note that these prices are subject to change and don’t apply to all generations.):
- Echo (4th Gen): $99.99
- Echo Dot (5th Gen): $49.99
- Echo Plus (2nd Gen): $98.34
- Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen): $89.99
- Echo Studio: $199.99
- Fire HD 10 Tablet: $139.99
- Fire TV Cube: $139.99
You may not want to pay around $50 to $200 for a separate device on top of what you’re already paying for the LivelyMobile2.
>>Read more: Alexa Together Review
Our Verdict
Whether or not you want Alexa, Lively offers a mobile system with a powerful speaker in the Mobile2. To learn more about my experience with this system, read my Lively Mobile2 review.
Pros
- Fully waterproof
- No contracts or cancellation fees
- Loud two-way speaker
- Alexa integration with Echo device
Cons
- One-time device fees
- Can only be worn as a pendant
3. Medical Guardian - Shortest Response Time
877-947-4512
What We Like Most:
- 8-second response times
- 1,400-foot range
- 32-hour battery backup
- Caregiver tracking
Overview
I’ve tested out all of Medical Guardian’s systems, three mobile and two in-home, to be exact. No matter which system I tested, response times were as little as eight seconds, the fastest I’ve ever seen.
Standout Features
For a loud speakerphone you can hear at the other side of the house, I recommend the MGHome Cellular, a cellular, in-home system with a long, 1,400-foot range. When I did a test fall, I got a response in less than 10 seconds.
The system consists of a hub and a pendant, which you can wear as a bracelet or a necklace. (I chose the necklace option.) While the hub connected to an outlet in my living room, if my power went off, it would have stayed on for an additional 32 hours due to its backup battery. This gave me great peace of mind.
I tracked my device through the MyMedicalGuardian app, which let me see its battery status, location, current system status, and connectivity history. If you are a caregiver, this app will give you the assurance that the device is on, connected, and charged.
Pricing
Medical Guardian prices, while still reasonable, are the highest on this list. First of all, I paid $149.95 for the MGHome Cellular equipment and then $37.95 per month for monitoring. Fall detection costs an extra $10 per month, although it doesn’t require a separate device like with Bay Alarm Medical.
Now, one key difference of note is that, unlike Lively and Bay Alarm Medical, Medical Guardian does not offer a trial period. Commitment-phobes, beware; once you’ve purchased this equipment, it’s yours. And if you return it, you’ll owe a $50 restocking fee.
Drawbacks
While Lively and Bay Alarm Medical’s help buttons are fully waterproof, Medical Guardian’s are only water-resistant. While it can repel water for a short time, it can’t be submerged for longer periods of time. When I was taking a bath, I had to have it nearby or pay $2.99 or $4.99 a month more for a wall-mounted help button.
Our Verdict
For the fastest response times, arguably the most important aspect of a medical alert system, choose the MGHome Cellular. To learn more about this company, read my full review of Medical Guardian.
Pros
- Fastest response times
- Optional fall detection
- 32-hour battery backup
- 1,400-foot range
Cons
- Water-resistant button
- Poorly-designed apps
Bottom Line
The best speakerphone medical alert systems can be heard from different floors of a home, especially if you have hearing loss. Hopefully, one of these medical alert systems meets your needs. If not, check out one of my list of the best voice-activated medical alert systems for more potentially life-saving options.