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October 7, 2021
I have worked with seniors as a social worker for over 20 years, so I know how important medical alert systems can be. Many older adults who live alone spend less time with friends and family as they age, making medical alert systems such as Alert1 more essential than ever.
Alert1 has been in business since 1988, with nationwide service and support for up to 190 languages. In this review, I’ll take a closer look at its systems and put some of its features to the test.
FYI: Be sure to check out our guide to this year’s best medical alert system.
After a few weeks with my Alert1 system, here are my main takeaways:
Alert1 currently offers three different medical alert systems: a traditional in-home medical alert, a mobile unit, and a bundled combination of the two systems:
FYI: Both Alert1’s mobile and in-home systems have the option of fall detection for an additional $10 per month.
| Two-way talk | Yes |
| Connectivity | Cellular or landline |
| Average response time | 20 seconds |
| In-home range | 400 to 600 feet |
| Fall detection | $10 per month |
| Caregiver portal | Not available |
Upon receiving my Alert1 bundled system with fall detection, I opened the box and found the following:
Backup batteries: Alert1’s in-home systems have a backup battery that lasts up to 24 hours, meaning your system will still function as intended during a power outage.
Setting up my Alert1 systems was a breeze. For the in-home system, all I had to do was plug the base unit into a wall outlet, wait a minute to establish a cellular connection, and then press the help button to perform a test. My fall-detection pendant was already paired with the system.
Installing my mobile unit was similarly easy. I placed the mobile pendant in the charging cradle, plugged the cradle into the wall, and waited until the mobile unit glowed blue. To test the system, I simply pressed the unit’s help button and waited for an operator to confirm the unit was working as intended.
Another important aspect of setting up your system is creating a list of custom contacts. When I purchased my system over the phone, I gave the Alert1 representative a list of nearby loved ones. This way, if I had a non-life-threatening emergency, the response agents could contact my neighbor instead of jumping to emergency services.
To start testing my in-home system, I walked around my home and made emergency calls with my wrist help button. In every part of my home — including my backyard and front porch — my help button was able to communicate with my base unit. Additionally, with the base unit’s loud speakerphone, I was able to communicate with response agents when they answered my calls.
Alert1 also bills its help buttons as showerproof. Even after being submerged in water, my help buttons — including my fall-detection pendant — still functioned perfectly. I was also impressed by the accuracy of the unit’s fall detection. It accurately detected my fall to the ground and triggered response calls. In my experience, there were no false alarms.
I was equally impressed by the On-the-Go system’s performance. No matter where I went — the library, the park, and even the shower — my mobile unit was able to make calls and accurately detect my falls. I was also impressed by how accurately response agents were able to track my location. A GPS function like this is essential for mobile units, since a user may not be able to relay their location during an emergency.
What I loved most about the mobile unit was its all-in-one design. Most mobile medical alert systems require an additional button for fall detection, but Alert1’s is built right into the mobile unit along with the help button and speakerphone. I was also impressed by the battery life, which lasted between two and three days on a single charge.
Overall, I was impressed by the performance of both Alert1 systems. Fall detection worked accurately, the devices stood up to drops and water damage, and monitoring agents responded to each of my calls promptly. On average, it took about 20 seconds for my calls to be answered.
Like most medical alert companies, Alert1 does not let you purchase its equipment. Rather, the company leases it to you, which means you pay a monthly fee for both the equipment and monitoring service. For example, my In-the-Home + On-the-Go + Fall Detection system cost $49.95 per month. This price, however, required me to sign up for a 10-month contract. If I wanted to start on a monthly basis, then this service would have cost $58.95 per month.
The in-home landline system costs $19.95 per month, and the in-home cellular and mobile systems each cost $29.95 per month. Fall detection can be added to all these systems for $10 per month, which is the standard price for most medical alert companies.
For more information on Alert1’s costs and systems, check out my Alert1 pricing page.
Alert1 aims to create quality medical alert systems at affordable price points, and in my opinion, they’ve done just that. With Alert1, you won’t find many cutting-edge features such as smartphone apps or caregiver features, but you will find a quality medical alert system that will be there for you when you need it most.
Alert1 offers a home package, a fall-detection package, an on-the-go package, an on-the-go package with fall detection, and a combination home and on-the-go package with fall detection.
Depending on which package and contract length you choose, Alert1 costs anywhere from $16.95 to $61.95 a month — or more if you add the extended warranty or smoke detector monitoring.
You don’t have to sign a long-term contract with Alert1. It also offers quarterly and monthly options for more flexibility.
You can reach Alert1’s customer support either over the phone or on Facebook, but I recommend checking out its online help center first.
Yes, Alert1’s devices are waterproof with IP ratings of 67, which means they are completely dust-tight and can be immersed in water up to one meter.
I’d give them one more try to fix this for you. Let them know you’re going to discuss with BBB if they don’t fix your issue. Many medical alert companies scan our website to see what consumers are saying about them. This is the reason we advocate that consumers understand the Terms & Conditions before signing anything. Get your info in writing (like rebates, how to cancel, etc.) Some companies out there do offer prorated rebates, but many do not.
Sounds like a terrible experience Derrick. Thanks for sharing with our community. – A
So sorry to hear about your mother Steve. Thank you for sharing your feedback with other families who may be looking at this (and similar) devices for their loved ones.
Thank you for the warning Luke and for sharing your feedback with us and other families who are considering a medical alert system for a loved one.