Best Medical Alert Systems for Blind & Vision Impaired Seniors in 2021

1

Active Guardian: Best Location Tracking

Overall Rating:

4.8 / 5

Medical Guardian’s Active Guardian is a particularly good choice for the visually impaired. This lightweight device works on both GPS and Wi-Fi networks, offering a full range of protection at home and on the go.

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855-958-3692

What We Like ↓

2

Best Vision Impairment Features

Overall Rating:

3.8 / 5

It’s clear that QMedic was designed with blind users in mind. Everything about their systems is built around ease of use. QMedic also offers impressive tracking functions, giving caregivers additional peace of mind when they can’t be around.

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844-983-3034

What We Like ↓

3

Best Voice Commands

Overall Rating:

4.4 / 5

Aloe Care Health’s in-home systems feature voice commands that allow you to both make emergency calls and contact loved ones. What’s more, the base unit features motion sensors so that caregivers can track a user’s activity.

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877-959-3288

What We Like ↓

The Best Medical Alert Systems For Blind and Vision Impaired Seniors

Medical Guardian : Active Guardian: Best Location Tracking
QMedic : Best Vision Impairment Features
Aloe Care Health : Best Voice Commands

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 12 million people over the age of 40 have a severe visual impairment, including 1 million people who live with total blindness. Seniors who are blind or visually impaired face unique challenges in their daily lives, and these extend to their needs when it comes to medical alert systems.

An older adult who’s visually impaired might struggle to find their alert button or to press it, even while wearing it. The same is true of the base station since locating it could prove challenging, as well as finding the proper button to press.

There’s no doubt that a medical alert system is an excellent idea for seniors who are visually impaired, especially those who live alone. In the event that there is a fall or the user is injured or becomes ill, being able to get help quickly is a must.

Having a medical alert system gives caregivers additional peace of mind, as well. They know that their loved one can get help easily if something happens. Here’s what to look for when it comes to medical alert systems for the visually impaired.

How We Chose the Best Affordable Medical Alert Systems for Blind and Visually-Impaired People

Companies Evaluated	24
Hours of Research	70+
Hours of Product Testing	500+
Ranking Criteria	5
Finalists Chosen	3

While there are dozens of medical alert systems available for all types of uses, those who are visually impaired have particular needs. When considering which medical alert system is best for blind people, we looked for a few key criteria:

Durable equipment: I looked for companies that provided reliable equipment that would perform in moments of crisis. All of the providers on this list feature water-resistant devices that can also withstand falls.
Activity monitoring: Through motion sensors and accelerometers, medical alert systems can notify loved ones in the event of extended periods of inactivity. For loved ones who can’t always be around, this feature is especially useful.
Location tracking: For more active users who wish to take their system on the go, it’s important that a system have built-in GPS. This way, in the event of an emergency, their system can report a location to first responders.
Fall detection: A must-have for any medical alert system, fall detection can automatically sense when a user has fallen and contact response agents without the user having to press a button.
Responsive customer service: Medical alert systems, in essence, are a direct line of communication to trained response agents. Since every company has its own specific call centers, we make sure to test their professionalism and compassion.

1. Medical Guardian - Active Guardian: Best Location Tracking

4.8 / 5

See Pricing

Call for best price:
855-958-3692

What We Like Most:

No long-term contracts
No setup fees
Activity tracking
GPS location technology

Overview

Medical Guardian is another popular medical alert company with a range of in-home and cellular systems. The Active Guardian is a particularly good choice for visually impaired seniors. This lightweight device works on both GPS and Wi-Fi networks, offering a full range of protection at home and away.

The Active Guardian is an all-in-one mobile system that features GPS tracking and optional fall detection, for an additional $10 per month. This medical alert system is also safe to wear in both the shower and bath, something not common for all-in-one units. The battery also lasts for up to six days on a single charge, making it one of the longest-lasting mobile units I’ve tried. Medical Guardian even throws in a lockbox and protection plan, which will replace a lost or stolen device for free.

The one downside to Active Guardian is the cost. Starting at $44.95 per month (not to mention an extra monthly $10 for fall detection), this system is definitely on the more pricey end for medical alerts. With that said, I think the price of this system is justified. Active Guardian has everything you could want to keep your loved one safe both in their home and outside.

To learn more about Medical Guardian, check out my Medical Guardian review.

Medical Guardian Active Guardian cellular medical alert system — Active Guardian

Medical Guardian Classic Guardian — Classic Guardian

Medical Guardian base station with alert buttons, mobile alert and medical alert smartwatch. — Medical Guardian System

Pros

Wide range of systems
All-in-one mobile unit
Stellar monitoring
Smartwatch option
Fall detection
Waterproof devices

Cons

More costly than some systems

2. QMedic - Best Vision Impairment Features

3.8 / 5

See Pricing

Call for best price:
844-983-3034

What We Like Most:

1,000 ft In-Home Range
Advanced Activity Alert Features
Two Year Battery Life
No Contracts or Cancellation Fees

Overview

QMedic was designed with blind or disabled seniors in mind, and it shows, with each of their systems being incredibly intuitive and easy to use. QMedic also offers impressive tracking functions, which give caregivers additional peace of mind.

QMedic offers a range of systems, which includes a traditional base station and wearable alert button units that work either on a landline or via a cellular connection. It also offers a mobile unit for use out of the house. Both in-home systems come with a base station and a button. The mobile system comes with a mobile unit and a charging cradle. In our experience, both types of systems offer buttons with both a tactile feel and textured surfaces. They’re also completely waterproof, so they can be worn in the bath or shower with no worries.

Rather than offering a huge amount of add-on features at different price tiers, QMedic includes the same powerful tracking features with every plan. Caregivers have access to a portal, where they can see 24/7 device usage monitoring and call history. Caregivers can be alerted when the device is not being worn. QMedic also monitors sleep and activity, and if something seems wrong, they initiate a wellness call to check in on the user.

The only downside of QMedic is that they don’t currently offer automatic fall detection with their systems; however, their impressive array of wellness tracking metrics make them a solid choice for anyone caring for a loved one who’s visually impaired.

To learn more about QMedic, check out my hands-on QMedic review.

Pros

Waterproof Help Buttons
Detailed Proactive Activity Alerts
Two Year Battery Life on Pendants
Straightforward Pricing
1,000 ft Radius for In-Home Systems

Cons

No Automatic Fall Detection
Limited Device Add-Ons

3. Aloe Care Health - Best Voice Commands

4.4 / 5

See Pricing

Call for best price:
877-959-3288

What We Like Most:

Helpful voice commands
Detailed caregiver smartphone app
No long-term contracts
Mobile unit with GPS

Overview

Aloe Care Health offers systems for both in-home and mobile use. In particular, I think their Total Care package is particularly useful for those who are visually impaired. This system includes a base unit, a help button, two motion sensors, a mobile unit with GPS, and a wall-mounted fall detection unit. For those who need protection in multiple rooms, this system has got you covered.

What’s more, Aloe Care Health’s systems feature an extensive list of voice commands. When testing my system, I could make emergency calls, contact loved ones directly, and even check the temperature all through the sound of my voice. This is a feature that would be particularly useful for those prone to misplacing small help buttons.

Another helpful feature –– available on Aloe Care’s systems –– is their smartphone app. When you connect your smartphone to an Aloe Care system, you can make check-in calls to the base unit, receive activity notifications, and even get notified when your loved one makes an emergency call. Unlike the apps of other systems, Aloe Care allows you to add as many caregivers to a system as you like, making it a great system for multiple caregivers.

To learn more about Aloe Care Health’s systems, check out my review of Aloe Care Health.

Pros

Sophisticated voice commands
Detailed caregiver tracking
Fall detection included
Nonemergency call features
Home temperature monitoring

Cons

Initial equipment costs

How We Chose the Best Medical Alert Systems for Visual Impairment

We take care to recommend companies who offer a reliable service, backed by strong customer support. For the medical alert companies on this list, we looked for the following:

Durable equipment: I looked for companies that provide reliable equipment that will perform in moments of crisis. All of the providers on this list offer warranties, in addition to customer support.
No long-term contracts: Most medical alert companies don’t require you to purchase their equipment; rather, the equipment is leased through your monthly service agreement. Because of this, I always recommend medical alert companies that don’t lock you into long-term contracts.
Responsive customer service: Medical alert systems, in essence, are a direct line of communication to trained response agents. Since every company has its own specific call centers, we make sure to test their professionalism and compassion.
Vision-specific features: Although there is not yet a medical alert system marketed specifically to those with vision impairment, some systems have features that are particularly useful to those with vision issues, features such as location tracking and caregiver dashboards.

Best Medical Alert Systems For Blind and Vision Impaired Seniors in 2021

The Best Medical Alert Systems For Blind and Vision Impaired Seniors

How We Chose the Best Affordable Medical Alert Systems for Blind and Visually-Impaired People

1. Medical Guardian - Active Guardian: Best Location Tracking

What We Like Most:

Overview

Pros

Cons

2. QMedic - Best Vision Impairment Features

What We Like Most:

Overview

Pros

Cons

3. Aloe Care Health - Best Voice Commands

What We Like Most:

Overview

Pros

Cons

How We Chose the Best Medical Alert Systems for Visual Impairment

Amie Clark