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Pro Tip: Not interested in bracelets? Then check out my pick for this year’s best medical alert system, featuring a narrowed-down list from 30 top brands.
| Companies evaluated | 25 |
|---|---|
| Hours of research | 100+ |
| Hours of product testing | 150+ |
| Ranking criteria | 4 |
| Finalists chosen | 6 |
Since nearly every medical alert company offers some form of a bracelet, we had our work cut out for us when it came to choosing the best. Here’s how we evaluated each company and its systems:
Cost: Starting at $24.95 per month
Bay Alarm Medical is well known in the medical alert community for its reliable equipment and friendly, helpful customer service. Bay Alarm Medical prices are also surprisingly affordable, with their landline system costing as low as $24.95 per month.
In terms of bracelets, Bay Alarm offers wristband help buttons for their in-home systems, along with a fall detection button for an additional $10. These bracelets are comfortable enough to wear at all hours, and they have an impressive 1,000-foot connectivity range, which is more than enough to cover even larger homes and even some portions of outdoor spaces.
What’s more, you can even purchase additional Bay Alarm help buttons in the form of a pendant for your spouse or partner for a one-time payment of $39. This is what makes Bay Alarm one of my favorite medical alerts for couples.
To learn more about this company and its systems, check out my full review of Bay Alarm Medical.
Cost: Starting at $29.99 per month
ADT doesn’t just sell security systems; they also sell medical alert systems. When it comes to their streamlined medical alert product offerings, I was quite impressed. Their On-The-Go Medical Alert system uses advanced GPS technology to track the user’s whereabouts. When selecting this system, I was happy to note the multiple pendant options available for users who prefer pendants or wristbands. I chose the black wristband, which was super comfortable and discreet when I put it on.
I liked that there was an option to upgrade to Automatic Fall Detection for $10 per month. This is a great feature for older adults that may be prone to falls or need extra protection. I liked that this option was available, along with other benefits such as a handy mobile base unit and free shipping and activation. Plus, instead of worrying about battery problems, I enjoyed the peace of mind of automatic free battery replacement courtesy of ADT, which is a plus in my book.
To learn more about ADT, read my hands-on ADT medical alert review.
Cost: Starting at $19.95 per month
MobileHelp offers both in and outside of the home medical alert devices for older adults that want to stay protected and safe. In terms of wearable bracelets, MobileHelp costs start at $19.95 per month, making them the most affordable option on this list.
I was impressed with their waterproof help button that can be worn as either a pendant or wristband bracelet. I liked that the design imitates a smartwatch and is both discreet and comfortable for everyday wear.
Additionally, I liked that the sleek design responsiveness of the help button could provide me with 24/7 protection while running errands or away from home. I also didn’t even realize I was wearing the wearable for the full day because it was so lightweight and breathable around my wrist. With accurate GPS tracking features and compatibility with the MobileHelp Fall button, this wearable bracelet is available in colors white or black and is great for everyday wear.
To learn more about MobileHelp, read my hands-on MobileHelp review.
Cost: Starting at $29.95 per month
Medical Guardian is a popular and reliable service with an impressive range of options for both in and out of the home. Medical Guardian systems also include a medical alert smartwatch — the MGMove smartwatch.
For Medical Guardian’s in-home systems, you have a choice of help button styles: either a pendant or a wristband. Additionally, you can purchase more help buttons for $2.99 per month. With that said, fall detection requires a pendant, one that will cost an extra $10 per month.
If you’re looking for a medical alert bracelet that can protect you outside of the home, then I’d recommend looking into Medical Guardian’s smartwatch, the MGMove. This device features GPS technology and a 4G cellular connection, allowing the wearer to contact help from just about anywhere. Medical Guardian costs are also pretty affordable.
To learn more about this company, read my full Medical Guardian review.
Cost: Starting at $24.99 per month, in addition to equipment costs.
Aloe Care Health is one of the newer providers of medical alert systems. It offers in-home systems with comfortable bracelets and a sophisticated array of voice commands. What’s more, Aloe Care Health pricing is reasonable, starting at only $24.99 per month for their Mobile Companion system.
Upon receiving my Aloe Care Essentials system, I was struck by just how comfortable their bracelet help button was. It was adjustable to any size of wrist, and its lightweight, silicon build made it easy to wear around the house. It was also waterproof, so I could take it with me into the shower, which is a frequent site of falls for aging adults.
While they offer a mobile system, I was most impressed by their aforementioned in-home system and its variety of voice commands. Simply by speaking, I could make emergency calls, contact caregivers, or even check the temperature of my home. And unlike most medical alert systems, which require an additional pendant for fall detection, Aloe Care Health uses a wall-mounted fall detection button that digitally maps your bathroom and detects when a person falls.
To learn more about Aloe Care Health, read my Aloe Care Health review.
Cost: Starting at $49.95 per month
While Life Alert systems cost a bit more than every other system on this list, the premium you pay gives you reliable bracelets and customer service that is always there to help.
After purchasing my Life Alert bracelet, I was connected with a “care counselor.” This person, despite living across the country from me, shared her personal phone number with me and walked me through any questions I had about installing and using the device. She even offered practical advice with regard to caring for a parent.
In terms of equipment, my Life Alert bracelet connected me to help quickly every time I pressed the button. The monitoring agents took the time to ensure that I was not experiencing an emergency and verified that my device worked properly.
To learn more about this Life Alert bracelet, check out our hands-on Life Alert review.
Medical alert bracelets (often called Life Alert bracelets) are wearable buttons that, when pressed, connect the user to a 24/7 Urgent Response call center. When a call center agent answers the call, they will arrange the proper help for the user, whether this means EMTs or a neighbor.
In this video, our Managing Editor, Ryan Molloy, walks you through how these devices work.
Engraved medical bracelets inform first responders and care staff if a wearer has a medical condition. Further, medical personnel may be permitted access to the wearer’s medical history for individuals who make their online health records available.
However, there are some things that engraved bracelets simply can’t do, such as:
Once an EMT is on the scene, the bracelet draws their attention to an older adult’s medical history. But even the best medical alert bracelets don’t give seniors a way to get help or talk to someone if they need it. One of the downsides is that if you were hypothetically unconscious or unable to talk, the engraved bracelets wouldn't be able to detect this or help you get emergency assistance.
That’s why we think medical alerts that can be worn as bracelets are a much better idea.
There are three types of medical alert systems that can be worn as bracelets:
Whether aging adults are active in their local community or spend most of their time at home, there’s a medical alert bracelet out there to suit them.
To learn more about my favorite medical alert systems, check out our other guides:
Yes, they will usually look for engraved medical bracelets or any other type of wearable for medical history information.
To get a medical alert bracelet, you can contact any medical alert provider and tell them you want a bracelet, as opposed to a pendant option.
Some of our favorite medical alert bracelets are made by ADT, Bay Alarm Medical, Medical Guardian, and MobileHelp.
Medical alert bracelets are a simple and affordable way to provide assistance in the event of an emergency, medical or otherwise. They can cost as little as $19.99 per month.
A medical alert bracelet is a help button worn around the wrist. When pressed, it will contact an Urgent Response center, wherein an agent will assess the user’s situation and coordinate the appropriate response.
