Best Medical Alert Systems for Seniors With Epilepsy
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April 16, 2024
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According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1 million adults ages 55 and older have epilepsy. For their caregivers, it’s a serious cause for concern. If no one is around, people need quick access to help in the event of a seizure.
That’s where a reliable medical alert system comes in. A medical alert system makes it easier for people to get help if they need it. At the press of a button, both caregivers and urgent-response agents can be notified of an emergency.
In this guide to the best medical alert systems for people with epilepsy, we’ll highlight five devices that impressed us with their simplicity, reliability, and monitoring features for caregivers.
Pro Tip: To find medical alert systems from $20 per month, read our full rundown of this year’s best medical alert systems.
List of the Top Medical Alert Systems for Seniors with Epilepsy
- Aloe Care Health : Best Caregiver Features
- Medical Guardian : Quickest Response Times
- Bay Alarm Medical : Best Mobile Option
- Lively Mobile2 : Budget-Friendly
- UnaliWear Kanega Watch : Best With Fall Detection
Our Methodology
| Companies evaluated | 24 |
| Hours of research | 190+ |
| Hours of product testing | 500+ |
| Ranking criteria | 5 |
| Finalists chosen | 3 |
When choosing the best medical alert bracelets for people with epilepsy, we looked for the below criteria.
- Accurate fall detection: Usually offered as a paid add-on, medical alert fall detection is a vital feature that automatically contacts a monitoring sensor in the event of a fall. I tested each system to make sure fall detection worked promptly and accurately.
- Activity monitoring: Medical alert devices are no substitute for an actual caregiver, so I looked for systems that offer apps that allow loved ones to keep track of users’ systems.
- GPS capabilities: It’s important that response agents can track a mobile medical alert system’s location and send help to the proper place. I looked for GPS medical alerts that report location with precision.
- Long battery life: Since a medical alert bracelet should be worn at all times, I looked for devices with the longest battery life. I also looked for in-home systems with backup batteries, ensuring protection even in the event of a power outage.
- Quick response times: Since a medical alert system is a tool connecting you with response agents, I looked for systems that did so in under 30 seconds on average.
FYI: Life Alert is far from the best medical alert device. Read my guide to Life Alert alternatives for more information.
Best Medical Alert Systems for Seniors with Epilepsy
1. Aloe Care Health - Best Caregiver Features
What We Like Most:
- Monitoring through the Aloe Care Health app
- Monthly contracts
- Three-year battery life
- Motion, air quality, and temperature sensors
Overview
One of the scariest aspects of epilepsy in older adults is that you may not know when they’re having a seizure. According to the CDC, seizures in older adults can present as them seeming confused or staring into space, which is why it’s important that you can monitor them even if you’re not around. Fortunately, Aloe Care Health’s in-home Essentials system let me do that from its mobile application.
Standout Features
Aloe Care Health has three offerings: an Essentials package with a hub and wearable pendant; the Mobile Companion 2, a portable pendant that includes fall detection; and the Essentials Plus, a combination of the two. For people with epilepsy, I’m highlighting the Essentials package, which offers protection from inside the home only.
As a caregiver and tech expert, I’ve tested a lot of mobile apps from medical alert systems. The Aloe Care Health app is one of my favorites. Not only does it let me see the location and system status of the wearable pendant, but I could also program medication reminders, add a health card with allergies and pre-existing conditions, and add caregivers.
Because the smart hub has built-in sensors for motion, air quality, and temperature, I could tell if the senior I care for had moved that day or not. Some of the key features of a seizure in an older adult are wandering and unusual movements, making the Essentials kit ideal for making sure a senior is safe at home even if you can’t be there with them.
Another cool feature of the system is that your loved one will be able to contact emergency services using voice commands. Most systems require them to push an urgent-response button. That’s essential, because it may not be possible to move after a particularly bad seizure.
Pricing
The Essentials Package costs $199 up front and $39.99 monthly. There are no plans to choose from, and all contracts are monthly. The monthly prices are fairly typical, although the up-front cost is a bit high (the highest on this list, certainly.) Strangely, there is no warranty for the Essentials kit, even though most medical alert systems come with at least a one-year warranty. You can learn more about Aloe Care Health’s pricing here.
Drawbacks
The Essentials Kit does not include fall detection, so the device cannot detect the user’s fall automatically if they’re unable to use a voice command or press the urgent-response button, unlike with Aloe’s Mobile Companion 2. The Essentials package also isn’t portable; I had to be 200 feet from the hub for my pendant to work. For protection in and out of the home, you can buy the Essentials Plus package, but note that it’s a lot more money: $349.99 up front and $59.99 per month.
Our Verdict
Aloe’s prices are a bit higher than average, but there is no other medical alert system with as much detailed caregiver tracking, making the system ideal for people caring for loved ones with epilepsy.
To learn more about my experience with this system, read my full Aloe Care Health review.
Did You Know: Did you know that CVS has its own medical alert system? Read my CVS Health Symphony review to find out how it performs.
Pros
- Voice-activated calls
- Activity, temperature, and air-quality monitoring
- No long-term contracts
- Detailed app for caregivers
Cons
- Essentials package lacks fall detection
- Essentials package only works in the home
2. Medical Guardian - Quickest Response Times
What We Like Most:
- Eight-second response time
- Battery life of up to three days
- Step and activity tracking
- Monthly contracts available
Overview
Medical Guardian offers an impressive range of mobile alerts for both in and out of the home. What’s more, the company’s monitoring agents answered my calls in an average of eight seconds, the quickest response time I’ve seen from a medical alert company.
Standout Features
For people with epilepsy, I’d recommend the MGMini Lite, a smartwatch with a battery life of up to three days. Unlike the Essentials package from Aloe Care Health, the MGMini Lite works anywhere, so it’s ideal for a more active senior. I tracked my device through the MyGuardian app, where I could see the location, battery history, system status, and connectivity history.
I could also see the person’s step and activity count, ideal for making sure your loved one is up and moving. When I pressed the urgent-response button on the MGMini Lite, I was pleased that I received a response in eight seconds, the fastest response time I’ve gotten so far.
>>Read more: MGMini Lite Review
Pricing
The MGMini Lite costs $149.95, about $50 less than Aloe Care Health’s Essentials package. Monthly prices run from $41.20 to $44.95 a month, and I had the option to sign up for one month, three months, or a year, but prices got lower the longer I signed up for. I could add fall detection for $10 extra per month, bringing prices to $51.20 to $54.95.
For more information on the company’s pricing, read my guide to Medical Guardian prices.
Drawbacks
I love the MyGuardian app’s capabilities, but the app itself doesn’t work too well on either iPhones or Androids. I could see a device’s location, but it updated only once per hour. It shows the time as Eastern time, even if the wearer is in Santa Monica, California. Other customers agreed with me, because the apps have a 1.5 out of 5 rating in the Apple App Store and a 2.6 in the Google Play store.
Our Verdict
Despite the disappointing app, the Medical Guardian MGMini Lite is a great way to keep a loved one with epilepsy safe, even if they can’t push the button themselves or are away from home. To learn more about the company, check out my Medical Guardian review.
Pros
- All-in-one mobile system
- Smartwatch option
- Fall detection available
- No long-term contracts required
Cons
- Additional $10 per month for fall detection
- Buggy mobile app
3. Bay Alarm Medical - Best Mobile Option
What We Like Most:
- Monthly costs start at $34.95
- Caregiver tracking
- Portable medical alert buttons
- Up to six days of battery life
Overview
Bay Alarm Medical offers a home system, a mobile pendant, a smartwatch, and a discounted package that includes everything. With no long-term contracts and affordable equipment, you can’t go wrong with any of the company’s medical alert systems, which have optional fall detection for people with epilepsy.
Standout Features
I’ve tested other mobile systems from Bay Alarm Medical, like the SOS Smartwatch, but I’m going to highlight the SOS Mobile, which is a pendant that can be worn either on a neck lanyard or a belt clip. For more subtlety, you can even carry it in your bag, as I did.
The pendant works with both AT&T and Verizon networks, so I used it in and outside my home. Because it is water-resistant, with an IP67 rating, I even wore it in the shower. Even better, after I charged it for a few hours, it could last up to six days without requiring another charge — twice the battery life of the MGMini Lite.
The Bay Alarm Medical app allows caregivers to track a device’s location and battery level, along with the wearer’s step count. I recommend adding fall detection, which could be a lifesaver for someone having a seizure.
Pricing
Starting at $24.95 per month, Bay Alarm Medical costs less than most medical alert companies, including Aloe Care Health and Medical Guardian. That’s why Bay Alarm Medical is one of my favorite cheap medical alert systems. Fall detection costs an extra $10 per month, but the company requires no long-term contracts and even offers a 30-day risk-free trial on its systems. There are also no activation fees, unlike with the Kanega Watch and Lively Mobile2.
Drawbacks
Like the MyGuardian app, the Bay Alarm Medical app has room for improvement. The iOS app has a decent three-star rating, but the Android app has only two stars — and I understood why: The location tracking wasn’t always accurate or current. If you want a smoother app experience, we recommend Aloe Care Health’s systems.
Our Verdict
Despite the disappointing Android app, I recommend Bay Alarm’s SOS Mobile to an active senior with epilepsy. It’s worth adding fall detection as well. To learn more about the company and its systems, read my full Bay Alarm Medical review.
Pros
- Monthly contracts
- Portable system
- Home and mobile bundles available
- Long battery life
Cons
- Poor Android app
- Additional $10 per month for fall detection
4. Lively Mobile2 - Budget-Friendly
What We Like Most:
- $79.99 device
- Monthly prices start at $24.99
- Caregiver tracking through the Lively Link app
- Monthly contracts
Overview
The Lively Mobile2 is a medical alert pendant that will leave your wallet fuller than any other system on this list. It also has a highly useful app for caregivers.
Standout Features
Similar to the SOS Mobile in design, the Lively Mobile2 is Lively’s only medical alert system, although I’ve also tested the company’s Jitterbug phones. I could take the pendant anywhere I wanted, since it uses GPS from cellular networks. Even if I was miles away from home, I still could connect to the emergency monitoring center in as little as 13 seconds, the second-fastest on this list after Medical Guardian. That’s one advantage over the Aloe Care Health Essentials package, since it allows for more mobility outside the house.
Like the SOS Mobile and MGMini Lite, the Lively Mobile2 has an IP rating of 67, which means it’s completely impervious to solids and can withstand immersion in water up to 1 meter. That allowed me to wear it in the shower. Similar to Bay Alarm and Medical Guardian, I could add fall detection for $10 per month.
Pricing
The Lively Mobile2 costs $79.99 up front and $24.99 to $34.99 a month. That’s a pretty low price, since other systems can go as high as $60 to $70 per month. Lively charges a $35 activation fee, but I saved $10 by activating my device online instead of over the phone. All contracts are monthly, and the company offers a 30-day return policy as well as a one-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Drawbacks
The Lively Mobile2 has a standby time of only 40 hours, a fraction of the battery lives of the MGMini Lite and SOS Mobile. I also wish there was no activation fee, like with Bay Alarm Medical. The LivelyMobile 2 was still cheaper than the SOS Mobile, though, even with the activation fee.
Our Verdict
If budget is top of mind but you don’t want to sacrifice quality in a medical alert pendant, the Lively Mobile2 is an affordable option.
To learn more about the system, read my full Lively Mobile2 review.
Pros
- 13-second response time
- Monthly costs start at $24.99
- Monthly contracts
- Caregiver tracking in the Lively Link app
Cons
- Activation fees
- 40-hour standby time
5. UnaliWear Kanega Watch - Best With Fall Detection
What We Like Most:
- Fall detection included
- Waterproof design
- Wi-Fi and cellular compatibility
- Four rechargeable batteries
Overview
The Kanega Watch is the only product available from UnaliWear, but since it’s the only medical alert smartwatch I’ve tested with built-in fall detection included in the price, I am more than OK with the lack of options.
Standout Features
I didn’t have to pay anything extra for fall detection with the Kanega Watch. Unlike other smartwatches or medical alert pendants that come with only one battery, my Kanega Watch came with four rechargeable batteries and two chargers, ensuring that I could swap it within seconds and keep it on at all times. Combining that with the watch’s waterproof design meant I could go anywhere, anytime with my Kanega Watch safely fastened and fully charged.
Another unique feature is that the watch connected to my Wi-Fi when I was at home and cellular networks when I was out and about. The advantage of Wi-Fi is that it has more accurate location data than cellular networks. A difference of even a few hundred yards could be life or death in the event of a fall, making this watch super safe for someone with epilepsy who lives alone.
Pricing
I didn’t pay anything for the Kanega Watch, but I did pay a $199 activation fee — the highest activation fee I’ve ever paid. (It would have been $299 if I had signed up for a monthly rather than an annual contract.) Subscription fees are also high, at either $60 or $70 a month. That includes fall detection, though, which typically raises prices by $10 a month. On the bright side, AARP members and military veterans get one month free.
Drawbacks
The Kanega Watch is not a budget-friendly option, since it costs hundreds of dollars just to get started. Another drawback is the watch’s lack of an app. Every other medical alert system on this list allows for caregiver tracking in a mobile application, but UnaliWear does not have an app, which makes it harder for caregivers to monitor their loved ones remotely.
Our Verdict
It may be pricey, but the Kanega Watch is the only device that includes fall detection, is completely waterproof, and can be worn 24/7, since it comes with four rechargeable batteries.
Pros
- Four rechargeable batteries
- Waterproof design
- Fall detection included
- Wi-Fi and cellular network access
Cons
- No mobile app
- High activation fees and monthly costs
What to Look for in a Medical Alert System for a User With Epilepsy
During or after seizures, people with epilepsy may not be able to call for help or even push an urgent-response button. When you’re looking for a medical alert system for a person with epilepsy, you should keep the below factors in mind.
- Fall detection: Usually available as an add-on for about $10 per month, fall detection makes it so a person doesn’t have to press a button or give a voice command to get help. The device itself detects the fall and contacts the emergency monitoring center, which can send help without any user input.
- Long battery life: The devices should last for a few days and not require frequent charges.
- Water-resistance: They should have IP ratings of at least 67, which means they’re water-resistant. The best devices, such as the Kanega Watch, are waterproof, with IP ratings of 68. That means they can be totally immersed in water while retaining normal functionality.
- GPS: Most mobile medical alert devices use cellular signals, which allows for location data. You can track the user’s location via mobile apps, and the monitoring center uses the data as well.
- Caregiver tracking: The caregiver tracking happens on either a web portal or a mobile app — or, often, with both. It allows caregivers to see the device’s location, battery level, system status, and, in some cases, activity data.
- Step and activity tracking: Not all devices allow for it, but I prefer devices that track a user’s steps and activity, which lets caregivers know if they’re mobile or not.
Caring for a Loved One With Epilepsy
A 2020 study published in Epilepsia, a leading scientific research journal on epilepsy and seizures, found that people with epilepsy have an average of 11.4 seizures per month, often requiring caregivers. According to the Epilepsy Society, caring for a loved one with epilepsy may include:
- Calling for medical help or keeping them safe during a seizure
- Staying with them after a seizure
- Recognizing seizure triggers
- Helping them take their anti-seizure medication at the correct intervals
- Accompanying them to doctor’s appointments, leisure activities, and other appointments
- Transporting them where they need to go
- Helping make their home a safer living environment
Caring for someone with epilepsy requires many skill sets. There’s the medical skill set that tells you what to do when someone is having a seizure, the emotional skill set that makes someone feel comfortable and safe in your presence, and the administrative skill set that makes sure you are managing the person’s medications and medical appointments properly. A caregiver may be a family member or friend, or it could be someone who has been hired to help.
But even unpaid caregiving has a cost. The Epilepsia study found that caregivers of adults with epilepsy spend an average of nearly $5,000 to about $8,500 on medical costs and another $14,000 to $28,500 on indirect costs — and that doesn’t take into account productivity losses. Unfortunately, caring for someone with epilepsy is an expensive undertaking, but one that’s essential for their safety.
Bottom Line
Caring for someone with epilepsy is hard, and it’s made harder if you don’t live near the person or your job doesn’t allow you to be with them as much as you’d like. That’s where medical alert systems can come in handy, whether it’s an in-home system, a mobile pendant, or a smartwatch. With caregiver tracking through mobile applications, the systems give you the peace of mind that your loved one can get the help they need even if you’re not around.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Should people with epilepsy wear medical alert bracelets?
Yes, people with epilepsy should wear medical alert bracelets with fall detection. That way, they can either press the urgent-response button when they need help or the fall detection can get help for them if they’re immobilized after a seizure.
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Can a medical alert automatically call for help in the event of a seizure?
Yes, a medical alert with fall detection can automatically call for help in the event of a seizure. Not all medical alerts have fall detection, though, so the wearer may need to push the urgent-response button to get help.
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Which medical alert features are helpful for epilepsy?
Some medical alert features that are helpful for epilepsy include fall detection, caregiver tracking, portability, water-resistant or waterproof design, and a long battery life.