We are compensated from some providers on The Senior List to keep our content free. Learn More
Join for Free
Amie Clark
Best Medical Alert Systems with Fall Detection in 2021
Fall detection is an important feature of any medical alert system. If a loved one can't press the button after a fall or during a medical emergency, automatic fall detection ensures that help is still on the way.
Fall detection is an important feature of any medical alert system. If a loved one can't press the button after a fall or during a medical emergency, automatic fall detection ensures that help is still on the way.
#1Medical Guardian
Their Fall Detection:
Medical Guardian’s fall alert pendant can be added on to a variety of their medical alert plans for an additional $10 per month.
Why We Recommend Medical Guardian
Stellar customer service
No long-term contracts or hidden fees
Fall detection on both in-home and on-the-go systems
Ever since LifeCall’s now-famous line — “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” — medical alert buttons have been associated with getting help after a fall. It’s common knowledge; falling is a serious risk for older adults. In fact, the CDC reports that every second, an older adult suffers a fall in the U.S.
This is why it’s important that a medical alert system includes automatic fall detection. It’s likely that when a person falls, he or she will be unlikely to press their help button. With automatic fall detection, a medical alert system can automatically sense when a user has fallen and immediately contact the monitoring center for assistance.
The 3 Best Medical Alert Systems with Fall Detection
Fall detection works in the same way as airbag deployment in a car. Through a combination of accelerometers, sensors, and algorithms, an equipped help button senses when the wearer falls down. This is also the same accelerometer technology that allows your smartphone to rotate the screen when you turn your handset, so it can adjust the picture accordingly.
Once the unit detects a fall, it sends an automatic signal to the call center. This is of paramount importance. Even if the wearer is unconscious, injured, or too confused to press the button, help is still contacted.
The Vital Moments Following a Fall
Getting help quickly after a fall is so important. Seniors who are unable to get help run the risk of complications further down the line due to being left unattended, possibly injured, and at risk of getting cold. Any physical injuries, or emotional distress, could potentially go untreated. All this makes it more likely that they’ll have to stay in the hospital longer and can impact recovery rates.
Fall detection means seniors can get help as soon as possible. Dispatchers send EMTs or nearby caregivers (depending on the individual response plan) as soon as the button sends a signal to the call center. Having help on hand so quickly gets the user out of a bad situation and ensures they get the treatment they need, with minimal delays.
Fall Detection and False Alarms
One concern we hear about fall detection is that the pendants can send out false alarms.
To be completely transparent, yes, this is a genuine issue. No fall detection system is perfect, and from time to time the sensors might mistake an ordinary movement — such as bending forward or getting into bed — as a fall and send out an alarm.
However, if this happens, the wearer can simply press the button on their base station to contact the call center and let them know there’s no problem.
On the flip side, most systems are set so that if they detect movement after a fall, they don’t send out an alarm. This is to prevent false signals; the system assumes that if you can move, you can press your alarm. Because of this, it’s always a good idea to press the help button after a fall, just to make extra sure help is coming.
It’s clear that fall detection systems aren’t perfect. That said, we firmly believe they are worth the investment, especially for seniors who are particularly at risk from falls, such as those with balance issues, unsteadiness on their feet, or a history of falls.
It’s far better to risk the occasional false alarm than be left without a way to get help in the event of a fall. Medical alert companies are well aware of the potential for false alarms, and so are prepared for them to happen.
Find out which medical alert system is best for you…
1)Who are you shopping for?
What To Look For In A Medical System With Fall Detection
The right medical alert system can play an important role in keeping your loved one safe. With fall detection implemented properly, a medical alert system can be a key part of a strategy to age in place.
Here are the things we recommend looking for:
Clear pricing: Make sure you know how much fall detection costs and how much you will pay every month. On average, companies charge about $10 per month for this extra service.
Extra devices: Some companies build fall detection into their help buttons, while other companies require a separate button specifically for fall detection. While neither of these solutions is necessarily better than the other, you’ll want to decide if you want the extra devices.
No long-term contracts: My readers know that I take a strong stand against long-term contracts, and we recommend checking out the terms and conditions of canceling before signing anything. The providers listed here don’t require you to lock intro lengthy agreements with added cancellation fees.
Comfortable help buttons: If seniors don’t feel comfortable with their medical alert, they’re far more likely to take it off, removing their source of immediate help, so you should look for devices that are both lightweight and unobtrusive.
Water resistance: The bathroom is a prime risk for slips and falls, so do check the button is safe for wearing when bathing or showering.
Medical Guardian offers several at-home and mobile options, and a smartwatch with an emergency button. The choice of options is impressive. No matter what your needs, there is sure to be a Medical Guardian option to suit them. Users can choose from Classic (in-home landline), Home (in-home cellular), or Family (in-home cellular with additional activity sensors that caregivers can monitor.) Those looking for a mobile option can choose from Mobile (a GPS system), Active (a combined GPS and WiFi system), or Freedom (a medical alert smartwatch).
What’s included: Classic and Home come with a base unit and a choice of wrist or button pendant. Family Guardian comes with a base unit, wrist or button pendant, and activity sensors. Mobile Guardian comes with the mobile device, charging cradle, and a choice of wristband or pendant, plus a leather carrying case with belt clip. Active is an all-in-one unit, so it simply comes with a charging cradle. Freedom Guardian is also an all-in-one unit.
Button type: Wristband or pendant
Water-resistant: Yes
Integrated pendant: Yes, for the Active option. All at-home options are worn as a separate unit, and fall detection is not available on mobile units.
Fall button range: Fall detection works up to 350 feet from the Active Guardian, 1,300 feet from Classic or Family base units, and 600 feet from the Home Guardian base unit.
Add-on features: Customers can purchase extra buttons, wall buttons, voice-activated wall buttons, a car charger for the Mobile device, and a lockbox to store keys in the event an EMT has to access their home.
Battery: Classic and Family Guardians have a 32-hour backup battery, and Home has a 30-hour battery. The Mobile option lasts up to 24 hours per charge, and Active can last up to five days.
Cost: Classic starts at $29.95 monthly, Home starts at $34.95 monthly, and Family starts at $79.95 monthly. For on-the-go options, Mobile starts at $39.95 monthly, and Active starts at $49.95 monthly.
Cost to add fall detection: $10 monthly
Contracts: Month-to-month
Equipment / set up fee: None
Medical Guardian System
Medical Guardian Equipment
Classic Guardian
Pros
No Long-Term Contracts
Variety of Medical Alert Systems for Any Budget or Lifestyle
Excellent Range (1,300 ft) for Classic In-Home System
LifeFone has a long history of providing quality medical alerts backed by top-notch customer service. As well as offering a wide range of options for any lifestyle, LifeFone’s at-home landline option travels with you wherever you. Simply take it with you and plug it into the landline at your new address, whether you’re on vacation, visiting family, or moving home. Users can choose from the in-home landline or cellular options, the on-the-go mobile device with a wristband or pendant, or a voice-in mobile device that has everything in one pendant.
What’s included: Both in-home options come with a base station and a wrist button or pendant. On-the-go GPS comes with a mobile device for outside, a charging cradle, a base station for at home, and a wrist button or pendant. Voice-in mobile comes with an all-in-one unit and a charging cradle. Your spouse or partner is also covered, although this coverage doesn’t include fall detection, which must be purchased separately for the second person.
Button type: Wristband or pendant
Water-resistant: Yes
Integrated pendant: The voice-in mobile option is integrated, but the on-the-go mobile option and both at-home options come with a separate fall detection pendant.
Fall button range: At-home options can connect with fall detection up to 600 feet, and this range is 350 feet for on-the-go. The voice-in pendant is integrated, so the range is limited only by cell phone service in the area.
Add-on features: In-home landline customers can subscribe to a daily activity check for $6 monthly. All customers can choose to opt-in for a daily check-in call for extra peace of mind, for $19 monthly. LifeFone also offers daily medication reminders for $6 monthly. Customers who have in-home or on-the-go GPS systems can sign up for a location service for $9 monthly, to help carers keep track of them. LifeFone also offers a range of accessories: Wall-mounted or hanging lockboxes, a wall-mounted help button, additional pendants, a lanyard, and a protection plan in case the device is damaged or stolen.
Battery: Both in-home systems have a 32-hour battery life. On-the-go GPS has 30 hours (very impressive compared to other systems), while the voice-in pendant lasts 36 hours.
Cost: In-home landline starts at $24.95 monthly, and cellular starts at $30.95 monthly. On-the-go starts at $36.95 monthly, and voice-in starts at $42.95 monthly.
Cost to add fall detection: $5 monthly – the most affordable we’ve seen
Bay Alarm Medical is one of our favorite medical alert companies, and their fall detection performed exceptionally well in our tests—the only fall detection pendant to not trigger a false alarm from crouching or dropping.
Button type: Wristband or pendant
Water-resistant: Yes
Integrated pendant: Bay Alarm medical requires an additional button to enable fall detection functionality.
Cost: In-home landline starts at $19.95 monthly, and cellular starts at $24.95 monthly. On-the-go starts at $24.95 monthly, and voice-in starts at $42.95 monthly.
Cost to add fall detection: $10 monthly
Contracts: Month-to-month
Equipment/set up fee: None
Pros
No Equipment Fees
Lowest Monthly Cost
In Business Since 1946
No Long-Term Contracts
30-Day Risk Free Trial
Excellent Customer Service
In-Home and Cellular Mobile Options
Innovative In-Car Medical Alert Device
Geofencing Functionality
Cons
Longer Shipping Times to East Coast
Join for Free
Members get updates like best products for seniors and senior discounts delivered right to their inbox for free.
