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March 9, 2023
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For older adults with active lifestyles, a reliable and good medical alert system is a great way to remain safe on the go. What’s more, many companies now offer mobile devices that can make emergency calls and track a user’s location.
After ample testing, I’ve come up with a list of my three favorite medical alert systems for in-home use.
| Companies Evaluated | 15 |
|---|---|
| Hours of Research | 80+ |
| Hours of Product Testing | 500+ |
| Ranking Criteria | 5 |
| Finalists Chosen | 3 |
When choosing the best GPS medical alerts, there were a few things we looked for to evaluate the many different systems. Here’s how we evaluated each company:
Due to their stellar monitoring and support, Bay Alarm Medical systems have long been some of my favorites. Much like their in-home device version, their mobile GPS-equipped system provides exceptional dependability.
Bay Alarm Medical offers two different mobile devices, both of which feature GPS capabilities. The GPS help button works much like a traditional mobile medical alert, while Bay Alarm’s SOS puts this functionality into a stylish smartwatch.
One thing that separates these devices from competitors is that both of them utilize a 4G cellular connection, allowing your device to connect to first responders more quickly and report your location more accurately. The 4G connection also has a wider coverage range, meaning your Bay Alarm system can help in a wider coverage range than 3G systems.
The GPS help button costs a $99 equipment fee and then costs $29.95 per month. With that said, fall detection costs an extra $10 per month. The smartwatch costs a one-time fee of $179, in addition to a monthly $29.95 monitoring charge.
Read my Bay Alarm Medical review to learn more about my experience with these products.
For over 10 years, Medical Guardian systems have been some of our favorites. Combining durability with ease of use, their medical alert devices are an ideal way to keep your loved ones safe.
Currently, Medical Guardian offers four different GPS-equipped medical alert systems: Mini Guardian, Mobile Guardian, Active Guardian, and their MGMove smartwatch. All of these devices feature cellular connections, water resistance, and an unlimited range of access to Medical Guardian’s U.S.-based monitoring center.
Active Guardian is, by far, our favorite. In our tests, this device lasted for nearly six days on a single charge, more than any other mobile medical alert. Additionally, when we brought this device outdoors and made test calls, its combination of Wi-Fi and GPS tracking provided highly accurate location results.
The Active Guardian starts at $44.95 per month, making it more costly than the other GPS systems on this list; however, with its combination of durability, long battery life, and stellar location tracking, Active Guardian is our top overall GPS medical alert.
To learn more, read my hands-on Active Guardian review.
Pro Tip: In addition to GPS systems, Medical Guardian also offers some stellar in-home medical alert systems. Read my Medical Guardian analysis for more information about these devices.
Widely known for their popular cell phones, Lively also offers medical alert systems. With their rapid response speeds and their comprehensive health and safety packages, either of Lively’s devices is a great way to remain protected on the go.
Currently, Lively offers two GPS-enabled medical alerts: the Lively Mobile Plus and the Lively Wearable2. The Lively Mobile Plus is similar to other mobile medical alerts, combining two-way talk, fall detection, and location tracking all in one waterproof device. The Lively Wearable2 accomplishes all of these features but in the discreet profile of a smartwatch.
What really separates Lively, however, is their in-depth monitoring offerings. Not only do their U.S.-based monitoring agents pick up calls faster than most centers, but this company also allows users to contact medical professionals 24/7. The only downside of Lively is Mobile Plus’ battery life. In my tests, it only lasted 24 hours before needing a recharge; however, this shouldn’t be an issue for those who can remember to charge it every night.
The Lively Mobile Plus starts at $19.99 per month; however, additional features like the nurse hotline and fall detection will cost extra, bringing your monthly total up to $39.99. Still, for a quality GPS-enabled medical alert, this price is still on the lower end of things.
Read my Lively Mobile review to learn more about this company.
While most people know ADT’s home security systems, few are familiar with their line of tough and reliable medical alert devices. ADT medical alert systems are among my favorites, due to their U.S.-based monitoring and equipment that can stand up to just about anything.
Of ADT’s three medical alert systems, only one of them offers GPS: ADT’s On-the-Go. This system was one of the most durable I encountered. Through my extensive tests, it stood up to falls, drops and submersion in water. What’s more, it even came with an additional help button, which could be worn as either a wristband or a pendant.
In terms of features, ADT’s On-the-Go doesn’t offer much in the way of sophisticated features; however, if you’re looking for a reliable medical alert system that can stand up to occasional blows, then look no further.
ADT On-the-Go starts at $39.99 per month with no equipment fees. Fall detection (which requires an additional pendant) costs an extra $10 per month.
Read my ADT Medical Alert bracelet review to learn more.
A relative newcomer to the market, Aloe Care systems promise interactive caregiving through a combination of voice commands and caregiver access. What’s more, they offer a mobile device that provides these features in a portable package.
Aloe Care Health’s mobile companion can either be paired with one of their in-home systems or purchased by itself as a stand-alone system. Running on AT&T’s 4G network, this system can make calls to Aloe Care’s monitoring center from anywhere with an adequate signal. What’s more, using the companion smartphone app, loved ones can keep track of a user’s location and respond to any emergency calls.
In addition to the low monthly costs of this device, I appreciated that the Mobile Companion’s built-in fall detection did not require an extra fee to unlock; rather, this feature is included with your $24.99 monthly subscription, a rare inclusion in the world of medical alert systems.
The only downside of this device would have to be the one-time device cost of $99; however, considering it costs less than half of some other systems on this list, these initial costs could pay for themselves over time.
To learn more about this company, read my hands-on review of Aloe Care Health.
Many seniors these days lead active, busy lives. After all, getting older doesn’t mean you give up all the things you like. However, it is an unfortunate truth that as we get older, we are more at risk of trips and falls, and our overall health can become a concern.
Pro Tip: There are many different types of medical alert systems. To learn about which one might work for you, check out my medical alert bracelet guide.
GPS medical alerts use the same GPS satellites that guide the GPS system in your car. They’re attuned to a global network of satellites, which means that when the button is pressed, they can locate it precisely. The call center can then send help to that exact location.
Seniors feel better knowing that if they fall or experience a medical emergency when out and about, help is on the way. It’s reassuring for caregivers, too, to know that if something happens to mom or dad, medical alert center staff can locate and get to them quickly.
We think GPS alerts are a fantastic choice for people who are still active. And with many companies now creating designs that are sleek, modern, and easy to wear, seniors can feel more comfortable than ever with their choice.
