For older adults, a medical alert system is a sensible idea. In fact, we’d go as far as to say it’s a must. Getting help quickly is vital in the event of a fall or medical emergency. Even seniors who live with a spouse or relative have no guarantee that person will be around should something happen, or that they’ll be able to take swift action.
A medical alert button means that should seniors need help, someone is there for them. With one press of the button they’re in touch with the call center, who can dispatch an ambulance, or a family member or caregiver if needed.
Making Home Safer For Seniors
For seniors who spend most of their time at home, a medical alert system keeps them safe.
Seniors who are mostly at home frequently stay there due to medical issues, or sometimes because they’re recovering from a hospital stay. It only makes sense to make sure they have that extra backup should they need it.
Older adults are at a higher risk of falls than the rest of the population, and it’s so easy for falls to happen at home. The bathroom, kitchen and laundry room are particularly dangerous places for slips and falls. There are also risks associated with steps and rugs, or badly positioned furniture.
Having a medical alert means that even if a fall happens, help can be on the way in seconds.
Look For A Medical Alert You Can Rely On
Seniors who are mostly at home need a reliable medical alert they can trust. This gives caregivers extra peace of mind, too – they know that even when they’re not around, their loved ones are protected.
Getting help quickly in the event of a fall or other medical incident makes a big difference. A medical alert means that caregivers or EMTs are on the scene fast, and seniors are not stuck unable to get help. Getting up or getting to the hospital faster has a positive effect on recovery times.
Knowing help is available is very comforting, for seniors and caregivers alike. The reassurance it provides can even help seniors stay at home for longer.
What To Look For When Choosing An At Home Medical Alert
With so many medical alerts on the market, it can be hard to know which one to choose. Here are some must-haves that we think every home medical alert needs:
- Clear pricing. No one likes hidden surprises – it should be obvious how much the system costs, and what is included in the cost.
- Comfortable to wear. The only way to stay protected is to keep your button on at all times, so a comfortable one is a must.
- Choice of wrist button or pendant. Having a choice about how to wear the button means seniors are more likely to find a way that’s comfortable for them.
- Fall detection. For seniors who are at home, fall detection is an important add on, making sure that if they can’t press their button, help can still come.
- Water resistant. The bathroom is one place where seniors need extra protection in case a fall happens. The button should be water resistant to makes sure they don’t take it off for bathing.
- No long term contracts. We never recommend products that lock people into long term contracts.
- Backup battery. Seniors need to know that when their power goes out, their medical alert will keep working.
- A big enough range to cover seniors when they go to the porch, basement, laundry room or post box. Double check the range before purchase and make sure it suits the home it’s intended for.
Questions To Ask Before Buying A Home Medical Alert
Before buying a medical alert, we recommend asking:
- Do I have to pay an equipment or setup fee?
- Can I cancel my contract at any time?
- How easy is it to cancel?
- Will I be penalized for canceling early?
- How long is the battery life?
- What is my monthly cost?
- What happens if the system stops working?
- What is the typical response time for a call?
- How much do I have to pay to add fall detection?
How We Chose the Best At-Home Medical Alert Systems
We know our readers need a medical alert they and their loved ones can rely on. We only choose companies that offer:
- Reliable equipment that works as advertised
- No long term contract, ever
- Straightforward pricing with no hidden fees
- Top notch customer service.
- The option to wear as a pendant or a wrist button
Best Medical Alert Systems For Seniors At Home
Here are our top picks for seniors who need a medical alert at home.
#1. Medical Guardian
Medical Guardian has been around for over ten years now, and are a fast growing medical alert company. We’re always impressed with their range of offerings and the way they’re not afraid to grow and change to meet the needs of their customers. Let’s take a look at their in-home systems.
Landline or cellular: Their Classic system is a landline system, while Home is cellular based. They also offer a Family system – this is a home system with extra activity sensors that caregivers can monitor.
What’s included: A base unit, and a button. The Family package also comes with extra sensors that can be placed around the home.
Button type: Choose from wrist or pendant.
Water resistant: Yes
Add-on features: Customers can buy extra wall buttons to put around the house for added protection, including voice-activated wall buttons. Spare wearable buttons are also available, and a lockbox for keys so EMTs can enter the home without breaking in, if necessary.
Fall detection: $10 monthly
Range: 1300 ft from the base station
Battery: 32-hour backup battery for Classic or Family, and a 30-hour backup battery for Home.
Cost: Classic starts at $29.95 monthly, while Home starts at $34.95 monthly and Family starts at $79.95 monthly.
Long term contracts: No
Equipment / set up fee: No
What customers are saying:
“I don’t have balance and I can’t walk or step at any place without a walker. I now have Medical Guardian and it makes me feel safer to go anywhere. I wouldn’t go anywhere without it. I’m very comfortable with it and I sleep with it too.”
“M son decided that I need a medical alert device and he insisted on wanting to buy Medical Guardian. Since having my Medical Guardian device, I have peace of mind. I could take it anywhere I go. I’m very satisfied with Medical Guardian. It’s really a good product.”
“Everything went smoothly. I tested out the button one time and I got a response. It’s reassuring to know I have the button. It's a valuable asset for people who are living alone and have health problems.”
Pros: We like the option for caregivers to monitor activity, and were impressed by the range on this device, too.
Cons: Extra features are quite basic, and the cost of the Family option might be a bit much for some seniors.
The Verdict: Medical Guardian is a reliable at-home system that makes it easier for caregivers to monitor their loved ones if necessary, and offers protection in any part of the home. Read our Medical Guardian review here.
#2. MobileHelp
MobileHelp is popular with our readers, thanks to their reliable service, and friendly, helpful customer reps. Their in-home system is straightforward, easy to use, and well priced. Because their system works on the cellular network, you can pick it up and take it wherever you go when on vacation or visiting family or friends.
Landline or cellular: Cellular
What’s included: A base station and a button.
Button type: Wrist or pendant
Water resistant: Yes
Add-on features: Users can opt for daily medication reminders, while caregivers can access the MobileHelp Connect portal to check on the device status. Users can also purchase wall buttons so they can get help even when not wearing the device.
Fall detection: Yes, $10 monthly
Range: Up to 600 ft from the base station.
Battery: 30-hour backup battery
Cost: Starts at $19.95 monthly
Long term contracts: No
Equipment / set up fee: No
What customers are saying:
“Very important if you live alone to have MobileHelp. I got stuck in my chair following surgery. I pressed my alert bracelet and 15 minutes later three guys from Fire Rescue arrived and assisted me out. No fuss, no muss they entered my home via the lockbox.”
“Spoke with two representatives. Both were knowledgeable, professional and gave me the information needed to purchase a plan that is best for our family. Outstanding customer service! “
“Congratulations to all your team who went the extra mile to accommodate everything I needed to know and for going the extra mile. You can definitely expect many referrals from me in the future. An A+ goes out to all of you folks at MobileHelp.”
Pros: Easy to use and we like the straightforward, affordable pricing. We love that it goes wherever you go, too.
Cons: We’d like to see a few more extra features, but overall this is a great system.
The Verdict: A reliable, easy to use, no fuss system that’s ideal for seniors who spend a lot of time at home. Read our MobileHelp review here.
#3. GetSafe
GetSafe’s senior medical alert system doesn’t rely on a wearable button, but rather on a network of wall buttons and mini wireless consoles that can be placed around the home. For seniors who don’t want to wear a button, GetSafe is a fantastic option. Help can be summoned by pulling a cord, pressing a button, or by saying “call 911.”
Landline or cellular: Cellular (check)
What’s included: The basic package consists of a central console and a button. GetSafe reps can help you build the perfect size of an alert system to fit your home size, and there’s always the option to choose a wearable button as well as the wall buttons.
Button type: For those who choose a button, wrist or pendant.
Water resistant: Yes
Add-on features: Customers can purchase a lock box for keys, a monitored smoke detector, and even an HD camera that caregivers can monitor. A vial of life is also available for storing key medical information.
Fall detection: $10 monthly
Range: 1300 ft from the base station
Battery: 32-hour backup battery
Cost: $24.95 monthly. Customers who opt for quarterly payments benefit from free ground shipping, and those who pay semi-annually get the HD camera for free.
Long term contracts: No
Equipment / set up fee: No
What customers are saying:
Pros: This sleek looking system is super easy to use, and can be customized to suit any size of a home. We like that seniors can stay safe even if they don’t want to wear a button.
Cons: We’d like to see a few more features such as caregiver monitoring or check-in calls, but we like what GetSafe does.
The Verdict: GetSafe is modern, easy to use, no fuss, and powerful enough to keep seniors protected throughout their home. Read our GetSafe review here.
#4. GreatCall
GreatCall specializes in flexible options for seniors on the go – but we think their GreatCall Lively mobile device is also ideal for seniors in the home. Because it’s cellular it works anywhere, and it can be worn in multiple ways. It’s got a lovely modern look, too, proving that seniors at home don’t have to settle for old-fashioned looking systems.
Landline or cellular: Cellular
What’s included: A GreatCall Lively in silver or gold, plus a charging cradle, magnetic lanyard, and accessory clip.
Button type: The Lively is a small rectangular device that can be worn as a pendant, around the wrist, clipped to the belt or even on a key chain.
Water resistant: Yes
Add-on features: Rather than add on features, GreatCall offers set packages. The Basic package offers just the device and monitoring. However, customers can also opt for a Preferred or Ultimate package. Preferred includes UrgentCare which connects the wearer to a live nurse or doctor chat any time and an online caregiver tracking portal. Ultimate includes all of the above plus a free replacement if the device is damaged, lost or stolen, and added fall detection.
Fall detection: Only as part of the Ultimate package.
Range: Goes wherever the wearer goes.
Battery: Lasts at least 24 hours per charge.
Cost: Basic costs $24.99 monthly, Preferred costs $29.99 monthly, and Ultimate costs $39.99 monthly.
Long term contracts: No
Equipment / set up fee: No
What customers are saying:
“I would definitely recommend them to anyone. I like the feature that has the GPS so my daughters can track me which is wonderful since we're 2,500 miles away. That's always a peace of mind that they know where I'm at and how to get a hold of me if something should happen.”
“I wear it when I get up in the attic and I wear it when I get up on the ladder. I called them not very long ago because I wanted to be sure it works, and the response time was very good. The rep answered right away. So I was very happy. I would recommend Lively Mobile.”
“I thought it would be safer to have a medical alert device so I got one from Lively Mobile. It feels comfortable. Also, I call in a couple of times to test it and make sure it's working. Overall, I'm satisfied.”
Pros: We love how straightforward the pricing is, and the ability to talk live with a nurse or doctor if needed. It’s a nice modern looking device, too.
Cons: We’d like to see fall detection as a separate add-on, so seniors at home can benefit from it even if they don’t want the Ultimate package.
The Verdict: An easy to use and modern device that provides extra peace of mind for seniors and caregivers alike. Read our GreatCall review here.
Seniors who spend most of their time in the home need a medical alert system they can rely on. It’s vital to know that no matter what happens, help is close by. From a basic no frills system to a buttonless system and a mobile device, these providers offer a wide range of in-home systems to fit any needs.