Best Medical Alert Systems for Men
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January 25, 2024
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Many seniors find it difficult to start wearing a medical alert. Medical alerts are wonderful at providing peace of mind, and knowing that help can be on the way in seconds is very reassuring. But we also understand that wearing a medical alert is a big decision. Seniors might worry about how the medical alert looks, how comfortable it is to wear, or what other people will think if they notice it.
Gentleman seniors have a couple of specific challenges when it comes to wearing a medical alert. The traditional idea of a medical alert that we see in the media often includes wearing a pendant around the neck. Men often don’t like the idea of wearing something that looks like a necklace, so the aesthetics of their medical alert are important.
Thankfully there are plenty of medical alerts out there that can be worn in different ways, making them much more guy-friendly.
Many Alerts Are Easy To Wear On The Wrist
We’ve found that men are less likely to wear a medical alert than women. Choosing an unobtrusive alert that doesn’t look like an accessory can help. A medical alert that can be worn on the wrist is an ideal option for senior men. Many buttons these days don’t look that much different from watches when they are worn on the wrist. It’s so easy to put the button on and wear it throughout the day, or even wear it overnight for 24-hour coverage.
As well as being wearable on the wrist, many providers offer alerts with a functional, no-frills appearance. These are perfect for men who don’t want something fancy and don’t want to draw attention to themselves.
In fact, some companies such as MobileHelp even offer a smartwatch option that functions as a watch and also has high-quality medical alert features with it. Wear one of those and no one would ever guess it was a medical alert button!
Look For Medical Alerts That Are Robust And Functional
There are plenty of medical alerts out there that are both robust and functional. Their aesthetics are firmly neutral or masculine so older men don’t have to worry about wearing something that looks more like jewelry. And of course, these medical alerts also offer high-quality service. The ones on this list are backed by excellent customer service that makes sure seniors can get help whenever they need it.
All of the providers on this list also offer mobile options, which are ideal for senior men who are still active. Long term readers know that we strongly advocate for getting a medical alert while still active rather than waiting till later. Having a mobile alert gives seniors extra confidence, which can help them stay active for longer.
For seniors who are no longer very active, medical alerts are an ideal way to stay safe in the home, knowing that someone is always there if needed. This is reassuring for seniors, and for caregivers who may worry about what happens to their loved one when they’re not with them. And of course, using an alert both inside and outside of the house is ideal.
What To Look For When Purchasing A Medical Alert For Men
There are a lot of different medical alerts on the market. These are the options that we think are must-haves. If you can tick all these boxes, you know you’re getting a good quality medical alert that’s also practical and suits your needs.
- Clear pricing. There shouldn’t be any doubt as to what you’re paying, and what you’re getting for it. And there should be absolutely no hidden extras.
- Comfortable to wear. If it’s not comfortable, there’s a good chance the wearer will remove it. Look for one that’s comfortable to wear all day every day.
- Neutral or masculine aesthetics. Men are much more likely to be comfortable with an alert that’s unobtrusive and plain.
- A wrist button option. Older men are likely to prefer a wrist button that could pass as a watch at first glance, rather than a pendant.
- Water-resistant. There’s a much greater chance of slipping and falling in the bathroom than anywhere else, so be sure the alert you choose can withstand water.
- No long term contracts. We never recommend products that lock people into long term contracts.
- Backup battery. You need to know that if there’s a power outage, your alert will still work.
Questions To Ask Before Buying A Medical Alert For Men
When deciding on 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 Providers On This List
We only recommend companies that we believe offer a good quality product backed by excellent customer service. For every company on this list, we looked for:
- Equipment that works exactly as they say it does
- No long term contracts ever
- Straightforward pricing
- Excellent customer service
- A wrist button or watch type option
Our Favorite Medical Alert Systems for Men
1. Bay Alarm Medical
What We Like Most:
- 30-day risk-free trial
- Optional fall detection
- Location tracking on mobile units
- Systems starting at $24.95 per month
Overview
Bay Alarm Medical has been producing high-quality medical alerts for many years now. Their focus is always on providing the best customer service, along with high-quality equipment that seniors can rely on. They offer in-home and mobile options, plus a specially designed in-car mobile device (something we haven’t seen from any other provider.) This little device includes crash detection, GPS location, and instant connection with the call center.
Systems offered: In The Home is a traditional at-home system that’s also available as a cellular option. On The Go is a GPS system. 360 Protection includes both so seniors can stay safe anywhere. In-Car is a smart little device that pairs with a smartphone to keep seniors safer while driving.
What’s included: In The Home comes with a base station and pendant. On The Go includes the device and charging cradle, plus a lanyard, carrying case and belt clip. The 360 package includes all of the above! Finally, In-Car comes with the device itself (plus you’ll need a smartphone to access all features.)
Button type: Wrist or pendant
Water-resistant: Yes – Bay Alarm stands out because its home and mobile options are 100% watertight.
Add-on features: Customers can purchase wall buttons, a lock box, or extra insurance in case the system is lost or damaged. On The Go customers also have access to a caregiver tracking portal.
Fall detection: $10 monthly
Range: The button for the home system works up to 1000 ft from the base station, while the mobile system is an integrated device.
Battery: In The Home has a 32-hour backup battery. On The Go lasts for 72 hours per charge.
Cost: In The Home starts at $24.95 monthly. On The Go starts at $29.95 monthly. 360 Protection starts at $59.95 monthly. In-Car starts at $29.95 monthly.
Long term contracts: No
Equipment / set up fee: No
What customers are saying:
“Wonderful experience dealing with your company for my mother. Thank you for your patience and assistance while helping me navigate my mother’s change in billing. Thank you again for making the process easy for me to make these changes over the phone so as to complete the process for her. Thank you.”
“Just a quick note to say “thank-you”. I received exactly what I ordered, no hidden fees or charges. My mother’s phone line went down for a couple of weeks and these folks were relentless on ensuring there was no problem on their end. Customer service when I set this up was excellent.”
“I found the process very good and my helper on the phone did well. Very pleased with the outcome of my inquiry. I needed to order a replacement bracelet for my dear elderly mom. Phone agents very helpful. Great great great.”
Pros: We love Bay Alarm Medical’s commitment to great customer service. Their equipment works well and is no-frills enough to work for men and women. We think the addition of an in-car option is fantastic for seniors who are active enough to drive but would benefit from added peace of mind.
Cons: It’s truly hard to find something we don’t like about Bay Alarm Medical!
The Verdict: A solid, reliable company with options for at home, on the go, and even on the road.
Pros
- One-time $35 fee for additional help buttons
- $15 per month for additional fall buttons
- 1,000-foot in-home range
- Two U.S.-based monitoring centers
- 32-hour in-home backup battery
- Water-resistant devices
Cons
- Equipment fees for some systems
- Extra cost for fall detection
2. Medical Guardian
What We Like Most:
- No long-term contracts
- Quick response times
- Fall detection available
- 24/7 U.S. based monitoring
Overview
Medical Guardian offers an impressive range of medical alert systems. We’re listing all of them here because each system is perfect for a different set of needs. However, we think guys will particularly appreciate Freedom Guardian, an all in one smartwatch with medical alert features.
Systems offered: MGClassic is a traditional in-home system, while MGHome Cellular is a cellular-only home system for seniors who don’t have a landline at home. Family offers the same cellular in-home system, with the addition of activity sensors that caregivers can monitor. They also offer two mobile options: Mobile is a GPS enabled system, while Active combines both GPS and WiFi for the widest protection. Last, but certainly not least, is Freedom, an all-in-one smartwatch with medical alert capability.
What’s included: MGClassic and MGHome Cellular come with a base station and a button. Family comes with a base station and button, plus activity sensors. Mobile comes with the device plus a button, charging cradle, and leather carrying case with belt clip. Active is an all in one unit that comes with a charging cradle, and Freedom is an all in one watch unit.
Button type: Wrist or pendant
Water-resistant: Yes
Add-on features: Extra buttons, wall buttons (included voice-activated wall buttons), and a lockbox. A car charger is also available for the Mobile device.
Fall detection: $10 monthly
Range: 1300 ft from the MGClassic, MGHome Cellular or Family base station – which is very impressive! The Mobile button works up to 350 ft from the device.
Battery: MGClassic and Family have a 32-hour backup battery, and the MGHome Cellular unit has a 30-hour backup battery. Mobile lasts up to 24 hours per charge, while Active lasts an impressive 5 days.
Cost: MGClassic starts at $29.95 monthly. MGHome Cellular starts at $34.95 monthly. Family starts at $79.95 monthly. For mobile options, Mobile starts at $39.95 monthly and Active starts at $49.95 monthly. Monitoring for the Freedom watch starts at $44.95 monthly.
Long term contracts: No
Equipment / set up fee: There is a one-time fee of $99 for the Freedom watch.
What customers are saying:
“From some of the stuff that I’ve researched and heard about Medical Guardian, I thought it was a good system. So we made the decision to use this one and my mother has gotten along really well. She hasn’t had any troubles with it at all. Anytime they have called me and checked on it, we haven’t had any troubles at all with them either. I’d recommend it.”
“I’m living alone and my daughters bought me the Medical Guardian alert device. I feel secure with it in case I happen to fall because I’ve got it on my wrist and I could push the button. It’s something I keep on constantly.”
“I fell down and could not get up, so the Medical Guardian people came and picked me up. They were very nice. When I needed to call them, their response time was great and they were here within 10 or 15 minutes.”
Pros: We love the impressive range of devices and options. We think men will particularly like Active and Freedom as they’re easy to wear integrated units with no need to wear a separate button. We’re also very impressed by the long range on the home units, and the 5-day battery life on Active.
Cons: The cost could run a little high for some seniors, and we’d like to see more in the way of caregiver tracking.
The Verdict: An impressive range of devices. The Active and Freedom devices are particularly suitable for men who don’t want to wear an obvious medical alert.
Pros
- All-in-one mobile system
- Landline and cellular options
- Smartwatch option
- Accurate location tracking
- Fall detection available on most systems
- No long-term contracts
- Free month of service on annual subscriptions
- Up to seven-day mobile battery life
Cons
- Occasional false alarms with fall detection
- Limited activity monitoring
3. Lively Mobile2
What We Like Most:
- Uses Verizon’s Cellular Network
- No Limit on In-Home Range
- Fully Waterproof System
- Fall Detection, Two-Way Talk, and GPS, All in One
Overview
GreatCall specializes in mobile devices and senior-friendly cell phones. The GreatCall units look sleek and modern, and can easily be worn around the wrist. They’re robust-looking but modern and ideal for any man who doesn’t want to wear an obvious alert.
Systems offered: Lively Mobile is a GPS wearable designed to go with you wherever you are. Lively Wearable is a handy little device that pairs with an app on your smartphone to turn your phone into an emergency medical device (for it to work you need a phone running Android 4.4 or iOS 8.0, or later.)
What’s included: Mobile comes with the Lively device in silver or gold, plus a charger, magnetic lanyard, and accessory clip. The wearable is a sleek device that looks just like a watch and doesn’t need any added extras.
Button type: Lively Mobile can be worn as a wrist button, round the neck, clipped to a keychain, or on a belt. The wearable is worn like a watch.
Water-resistant: Yes
Add-on features: Lively Mobile offers two tiers of extras, plus a Basic package that comes with the device and monitoring only. Preferred gives the wearer 24/7 access to UrgentCare that lets them speak live with a doctor or nurse, plus caregiver access to GreatCall Link, an online activity and usage tracker. Ultimate includes all of the above, plus fall detection and a free replacement device if it gets lost or stolen. Lively Wearable doesn’t offer these extras, but daily fitness tracking and the ability to set fitness challenges come as standard.
Fall detection: Available for Mobile users who sign up for the Ultimate package. The wearable comes with fall detection included, but seniors do need to wear it around the neck on a lanyard for fall detection to work.
Range: The units are integrated so you can use them wherever you are.
Battery: Mobile lasts at least 24 hours per charge.
Cost: Mobile basic costs $24.99 monthly. Preferred costs $29.99 monthly. Ultimate costs $39.99 monthly. Finally, monitoring for Wearable costs $14.99 monthly.
Long term contracts: No
Equipment / set up fee: There is a $49.99 equipment fee for Lively Wearable.
What customers are saying:
“This device suits all my needs. Hopefully, I will not have an emergency situation, but if I do, this could be what will save me. I did accidentally press the button one time and a man responded instantly and I assured him I had made a mistake and was not in any danger. It was good to know that immediate attention comes through.”
“I found this to be a great product. It works exactly as the company states. The price per month is very reasonable. Customer service is easy to work with.”
“Customer service cannot be beaten – everyone has been extremely friendly. It’s very easy to set up and my grandmother knows that help can be on the way in seconds if she ever needs it.”
Pros: We love that Mobile can be worn in so many different ways and that the device looks so modern. The straightforward pricing is great, too.
Cons: Although the pricing is very straightforward, some users might find the set tiers restrictive as they can’t build their own package to suit their needs. The device is a little bulky, too.
The Verdict: An excellent modern option that makes sure you can get help quickly wherever you are, without wearing an old fashioned looking alert.
Pros
- Waterproof Device
- First 30 Days Are Free
- No Contracts or Cancellation Fees
- Add-On Features Included in Every Service Plan
- Uses Verizon’s Cellular Network
Cons
- Device Needs to Be Charged Daily
- Higher Startup Costs
- Can Only Be Worn as a Pendant
Medical alerts are for men and women, but we understand that sometimes men have concerns about wearing a device. We think these companies offer a wide range of options to suit every lifestyle, including smartwatches and integrated mobile units that are easy and unobtrusive to wear.