Pro Tip: If you’re looking for our favorite devices overall, then you should check out my list of the best medical alert systems for seniors.
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Most home medical alert systems have a traditional base station and button setup. The user wears the button at all times, and if they fall or feel ill, they can press the button for help.
The speaker used to communicate with the medical monitoring center is in the base station itself. In most cases, it’s possible to communicate through this base station even if the wearer is in another room of the house.
Two-way speakers are a bit different. The wearer has a handheld unit with a speaker in it, through which they can communicate with the monitoring center. The unit can usually be worn on a lanyard or wristband, clipped to a belt, or carried in a purse.
Although two-way speaker units are a bit bigger than the traditional button pendant, they have a clear benefit: Users can talk to someone no matter where they are, so long as their two-way unit is charged and has accessible cell service. This provides extra reassurance for both users and their loved ones.
Pro Tip: If you’re looking for our favorite devices overall, then you should check out my list of the best medical alert systems for seniors.
Companies evaluated | 25 |
---|---|
Hours of research | 150+ |
Hours of product testing | 900+ |
Ranking criteria | 5 |
Finalists chosen | 3 |
Nowadays, most medical alert providers offer a form of a pendant with a built-in speakerphone. Here is what we looked for when choosing our favorites:
Bay Alarm Medical has been around for over 70 years, and their dedication to customer service is outstanding. We also love that they’re always innovating and looking for new ways to serve their customers.
Bay Alarm Medical’s GPS help button is a mobile unit with a built-in speakerphone. Bay Alarm also offers something we haven’t seen anywhere else 一 a car-specific mobile device. This also has a two-way speaker and is perfect for aging adults who are still active enough to drive but need a little backup. Since it only works in the car, we’d recommend purchasing it in addition to their On the Go system.
The GPS help button is water-resistant enough to wear in the shower or during a rainstorm. In The Car, however, is not watertight. The GPS help button also has a battery life that lasts for nearly three days on a single charge, based on our tests.
Bay Alarm Medical prices are pretty low. The GPS help button starts at $29.95 per month, which is less than average when compared to other mobile systems. Additionally, their traditional in-home system starts at $21.95 per month, making it one of the cheapest medical alert systems.
To learn more about Bay Alarm Medical, read my hands-on Bay Alarm Medical reviews.
Learn more: New to the world of medical alert systems? Check out my guide to medical alert devices.
Lively, the company behind Jitterbug phones for seniors, offers a sleek, compact medical alert: the Lively Mobile Plus. In addition to offering direct access to professional monitoring agents, the unit features a host of benefits.
Smaller than your average mobile medical alert, the Lively Mobile Plus has a built-in speakerphone, GPS, and fall detection, making it the ideal solution for those with more active lifestyles. Additionally, this device is completely waterproof, meaning it can easily withstand a shower and could even be submerged in a tub without compromising its functionality.
Lively Medical Alert prices start at $24.99 per month; however, if you want to take advantage of their smartphone app and fall detection, you’ll want to go with the Ultimate package, which costs $39.99 per month.
To learn more about my experience with this system, read my Lively Mobile Plus review.
Medical Guardian is both well known and well liked, offering a range of modern, powerful medical alert options for seniors at all stages of life. Every system is designed for easy use.
All four of Medical Guardian’s mobile units — Mobile Guardian, Active Guardian, MGMove, and Mini Guardian — have a two-way speaker. Mobile Guardian is a GPS unit with a two-way device and a separate help button too. Active Guardian is a combined, all-inclusive GPS and Wi-Fi unit device, which means there’s no need for a separate button. Mini Guardian features the same functionality as the Active Guardian but it’s in a smaller size, and the MGMove watch offers protection in a discreet package.
In terms of battery life, the Active Guardian has the longest one I’ve seen in a mobile unit, lasting up to seven days in our tests. The Mini Guardian also boasts an impressive five-day battery life.
Medical Guardian prices are also reasonable, starting at $39.95 per month for the Mini Guardian and $44.95 for the Active Guardian. None of their systems require long-term contracts; however, you can receive discounts if you pay on an annual or quarterly basis, as opposed to monthly.
To learn more about this company, read my full review of Medical Guardian. Also, check out my hands-on review of Active Guardian.