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Formerly known as GreatCall, Lively offers a range of senior-friendly cell phones and medical alert systems that provide 24/7 emergency assistance. In the past, Lively offered a medical alert watch; however, the company presently sells just one system: the Lively Mobile Plus.
In addition to the one-time equipment fee of $49.99, the Lively Mobile Plus requires a subscription plan, costing either $24.99 for the basic version or $34.99 for the premium version. Fall detection can be added to either package for $9.99
Pro Tip: To learn about my hands-on experience with Lively, take a look at my Lively medical alert review.
| Equipment fees | $49.99 (one-time) |
|---|---|
| Mobile system | $24.99 per month |
| Fall detection | $9.99 per month |
| Extra users | Additional system required |
The Lively Mobile Plus device is considered Lively’s fastest call response model to date. If emergency response time is of concern to you, then you might want to upgrade to this all-in-one medical alert device. The Lively Mobile Plus comes with two-way talk, as well as a waterproof help button, belt clip, magnetic lanyard, and charging dock.
Worn as either a pendant or wristband, it connects to Lively’s monitoring center and offers enhanced GPS accuracy, making it easy to triangulate your location during an emergency. The all-in-one device is also easy to install — it takes no more than a few minutes to carry and use. If you are not thrilled with the idea of charging your device every day, you may be pleased with the system’s long 80-hour battery life. With reliable coverage and Lively Fall Detection, this all-in-one medical alert gets you the help you need right away. The Lively Mobile Plus has a one-time cost of $49.99, along with a monthly fee ranging from $24.99 to $34.99.
| System | Lively Mobile Plus |
|---|---|
| Monthly price |
|
| Initial fees | $49.99 (one-time equipment fee) |
| For use | In and out of the home |
| Equipment |
|
| Connection type | Cellular |
| Fall detection | $9.99 per month |
| Caregiver portal | Included with both plans |
| Additional features |
|
Add-ons are a little more about style and heightened usability than the essential services. The following options are available for your Lively wearable devices:
| Accessory | Price |
|---|---|
| Lively Mobile Plus lanyard | $14.99 |
| Lively Mobile Plus belt clip | $9.99 |
| Lively Mobile Plus AC charger | $19.99 |
| Lively Mobile Plus wristband | $19.99 |
To purchase a medical alert system from Lively, visit the company’s website. You’ll be able to look at its devices and check out the plans offered for each. If you want a bit more personal buying experience, then you may want to purchase your device over the phone. If you decide to purchase online, click “buy now” and add a Health & Safety package, or your choice of three monthly fee tiers ranging from Basic, Preferred, and Ultimate. From there, you’ll need to pay the one-time purchase fee for the device, along with other taxes and fees. Your credit card won’t be charged until you review your full order.
Alternatively, you can purchase a Lively medical alert system from Walgreens or Best Buy.
Lively Mobile Plus comes with a free one-year warranty that covers any manufacturing defects in the device or accessories, as well as a decline in the rechargeable batteries’ performance. Accidental breakage, however, is not covered by the warranty and will require the user to purchase a new device for $49.99.
Lively offers one of the fastest call-response times in the medical alert industry: between 15 and 23 seconds. It’s a phenomenal advantage, considering the average medical alert system takes a minute and a half to connect users to a call center agent. The efficiency is due to Lively’s U.S.-based call center, which is owned and operated by the company itself.
By just pressing the button on your medical alert system, you can connect to the company’s service center. If you press and hold your button for five seconds, you will be routed directly to 911 operators. The ability to connect instantly with the police, fire department, or emergency responders is unique to Lively, and it sets the service apart from its competition.
In addition to basic emergency monitoring, which comes with all plans, Lively also offers some premium monitoring services.
| Feature | Basic | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $24.99 | $34.99 |
| Ask Lively | Yes | Yes |
| Urgent Response | Yes | Yes |
| Lively Link App | Yes | Yes |
| Care Advocate | No | Yes |
| Nurse on Call | No | Yes |
| Fall Detection | $9.99 extra per month | $9.99 extra per month |
Below is an overview of the features provided with each package.
Imagine if an older adult were to go for a walk and suddenly forget their way home. What would ordinarily be a stressful situation may be mitigated with the Urgent Response service offered with each of Lively’s plans. With just the press of a button, you can connect to Lively’s monitoring center and communicate with its highly trained agents via your device’s two-way speaker.
If you wish to consult quickly with a doctor or nurse, you can use Lively’s Nurse on Call feature for 24/7 access to medical advice from healthcare professionals. By addressing issues as they arise, the app reduces the risk of diseases progressing unchecked. This is another feature that is not commonly offered by other medical alert brands.
For those navigating the tricky waters of caregiving, a care advocate can help point you to various resources to help you along your journey.
For family members or caregivers who wish to keep tabs on the older adult in their care, Lively’s Preferred and Ultimate packages offer a free smartphone app that is compatible with both Android and iOS devices.
For the app to work, you’ll need to give permission for your personal and device-related information to be shared with your caregiver. The app will then send emergency alerts to your caregiver any time your button is pressed or a fall is detected. It can also inform your caregiver about your device’s battery status and your exact location at any time. The app also has a support center featuring resources and tips for caregivers.
Situations like a slip in the shower or missing a step are scary affairs, and a medical alert device would be useless if you’re unable to press the help button and speak into it. That’s where the extra $10 can make a difference. After unlocking its built-in fall-detection feature — without having to buy any additional equipment — your device automatically determines whether a fall has occurred and alerts the emergency response center.
Is fall detection a must-have? Then check out my rundown of the best medical alert systems with fall detection.
In addition to medical alert systems, Lively has partnered with Lyft to help you travel with ease. Simply press 0 on your Jitterbug Smart3 or Jitterbug Flip2, and a ride will be scheduled for you via a Lively personal operator.
Lively offers some of the most user-friendly devices on the market. It does not limit you to any particular space, allowing you to live a mobile and independent life. The company has done a mighty fine job creating affordable medical alert options that are intuitive to use. Lively is one of my top medical alert systems overall.
If you return your device within 30 days, you will get a full refund. If you cancel in the middle of a subscription cycle, you will get a prorated refund, but you won’t need to return the device itself.
You may choose to get the device fixed or replaced with the free one-year manufacturer’s warranty. Any manufacturing defects or battery issues (if capacity falls below 80%) are covered by this plan. At just $4 per month, users can extend the warranty to cover accidental damage, theft or loss of the device.
Yes, both Lively devices are completely waterproof, being IPX5-certified resistant to water splashes. This is important since older persons shouldn’t be without their medical alert device, especially when they are in the bathroom where the chances of slipping are high.
Lively systems are linked to Verizon’s cellular network. So, no matter where in the USA you are, if there is a cellular network, you will have access to the system’s emergency services.
Since the Lively Wearable2 is not a standalone device, it will need to be synced to your phone to start functioning. If your medical alert device is outside of the phone’s audible distance range then you will not be able to communicate with the call center agent.
