Pro Tip: Contact LifeStation at (833) 590-1509 to learn how you can get a free month of service.
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May 17, 2023
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Pro Tip: Contact LifeStation at (833) 590-1509 to learn how you can get a free month of service.
LifeStation has served as a leader in the medical alert industry since 1977. The family-owned company’s approach to customer care is unparalleled, with a combination of knowledgeable associates and skilled professional monitoring.
In addition to fast emergency response times, LifeStation medical alert systems provide affordable options for older adults who spend their time at home or on the go.
Keep reading to find out whether LifeStation is right for you or your family.
| In-home system | $22.95 per month |
|---|---|
| Mobile system | $37.95 per month |
| Most affordable system | $22.95 per month |
| Fall detection | $10 per month |
| Extra users | $3.99 per month |
| Protection plan | $5 per month |
LifeStation offers two types of medical alert devices: at home and on the go. Each system has three plan options: Standard, Select, and Supreme. Select and Supreme subscriptions come with additional benefits, such as fall detection and equipment protection plans. Monthly prices range from $22.95 to $55.95, with free activation. Once you’ve started a LifeStation subscription, the company locks in your low monthly fee for as long as you have the service.
LifeStation’s At Home systems are, as the name implies, meant for older adults who spend most of their time in and around their homes. Starting at $22.95 per month, the At Home Landline system has waterproof help buttons and a 500-foot connectivity range.
There are systems with shorter ranges, but this is still short. The Mobile Help Classic system’s range is 1,400 feet, for example, and other systems we reviewed, like Medical Care Alert’s Home and Away systems have an unlimited range.
Pro Tip: If you don’t have a landline, you can try LifeStation’s In Home, “No Landline Medical Alert System,” which uses AT&T’s 4G LTE cellular network to communicate with their monitoring center.
Starting at $41.95 per month, LifeStation’s At Home Cellular system has a range of 600 feet and is designed to work in homes of up to 3,500 square feet. Powered using AT&T’s 4G LTE cellular network, LifeStation operators will stay on the line with you until help is on the way.
Additionally, people who are hard of hearing may benefit from LifeStation’s system because of its extra loud speaker, sensitive microphone, and waterproof help buttons.
One of LifeStation’s on-the-go options include the Sidekick, which starts at $37.95 per month and gives older adults the peace of mind to go anywhere knowing they’re protected. With a small and lightweight design, the Sidekick has advanced fall detection sensors, enhanced location services, along with water-resistant features. With 24/7 U.S.-based monitoring and a reliable test button, you can be sure that help will be on the way when you need it the most.
A step up from the original Sidekick on-the-go medical alert system, the Sidekick Smart features a custom-designed smartwatch that’s water-resistant. If you’re looking for an upgrade from traditional medical alert systems, Sidekick Smart is the way to go. Starting at $55.95 per month, this water-resistant wearable medical alert is great for older adults that are on the move. With unique features such as pedometer and heart rate monitor tracking, the Sidekick Smart is a great smartwatch for seniors with advanced GPS and WiFi signals to track you or a loved one during an emergency.
To learn more about this system, check out my LifeStation review.
| System | At Home Landline | At Home Cellular | Sidekick | Sidekick Smart | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $22.95 | $31.95 | $37.95 | $55.95 | |
| Initial fees | None | None | None | None | |
| For use | In home | In home | On the go | On the go | |
| Equipment | Base station Pendant or wristband emergency button |
Base station Pendant or wristband emergency button |
Sidekick Mobile button | 1 smartwatch | |
| Connection type | Landline | Cellular | Cellular, GPS | Cellular, GPS | |
| Fall detection | With Supreme subscription | With Supreme subscription | Included | n/a | |
| Caregiver portal | Caregiver Alerts | Caregiver Alerts | Find My Loved One app | Find My Loved One app | |
| Additional features | – Self-testing – Uber Health |
– Self-testing – Extended battery life – Uber Health |
– 24/7 U.S.-based monitoring – Enhanced location with GPS and Wi-Fi – AT&T 4G LTE Network – Water-resistant – Extended battery life – Works with Amazon Alexa |
– Self-testing – Extended battery life – Uber Health |
– Heart rate monitor – Pedometer – Water-resistant – Two-way communication – 4G Network – Advanced GPS |
Pro Tip: If you are active or you live independently, it may be worth investing in fall detection. The feature notifies the LifeStation monitoring system that an accident has occurred even if you cannot push the button.
With fall detection, your emergency pendant can detect falls and automatically call for help. LifeStation’s state-of-the-art system uses a complex algorithm to detect falls. The algorithm, which includes the use of accelerometers and barometric sensors, not only detects whether a fall has occurred, but also differentiates between real falls and false alarms, solving a significant issue in the medical alert industry. To add fall detection to your plan, you must have a Supreme subscription, which includes both fall detection and an equipment protection plan.
Seniors are particularly vulnerable to falls, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there will be seven fall deaths per hour among older adults by 2030. Nearly all seniors could benefit from fall detection, but this technology may be especially helpful if you suffer from epilepsy, seizures, or fainting episodes, when you may be unable to press your help button.
Lockboxes aren’t prominently advertised on the LifeStation website, but they’re available for $2.99 per month. These tools enable first responders, such as firefighters, police officers, and emergency personnel, to get inside your home during an emergency without breaking down your doors.
For households with two members who need a medical alert device, LifeStation provides an additional pendant for just $3.99 per month.
LifeStation’s protection plan includes two complimentary help button replacements or a full-system replacement annually. The protection plan is included with the Supreme plan, and it’s available for purchase on the other systems for $5 per month.
For $2.95 per month, these small wall buttons provide added protection in high-traffic areas of your home. During an emergency, you can press the buttons to contact the monitoring center just like you would press the help button on your LifeStation pendant or wristband.
FYI: Feeling self-conscious about wearing a medical alert? LifeStation Luxury may be your solution! This $79.95 vanity pendant is a fully mobile medical alert device enclosed in brass, faceted lapis blue resin stone, rhodium colored plating, and a discreet magnetic closure.
Through a partnership with Uber Health, LifeStation subscribers can arrange rides to medical appointments via the monitoring center. This is an empowering tool since you’ll no longer have to depend on family members or caregivers for rides. If you need extra care, LifeStation can set up rides with drivers who have completed special training for senior health care.
Rides are priced similarly to regular Uber and are charged to your LifeStation monitoring bill, but the service of arranging transport through LifeStation is free.
LifeStation medical alert systems must be purchased over the phone, so you may want to ask a friend or family member for assistance if you have difficulty hearing. Once you’ve set up your subscription, payments can be billed monthly, quarterly, or annually.
LifeStation offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the system. There are no long-term contracts with LifeStation, and you may cancel any time without fees. After the 30-day money-back guarantee period, however, you must give LifeStation 30 days’ notice of your cancellation — basically requiring you to pay an extra month.
You must return your rental equipment to LifeStation to receive a refund. The company understands typical wear and tear on the equipment, and you will be charged only for damages clearly beyond normal wear and tear. Return shipping costs $10.
During your subscription, LifeStation will replace any equipment that is not working properly due to manufacturer error or normal wear and tear. Damages incurred by other means, such as accidents or theft, are your responsibility. You can purchase additional insurance for $5 per month, which will cover the replacement of two help buttons and one medical alert system annually.
LifeStation’s Find My Loved One mobile app is available only for mobile systems, but it is useful for both caregivers and customers. Through the Alexa mobile app, you can connect your medical alert system to your smartphone. The app then pulls up your precise geographic coordinates on a map in five minutes or less, which enables you to locate your lost device and helps your caregivers find you if you’re missing. The service is free with a Mobile LTE System subscription.
Tip: Talk to your customer support representative about what you hope your medical alert system will do for you. You may be able to purchase products not advertised on the company’s website or get a discounted price on your system.
LifeStation’s TMA award-winning, UL-listed, CSAA Five Diamond–certified monitoring centers work exclusively with seniors. The monitoring centers, which have two 24/7 locations in New Jersey and Texas for redundancy, have an average response time of about 20 seconds, which is among the fastest in the industry.
Each center’s responders earn the title of certified care specialist through a rigorous 160-hour training course and mandatory examinations before they are allowed to work on live calls. Performance reviews are then completed weekly for the first three months. LifeStation stands out from other monitoring providers because you will never be placed on hold during a crisis. The company assigns two care agents to every call — one to dispatch emergency services or call your caregivers and another to keep you calm and support you through the ordeal.
Another positive aspect of LifeStation is its Caregiver Alerts feature. Whenever you make an emergency call or your base station becomes disconnected, anyone you have designated as a caregiver (usually your children or other loved ones) will receive an email alert.
LifeStation is a trustworthy company that has consistently ranked on our charts of a top medical alert system because of its low prices and high-quality customer service. If you’re still having trouble deciding whether LifeStation is for you, consider the key points below.
You sure will! LifeStation’s in-home systems offer a range of 500 to 600 feet, which is equivalent to more than one and a half football fields. With the mobile system, you’re covered anywhere you travel.
To reach LifeStation’s specially trained technical support for help with installation, testing, and other equipment questions, call 1-800-998-2400.
It may be possible to claim your medical alert on your taxes. Tax laws change frequently, so I recommend speaking with your tax professional to determine what you’re eligible to claim.
Of course! LifeStation is available to monitor medical alerts in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. To ensure a smooth location change, call LifeStation’s customer service before you move and provide them with the date of your move and your new address and phone number.
LifeStation does not offer installation services, but it’s nothing to worry about. Installation is so simple that the company doesn’t think in-person support is necessary. If you would like someone to walk you through the easy setup, however, LifeStation’s customer service is happy to help.