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| Time Spent Testing | 168 Hours |
|---|---|
| Starting Price | $44.95 per month |
| Contract Minimum | 1 Month |
| Average Response Time | 8 Seconds |
| Customer Service Response Time | 10 Seconds |
Medical Guardian has staked its claim as the vanguard of home medical alert systems, but their mobile medical alerts are also highly reliable. Their marquee system, the Active Guardian, combines a speakerphone, fall detection, and help button into one wearable device.
In this review, I’ll look at what makes the Active Guardian system such a great option for mobile medical alerts. I’ll tell you everything about my experience with the product and let you know if it’s worth it.
Pro Tip: New to the world of medical alert systems? Take a look at my guide, Medical Alert Devices for Seniors.
Upon receiving my Active Guardian system, I opened the box and found the following:
The first step in using the Active Guardian is to charge the unit. It was recommended to initially charge the device close to a window which helps enable the device to pick up on cellular signals more easily. The device can reach a full charge in just three hours and, as mentioned, can last five days on a single charge, which is unrivaled in the market. Even though the device could go much longer, I felt most comfortable keeping the charging dock on my nightstand so I could leave it to charge overnight. This meant it would always have a full battery as I began each day.
The charging dock has an LED light that glows to indicate that it’s receiving power, and the unit itself has a notification light indicating that it’s receiving power. Both of these were helpful in alleviating any concerns I may have had about my device getting the charge it needed.
Did You Know: Did you know that Medical Guardian offers pre-owned equipment? The Active Guardian is available pre-owned for additional savings.
Once my device was charged, I was instructed to call Medical Guardian’s operators to complete the activation process. In all of my interactions with their team, I found them to be friendly and professional, which always makes the experience better.
The activation process took a matter of minutes, and I confirmed some basic information with the operator and tested the unit for its sound function. I was thoroughly impressed with the volume and clarity of the operator; even though I wore the device around my neck, I felt that I could be clearly understood from across the room.
Once the Active Guardian was live and charged, I tested the unit for all-day wear. In my experience, the unit was lightweight and unobtrusive enough to be worn throughout the day without becoming burdensome. However, I will say that for an older adult who has trouble with even a little added weight to carry, the Active Guardian could present some issues compared to the simple activation pendants of more basic in-home units.
Another great thing about the Active Guardian is its coverage. Because the device runs on the Verizon 4G cellular network, it’s able to function almost anywhere in the United States. Generally speaking, Verizon has one of the more expansive networks around.
When testing the device on the go, I simply pressed the call button which activated the unit. After about eight seconds I was connected with one of Medical Guardian’s operators who talked me through the situation. The company’s operators are highly trained, and all of their call centers have the highest certifications, including UL, FM, TMA, and ESA. Since I only called for testing purposes, I once again verified my personal information, including location, which the operator was then able to pinpoint using GPS.
Overall, I was impressed with the quality of service Medical Guardian offers, and the general wearability and durability of the device.
One add-on service that I would highly recommend when purchasing the Active Guardian is their fall detection. First and foremost, the fall detection feature is an additional $10 per month on top of the plan, but it’s money well spent. This is especially true for a person who has mobility issues but still plans on using a medical alert device on the go. The great part about fall detection with the Active Guardian is that it doesn’t require an additional sensor; the unit itself has fall detection capabilities built right in.
In my tests, Active Guardian’s fall detection worked surprisingly well. In each of my simulated falls, my unit detected a fall and contacted the monitoring center. On the one occasion when it detected a fall when none had occurred, this was easily defused by pressing the help button.
With my Active Guardian, I also had access to the MyGuardian App and portal. With this feature, a loved one could be notified every time I pressed my emergency button. Additionally, they could check the app at any time to monitor my location and the status of my device, that is, if its battery was powered.
For $6.99 per month, I also purchased the Active Guardian protection plan, which protected my device from damage and manufacturer’s defects. This plan also offered free battery replacement for my Active Guardian.
Medical Guardian costs tend to be about middle of the road when compared with other medical alerts, with their systems starting at $29.99 per month. The Active Guardian, however, comes at a higher cost. In total, my Active Guardian cost me $61.94 per month, including fall detection and the protection plan. Without these extras, the system would have cost me $44.95 per month.
Medical Guardian leases their systems as opposed to making you purchase them, so this price includes the device and monitoring. Additionally, Medical Guardian offers discounts for quarterly or annual payments. For example, a yearly Active Guardian subscription costs $494.45, which comes out to $41.20 per month.
In addition to Medical Guardian’s website, Active Guardian can also be purchased at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart.
To learn more about Medical Guardian’s different systems and their costs, check out my Medical Guardian reviews.
In terms of mobile medical alert systems, it’s hard to find a better option than Active Guardian. Its combination of GPS, quick response times, and accurate fall detection — all built into one unit — make it the perfect option for users with active lifestyles.
For these reasons, Active Guardian is one of my picks for this year’s best medical alert system.
Active Guardian is a mobile medical alert that uses WiFi, cellular, and GPS capabilities to connect you with response agents who can view your exact location and send help in the event of an emergency.
Active Guardian is fully waterproof, meaning you can wear it in the shower, bathtub, or even pool, and it will continue to function properly.
Fortunately, no. The cost of cellular service is included in the fees paid to Medical Guardian.
Generally, yes, the Active Guardian is safe to wear with a pacemaker. It’s best to review your pacemaker’s information to double-check that it can be used with a cell phone; apply those same rules to the Active Guardian.
No. The Wi-Fi capabilities of the Active Guardian means that it can pull connections from active Wi-Fi hotspots to help bolster its cellular network and location services.
Medical Guardian’s operators are all based in the United States.
The Active Guardian enables you to make unlimited calls to the monitoring center.
