Medical Guardian Review in 2023

Medical Guardian Video Review

If you prefer watching instead of reading, check out my Medical Guardian video review. Otherwise, keep reading for all the important information I gleaned from testing the Classic Guardian system.

Medical Guardian Pros and Cons

Medical Guardian Systems Overview

Medical Guardian has five distinct medical alert systems, each geared toward different customer types. Not only does the company offer the affordable, stripped-down Classic Guardian system, but it also has systems to accommodate mobile users who want to carry their alert system with them on walks or errands, as well as alerts built into smartwatches.

Classic Guardian

The Classic Guardian is Medical Guardian’s most affordable and classically styled medical alert system. The base unit connects to your home’s landline and offers two-way communication between you and the emergency response operator. The pendant has an impressive 1,300-foot range, and the system’s 32-hour backup battery is a nice feature.

Home 2.0

The Home 2.0 is similar to the Classic Guardian, except it runs on AT&T’s cellular network. The base unit features an LED display screen and a 30-hour backup battery. The cellular connectivity is nice, but the pendant’s range is only 600 feet.

MGMini

Medical Guardian’s newest alert, the MGMini, is the company’s most affordable all-in-one mobile solution. Designed with discretion in mind, the Mini Guardian is half the width of traditional devices. It’s only slightly taller than a matchbox and less than half the weight of one, coming in at a mere 1.3 ounces. Despite its small stature, this sleek cellular system boasts a five-day battery, water resistance, three color choices, two-way talk, and built-in GPS and WiFi tracking that can pinpoint your exact location during an emergency.

To learn more about this system, read our MGMini review.

MGMini Lite

Even smaller than the MGMini, the MGMini Lite offers similar features, with a built-in GPS, speakerphone, and fall detection system. The primary difference, here, will be the MGMini’s wristband, allowing it to be worn as a bracelet, as opposed to a pendant, as with the MGMini.

To learn more about this system, read our full MGMini Lite review.

MGMove Smartwatch

The MGMove smartwatch is a medical alert watch with many of the same features other smartwatches have, such as SMS text messaging, schedules, and weather forecasts — but it has the added bonus of a medical alert system. This device also features GPS tracking and Wi-Fi connectivity.

To learn more about this system, read our full MGMove watch review.

Previously Sold Systems

Medical Guardian has a long history of selling high-quality medical alert systems, including the Mobile 2.0 and Active Guardian systems. While Medical Guardian no longer sells these devices, they can still be purchased at retailers like Walmart and Best Buy.

Medical Guardian used to offer the Mobile 2.0 system; however, this model has been discontinued as of October 2023.

Using My Medical Guardian System

Since the Classic Guardian is one of the more basic models in the medical alert market, there isn’t a whole lot to the packaging, which helped keep things simple. When the unit arrived, it included:

• 1 base unit
• 1 power cable
• 1 phone cable
• 1 help button
• 1 fall-detection pendant
• 1 instruction manual

One thing that struck me immediately with the Classic Guardian is how sleek the hardware is. It’s often easy to tell when a medical alert company hasn’t updated its hardware design for a while, because the units may be oversized or feel outdated aesthetically. That Medical Guardian has newly updated hardware says a lot about its commitment to growth and innovation, which gives me confidence as a customer.

The base unit has a large, easily pressed emergency call button on the top, as well as three indicator lights representing power, phone-line connection strength, and malfunction. These lights are helpful to stay up to date on the device’s functions, and to make sure it’s operating properly.

Installation

The installation and setup process for the Classic Guardian was straightforward and intuitive. The first step was connecting the base station to a phone line. I then plugged in the base station and plugged my landline phone into the back of the base station, which was nice since it only required one wall port. The next step was powering on the device; I just needed to plug it into the wall using the included adapter.

Once the base station was powered on and connected to the phone line, I was instructed to call a phone number that would put the unit in test mode. Once in test mode, I pressed the emergency call button on the base unit and received a message stating that the device was functioning properly.

Testing Medical Guardian

The Classic Guardian is an extremely straightforward device, and I was also impressed with its reliability and functionality. To test it, I first pressed the main emergency call button. After an emergency alarm sounded (which informs anyone nearby that you may need help), I was put in contact with a Medical Guardian operator. The operator I spoke to was calm and friendly, and helped assess my situation to determine whether I needed emergency services.

I also tested the device by pressing the emergency call button on the pendant. Once activated, the base unit performed the same function: sound the alarm, call the operator. I tested the range of the two-way communication by standing in the next room, away from the device. The operator was still able to hear me clearly. It’s reassuring to know that if the operator wasn’t able to hear me, emergency services would be contacted after a period of no response.

The time between activating the unit and being connected to an operator was about a minute, which is about standard. It can feel like an eternity, though, especially when you factor in that the average response time for an ambulance is about eight to 15 minutes.

The fall detection on my system was also highly accurate. During each of my simulated falls, my pendant was able to detect a drop and contact the monitoring center without my pressing a button. I did not experience any false alarms, but a mistaken call would be easy to defuse. All I’d have to do is communicate the error to the response agent.

MyGuardian App and Portal

Available on both smartphones and computers, the MyGuardian App allowed me to keep track of monthly billing and emergency contacts. For example, using this platform, I was able to add contacts who would receive notifications whenever I placed an emergency call with my system.

Additionally, if you have either the Mobile 2.0 or Mini Guardian systems, you can keep tabs on a system’s location, battery life, and connection.

Medical Guardian Pricing

My Classic Guardian system with fall detection costs $39.95 per month, which is a bit higher than average for an in-home system. Medical Guardian offers discounts when you pay for your system annually as opposed to monthly.

With so many systems and add-ons, the price of your Medical Guardian system will likely vary. To learn more about Medical Guardian’s many devices and their prices, take a look at Medical Guardian costs page.

Medical Guardian vs. Bay Alarm Medical

In terms of medical alert companies, both Medical Guardian and Bay Alarm Medical are among our favorites. Both providers offer a variety of systems that can be used both in the home and on the go; however, in our tests, we found two key differences.

With Medical Guardian, we found that monitoring agents answered our calls in an average of eight seconds, while Bay Alarm Medical agents answered in an average of 16 seconds. While both of these response times are better than average, Medical Guardian consistently answered our emergency calls more quickly.

The other primary difference will be the price. Medical Guardian systems start at $29.95 per month, while Bay Alarm Medical Systems cost $24.95 per month. Across the board, we found that Bay Alarm Medical systems were rougly $5 cheaper per month.

To read our full comparison of these two providers, read our Medical Guardian and Bay Alarm Medical comparison.

Final Thoughts on Medical Guardian

There is a reason I chose Medical Guardian as one of the best medical alerts. The company offers many unique systems for every lifestyle, from homebound users to older adults who travel and go outside every day. Medical Guardian is the peak of what a medical alert system can be. The Classic Guardian is a simple, affordable system that does the basics flawlessly. I was blown away by its 1,300-foot range, as well as its easy setup and clear two-way communication.