Best Medical Alert System

Note: This article was written shortly after I started this site. My thinking has evolved somewhat. I still think this is a great system, but now I lean more toward the monitored medical alerts with the talk-through-the-pendant feature. But if you want an affordable no-fee system, this is a great choice.

After learning a lot about the different types of medical alert systems on the market, I’ve decided which no-fee system I will seriously look into buying for my own parents when they need it.

The system I’ve chosen is the LogicMark Guardian Alert 911 Emergency Alert System.

Why? Because it does the best job of doing the one thing a medical alert device really has to do: GET MEDICAL HELP IN AN EMERGENCY.

Here are some testimonials from people who have purchased this medical alert.

Connie J. of Beaumont, TX. Thanks for a great product. I fell recently and used the Guardian Alert to summon help. 911 was there in minutes. I am so happy with this product, that I am telling everyone about it.

Burt B. of Daytona, FL. Not long ago my father had a mild stroke. And, because of the quick response that Guardian Alert provided (even though he could not speak), his life was saved. I am convinced that if my father did not have the Guardian Alert product, I would have lost him. Thank you!

Robert E. of Castlebury, FL. I purchased the Guardian Alert 911 in 2007. Over a year later in December of 2008, I felt bad and checked myself into the hospital. I was discharged a few days later. Two days from my discharge, I had a sudden heart attack and found myself on the floor. I had my Guardian Alert with me and pushed the button. EMT showed up within minutes and administered support. I am doing great today. At 75 years old, and living alone, I feel so secure knowing that the Guardian Alert is with me at all times in case I need it. I am telling everyone about it. Thank you!

As you probably know, there are a confusing variety of medical alert devices on the market. It’s bewildering to search through Google trying to figure out which one does what, and which one meets your needs.

There are two basic kinds of systems. The first connects you to a staffed monitoring center that can talk with you and assess your condition. This is great because they can discover how severe your situation is and either send an ambulance or just call a family member to go visit you.

The second kind is also called an autodialer. This system dials 4 phone numbers in sequence until someone answers. One of these numbers can include 911.

Each of these systems has pros and cons. For the first, the big problem is the ongoing monthly cost (though there are benefits associated with this service). For the second, they system might not reach anyone, depending who you’ve programmed into it.

And for both of these types of systems, another big problem is that the medical alert buttons are just “one-way.” This means that when you press the button, you can’t talk through it, but you have to be near a phone or within talking range of the base station. This almost defeats the purpose of the alert setup.

As I’ve researched these systems, there always seems to be a big problem with each one. Of course, the manufacturers don’t mention it.

The LogicMark Guardian Alert 911 Emergency Alert System does the best job of overcoming all of my objections.

1. It only dials 911. This is good because if you have a true medical emergency you don’t want to wait an extra 10 minutes while your alert system dials 4 different people’s numbers, only to end up not reaching anyone. If you have a medical emergency like a stroke or heart attack, you want help right away. Dialing 911 is always the best way to get help in an emergency (though please don’t use it for non-emergency situations!)
2. The panic button is a two-way phone. The unit you carry with you is basically a tiny cordless phone. Once you press the medical alert button you’ll be connected to the 911 operator and you can have a conversation with them. This way they’ll know you have a true medical emergency.
3. The panic button unit has a range of 600 feet. This is a huge difference from other units that only have a range of about 100 feet. That’s fine if you’re always inside your house, and if your house isn’t large. But if you like to garden or be outside, you’ll want a pendant that has a long range.
4. The pendant is water resistant. You can even take it in the shower. In fact, you should!
5. The pendant runs for a year on one AAA battery. This means you don’t have to change it often, but when you do, it’s a commonly-available battery.

I should note that some people really like the idea of being able to call friends and family before calling 911. But I think that if you can’t get to a regular phone to call a family member, chances are you really do need 911.

As always, I think about whether this product would have helped my grandmother when she fell and broke her hip on the stairs in the middle of the night (she lay there for over 12 hours before a friend came by to visit). This product wins on all counts: it would have summoned help quickly, would have worked despite the fact that she was far from where the base station would have been connected, and she could have spoken to the 911 operator to tell them how to get into the house, which was locked.

Do you still have questions? Leave them in the comments and I’ll answer them as soon as I can.

Go check out the LogicMark Guardian Alert 911 Emergency Alert System.