Medical Alert Device Mistakes

Don’t make these 3 mistakes when buying a medical alert device:

1. Fail to assess your real needs.

When you start looking for one a medical alert device, one of the first things you’ll want to do is take a few minutes to assess the needs you have for a medical alert system. If you just dive right in to looking at manufacturer’s websites, you’ll get caught up in monthly prices, money-back guarantees, and various claims about the effective range of the panic button pendant. I’m not saying these aren’t important issues, but first you need to consider whether a medical alert system even makes sense in your situation. Then you need to assess whether a no-fee system will work for you, or if you need a monitored solution.

You’ll also want to do some careful thinking about what features you actually need from a medical alert device. For example, almost every company tries to claim their device has the longest range. But do you really need long range? Maybe, maybe not. For example, if you’re buying this system for a home-bound senior living in a compact house, you don’t need a long-range panic button. If you let yourself get distracted by the range issue, you might miss an affordable, high-quality solution.

2. Get confused when comparing options.

Fact is, researching these systems can get pretty confusing. The names are all so similar. LifeStation. LifeLine. LifeAlert. LifeLink. Who could possibly keep all these medical alert devices separate? The problem is compounded by the fact that many of the websites of these companies haven’t been updated in several years. They don’t reveal all the details you need. Instead, they want you to call their sales centers so that a live operator can get your contact information and (maybe) pressure you into a quick sale.

One of the biggest problems with allowing yourself to get confused is that you might never get around to purchasing a medical alert device. This leaves you (or your loved-one) unprotected.

To beat the confusion, get organized. Make a list of all the companies you’re interested in, and draw columns to compare such things as cost, range, etc. And then you’ll want an area where you can write out what you find out about the quality of their monitoring center.

3. Focusing too much on the monthly cost.

If you focus too much on cost of the medical alert device, you’ll be at risk of making a mistake with your purchase. This isn’t to say cost doesn’t matter. It does. But don’t put it first. Instead, evaluate your needs and the features of the equipment. Most monitored solutions come in at somewhere between $20 and $30 a month. Yes, this adds up to a $100+ difference per year, but remember that prompt response in an emergency could save many times that amount of money. It’s sort of like buying new tires for your car when the old ones get bald. No one likes to have to spend this money, but staying on the road is much cheaper than going off: your insurance deductible and the cost of towing are easily more than the set of tires, not to mention the risk of bodily damage.

4. Bonus! Get locked into a long-term contract.

Some companies insist on a long-term contract. There’s no need for this. Plenty of quality companies will offer you a good price on a medical alert device with month-to-month service.