A monitored medical alert system is a medical alert button and base station that call a professionally-staffed call center when the panic button is pushed.
The other kind of medical alarm is a “no-fee” alarm that just dials 911 or a list of friends and family.
The big difference is that you get a trained responder on the other end of the line. And you have to pay a monthly fee.
The live operator can talk with you to find out what’s wrong, and dispatch appropriate help. Sometimes this is as simple as calling your neighbor to have them come over to help you. Other times it might be that you need urgent help because you’ve fallen or gotten injured. In this case they can call the ambulance. Then they can also call a family member to notify them.
Different monitored systems
There are three basic types of systems that monitored medical alert companies provide.
The differences are in the technology that’s used to connect you to the monitoring center.
Different types of monitoring centers
Some monitoring centers are owned by the company that you’re buying the service from. Others are “contract” centers that provide emergency monitoring for various companies.
While it seems obvious that you should go with a company that has its own monitoring center, there are also reasons why a company that contracts out its monitoring could be an okay choice. For example, new companies that are just coming on the market – which sometimes have better equipment and policies than the existing companies – might need to use a contract center until they get big enough. Plus a contract center specializes only in emergency calls, and as a company they’re not distracted by trying to sell medical alert systems.
It is important that you work with a company that has a monitoring center located in the country where you are.
See reviews and detailed information
Below are all the monitored medical alert systems I’ve reviewed. I strongly recommend diving into my long explanation of how to choose a system before you start looking at reviews.
Information may have changed. Please confirm it for yourself.
You can also look at this same list by type: base station speakerphone, hybrid, or mobile.
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