When you first start to look for a medical alert system, the variety of systems can feel a little overwhelming.
But it’s less complicated than you might think.
The first distinction is between medical alerts that call a monitoring center (I call these “monitored medical alerts“) and ones that are pre-programmed to dial friends, family, or anyone else you choose, including 911 (I call these “no-fee medical alerts” because you don’t pay a monthly fee for the service).
Monitored medical alerts are the ones you see advertised on TV and in magazines. They’re very popular, but they are more expensive than no-fee alerts.
The next difference is the design of the equipment. There are two main designs. In the first, your panic button activates a base station unit with a speakerphone. You talk to the responder using the speakerphone. In the second design, the panic button contains a small cordless phone, so you’re “talking through the pendant.”
And then, of course, there’s the area of cell phone and mobile medical alerts. These are available in monitored and friends & family versions, with many different kinds of equipment. My favorites at this point are the various offerings from GreatCall, including their Jitterbug5 (aff) and Jitterbug Touch (aff) phones, and their Splash mobile medical alert (aff). You’ll also probably want to check out the mobile offerings from Medical Guardian (aff).
Click here for a short list of medical alert systems I like, sorted by type.
This comparison table can help you understand the basic differences between different kinds of medical alerts.
| No-Fee (not monitored) |
Monitored: “Speakerphone” |
Monitored: “2-Way Pendant” |
Cell Phone / Hybrid | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | A no-fee system dials 911 or friends & family in a pre-programmed sequence. The person who answers helps you out. | This is the basic medical alert. You wear a panic button on your wrist or around your neck. Press it to call the monitoring center, and communicate through a powerful two-way speakerphone. | The talk-through-the-pendant system is a big upgrade to the classic medical alert.
Instead of a panic button, you carry a small pendant that allows two-way voice communication with the monitoring center, anywhere within range of the base station. |
The newest technology, ranging from cellphone-only solutions to hybrid systems that act like a speakerphone solution at home and cell solution around town. |
| Advantages |
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| Disadvantages |
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| Best For | Good if you need to control monthly costs, are concerned about giving personal information to a monitoring center, and have family & friends nearby to help. | Good for less active people living in relatively small homes.
Systems are very simple to use and test, so they are good for a wide range of people. |
Best for anyone living in a larger home, or for someone who is still active around their home.
The ability to communicate clearly wherever you are around your home is the real benefit of this unit. |
Good for someone who really wants coverage both at home and away, which implies they are active and out and about quite a bit, and functioning at a pretty high level. |
| Details | Read about No-Fee Medical Alerts | Click here for reviews of standard monitored medical alert companies | Solution: The MediPendant | Click Here |
Click here for a short list of medical alert systems I like, sorted by type.
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