Most of the monitoring companies charge about $30 a month. You can sometimes save money by paying for a year at a time. This discounted price is often what you see splashed across their websites. I don’t consider a difference of a couple of dollars a month significant, so I list these products as “about $30 a month.” This usually includes the equipment rental.
In alphabetical order:
Alert-1 is a monitored medical alert system that offers a waterproof button that is bright red on off-white plastic. There’s no contract. The button has a range of 600 feet. The unit is a base station speakerphone with two-way communication, but you have to be within voice range to talk with the monitoring center. They also have room buttons that you can put around your house; they work the same way as the button you carry.
Bay Alarm Medical offers monitored medical alert service for about $25 a month paid quarterly, or less if you pay for a full year. They use the standard “whole house speakerphone.” They are affiliate with a regular home alarm company that’s been in business in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1946. I’ve spoken with the company; they take pride in providing reliable service at a very good price. Visit Bay Alarm. Or you might want to read my insanely detailed review page. With videos…
Chaperone Medical Alert Systems offers medical alert monitoring for about $15 a month. In addition to regular emergency monitoring they also include a service they call “Care Call,” which is basically non-emergency help. They offer equipment rentals and also have an online store where they offer four different whole house speakerphone models. Some can interface with other elderly monitoring equipment. They offer an extension speakerphone to add distance within your home. They appear to provide monitoring for other alert units as well, so if you already have a unit or want to buy a better one than they sell, you might be able to use the unit with their monitoring service.
LifeGuardian is a monitored medical alert system that costs about $40 a month paid quarterly. They have 25 years of experience and offer two units. The basic unit is a two-way speakerphone and is available for purchase ($199) or monthly lease. They also have a model with two way communications through the pendant and a 600 foot range. This is available for $250. For that $50 difference, this is a big step up, but that doesn’t account for the fact that $199 seems like a very high price for the base unit. As you know from elsewhere on this site, I think two-way pendants like this one are a very good idea. They also offer a cell phone unit.
LifeFone is a monitored medical alert system that costs about $28 a month billed quarterly. They run their own monitoring center, a plus, and they’ve been in business since 1976. LifeFone currently uses the “standard” two-way base-station equipment because it’s time-tested and reliable. When I spoke with a representative from the company, he said the most important things are that the elderly person wears the button, the battery doesn’t need to be changed often, and the button is simple to press even in an emergency. LifeFone has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. They offer the LifeFone Emergency Care Plan™ that provides a customized response in an emergency based on your preferences.
LifeLine by Phillips offers a reasonably attractive button for their monitored medical alert service. Of special note is their “LifeLine with AutoAlert” system that can automatically detect a fall and notify the monitoring center without the user having to press the button. LifeLine equipment is self-checking and can notify the monitoring center if it detects a problem in its operation. The regular service starts at around $32 per month and it goes up for their two-way pendant with the AutoAlert feature. Call Lifeline at 888-871-7836 to find out the details (8am-9:30pm Eastern, M-F. 9am-6pm Sa. Closed Sunday.)
LifeStation is a monitored medical alert system that costs about $30 a month. They offer a waterproof button that can be worn as a necklace, on the wrist, or clipped to clothing. They advertise a 400 foot activation range, but the unit is a two-way speakerphone model, so if you’re out of voice range the monitoring center will simply follow your predefined instructions. LifeStation operates their own UL Listed monitoring center; they do not outsource their call answering. They offer free shipping and do not require a long-term contract. Click here to visit the LifeStation site.
MedicalAlert by ConnectAmerica is a monitored medical alert system with, in my opinion, an ugly button. They use a “whole-house” speakerphone that provides two way communication if you’re in range of the speakerphone.
Rescue Alert is a monitored medical alert system that manufactures it’s own equipment and has a great website that’s very upfront about the company and about its competitors. Their equipment is fairly attractive. They also have recently introduced a mobile unit that appears to dial 911 as a cell phone. Their prices range from about $30 a month for equipment rental and monitoring down to just about $15 a month if you buy the equipment outright for about $199.
Back to the main monitored medical alerts page
Links on this page may be affiliate links, which means I may receive a financial thank you from the company.
lifewatch is powered by Bosch and offers any pendant style color chain wrist watch necklace version a senior could want. They also offer the MEDILOK lock box for preventing broken doors.
They also have longest range and personalized custom solutions to answer all concerns like fall alert, gps, alert 911 watches, med monitoring, med reminders, telehealth and medical alarms…
Thanks for your comment, Sarai.
The list is not yet complete! Thanks for adding this information. I’ll be doing reviews of LifeWatch and including them in this page.
There are many other companies left out, too.
Bravo ! Joe
You have touched upon all the important factors a family member should consider before buying or renting a medical alert system for their loved ones.Your website is an important must read for anyone researching medical alert systems.
When I first read your unbiased site, I was favorably impressed with the legitimacy you promulgate in revewing medical alert vendors. Your reviews are straight forward, honest, and most of all, NOT SELF ENRICHING COMPARED TO OTHER MEDICAL ALERT REVIEW SITES. Not once did you call me to offer a free review on your site if we advertise our medical alert services on your site.
I highly recommend this valuable asset to anyone looking to acquire a medical alert system.
Keep up the honest good work.
L. Russell Sessler
President
Chaperone Medical Alert Systems
Thanks so much for your comment and your kind words, Russell. One of the reasons I started this site is that I saw so many “review” sites that weren’t doing anything to make buying a medical alert less confusing. In fact, they made it more confusing. I appreciate your recommendation. Thank you!
Dear Joe, I want to thank you so much for your help this is an incredible, informational page…thank you! I went with Life Guardian, but, I chose the GPS medical alert cell phone. How do you feel about these. I chose it only because my mother does have medical conditions but, she is still very active for her age. I do not want her to be scared to do the things she likes to do and fall to a state of depression, although that is not her nature, but you never know. Any feed back you may have is greatly appreciated
Hi, Pam. Thanks for your comment. I’m glad the page is so helpful for you. From what I can see, the LifeGuardian GPS medical alert cell phone is a well-designed unit. As long as it’s as easy to use as they claim, then it provides quick access to you, other family members, and emergency help. The GPS system is critical in a unit like this, I believe. If it feels right for your mother, that’s what matters most. I agree that keeping active and not feeling restricted in your activities is so important for elderly people.
Thank you so much for this help. It is difficult to navigate anywhere without a chart and you have provided not just a chart but a GPS for us.
Thanks, Earl!