Because the number of medical alert companies can be overwhelming, I’ve selected a few that I like to include on this page. I hope this will make your decision easier.
1. My Favorite Medical Alert
My favorite medical alert is the Medipendant by Medical Alarm Concepts. I think it’s got the best mix of great coverage throughout the house and yard, combined with ease of use and a company that really stands behind their product. It’s a monitored medical alert that has a pendant you can talk through (instead of a speakerphone base station). Read my Medipendant review.
2. My Favorite Standard Monitored Medical Alerts
For standard speakerphone models, pretty much all the companies provide very similar equipment and very similar monitoring. Two companies I like are Bay Alarm Medical and LifeStation. They both have pretty much the same equipment, but their prices and policies are a little different. Bay Alarm is cheaper.
3. My Favorite Cell Phone and Mobile Alert
For cell phone and mobile alerts, I like the products from GreatCall, including the Splash that connects to the 5Star Personal Security system.
4. My Favorite No-fee Alerts
No fee alerts call your friends and family instead of a monitoring station. Some people like them because you don’t have to pay the monthly fee to the monitoring company. The unit I like best is the Logicmark Freedom Alert, approx. $280. (That link takes you to my complete review of the system.) They also have a less expensive version that only dials 911. It’s the Logicmark Guardian Alert 911 (approx. $150).
If the whole point of wearing a personal alarm unit is for emergencies, why are they all so UGLY? My mother keeps hers in a drawer and I don’t blame her! I wouldn’t give it to my neighbor’s barking dog to wear. It looks like it’s worth all of 35 cents. If these companies who distribute these devices are truly concerned about their customers’ welfare, why don’t they give them an ATTRACTIVE pendant to wear so it will actually be worn as intended? Shame on them.
I agree! A while ago I wrote a blog post all about this. I think it has a lot to do with the lack of value our culture as a whole places on the elderly. Sorry, but older people still care about how they look!
Hi Joe,
I’ve been researching all the systems and using your links to check reviews and things. It’s been very helpful. My mom is 85 and still gets around to go to church and whatnot, so I was more interested in the Jitterbug 5Star system, except she already has a cell phone and didn’t want a Jitterbug. However, I recently came across an update to their website and now they have a push button responder that is sold separately – it’s one button, has a GPS in it and you can either call one of their responders, if you’re stranded in a broken down car, if you’re lost, or if you hold the button down it calls 911. I’m going to look at them at Sears today. They clip to a pocket, purse or keychain, but I read that you can get a necklace chain for them. They are a little large, like the medipendant, but they don’t seem to be as clunky looking. Clipping it to her purse would probably work for my mom or she could clip it to her pants when she’s home. Have you reviewed the 5Star Responder thing yet? I looked and couldn’t find it. I think it just came out within the last couple of months. I’m interested if any of your other readers have tried it. At $15 / month, it might be the way to go for people who are still getting around on their own, because it’s not linked to a base station in the house.
Hi, Karen–
Thanks for your comment. I have discussed the 5Star Emergency Responder unit over on another page (https://findtherightalert.com/the-5star-responder-personal-gps-device). Basically I agree with your assessment. It’s a good unit, nice looking and very affordable. I’ve had a couple of readers who have gone with it and I think have been happy (I encouraged them to be in touch if they had anything to say about it, and since I haven’t heard back I assume all is well). The downside to be aware of is that battery life is not likely to be anywhere near as good as with the Medipendant. So it’s a new habit to learn to charge it up and then make sure to be carrying it. (Won’t do you any good if it’s on the charging station when you have an emergency).
We are looking for some sort of a device that my parents can communicate with each other in the house. Something that my mom can push a button which would sound an alarm to my dad. Any suggestions?
The best idea I have is to get a Freedom Alert from LogicMark (see like above or use the search box on the site) and then have it ring your dad’s cell phone (assuming he has one or is willing to get one). Do you think that would work? Of course you can use a cordless phone system for communicating within a house (most have intercom features) but that would assume your mom would always be carrying around a cordless phone handset, which is unlikely).
Thanks for your website, Joe! Do you have an opinion about LIfeWatch? We are looking at the GPS system they offer, but there have been several complaints about the company registered with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and there are other complaints online. I like the MobileHelp GPS system, except that Grandma would need the pendant AND the mobile Anywhere Button unit, which is two things for her to remember instead of just one. She is 94 and legally blind (except for limited peripheral vision) from macular degeneration, and the only reason we need a GPS system is that she is physically between two residences on a regular basis, one supervised and one not. LifeWatch sounds good because it’s just one device to deal with, but I’m hesitant regarding the number of complaints. Please advise!
I think MobileHelp is a better choice in this situation. (and I replied in detail by email)
P.S. Tell your readers to be careful with the word “waterproof.” I was told that anything with a transmitter in it is only water resistant, not waterproof. That could be a decision-maker issue.
I am wondering if there is any kind of alert system that can be used by my parents, one of which is deaf when he takes out his battery for his cochlea implant. Is there some kind of system that would alert him if my mom fell or had issues when he is sleeping? One that would either vibrate or turn the lights on and off?
Great question, Julie. I don’t know of an alert system that fits your needs, but here’s my idea for a workaround. Get your mom a monitored medical alarm that meets her needs (see above) and then get some kind of flasher or vibrating unit for the phone. That way your mom could activate the system and if it’s not a medical emergency the agents could just call the home phone number to set off the vibration and flashing lights. I guess your dad would need to put in his battery to be able to take the phone call, but of course your mom would probably be able to tell the monitoring agent that he was up and about. What do you think?
I’m researching for my dad. Just a comment. It IS okay to call 911 when you fall. I’m an EMT and we really don’t mind responding for a fall. It’s good to get checked out and you don’t HAVE to go to the hospital if you don’t want.
Lee Anne, thanks so much for sharing your knowledge! Seems like there are a lot of situations where it would be good to get checked out after a fall. Not just for injuries, but also because the responders might be able to figure out that some other issue is going on that caused the fall.
My father does not have a regular sleep schedule but instead sleeps and gets up in bits and pieces all day and night. Therefore, to be useful, he would need a system he could sleep with and not accidentally set off. Can you sleep with most of these without accidentally activating them?
Very tough for any system to be set off accidentally when sleeping. Most have recessed buttons that have to be pushed deliberately. Your tradeoff will be that the most convenient button to wear (the kind that you can’t talk through, but which is low-profile on the wrist) comes with the tradeoff of the “base station speakerphone.” The Medipendant is a little bulkier, and is usually worn around the neck. This may not be as comfortable for your father, but that would depend on his preference. (For one 96-year-old I know, this would not be a problem.)
I’m looking for a system for my 91 year old father in law. He lives alone on a farm. He is in great shape, extremely independent, but living an hour from him we worry when he is out walking fields and pastures. I’m looking for something mobile and possibly in home. His house is made of very thick limestone and cell service inside the home is terrible. What is your best suggestion? It would need to be easy to use and charge.
Hi, Teresa. Great question. Thanks for the details. At this point I’m going to suggest you look at the Duo from MobileHelp. It’s got an in-home system and a mobile unit. So your dad would wear the wrist button all the time but when he heads out he grabs the mobile unit off the charger base and carries that in his pocket. If he gets in trouble out on the farm he’ll be able to talk to the monitoring center. But you’ll need to talk to MobileHelp about getting a base station unit that works with his landline, since the cell signal isn’t good in his house.