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Many often confusing choices need to be made when your senior loved one starts needing more help staying in their home. Since a healthy, aging-in-place plan often includes home monitoring, many consumers turn to home medical alert systems to provide a basic level of security, as well as communication in times of distress for your older friend or relative. How can the discerning family member decide which is appropriate for your unique living situation?
We compare the best home medical alert systems below:
Bay Alarm Medical
As our culture continues to become more diverse, the needs of our senior loved ones will need to be accommodated. That’s why Bay Alarm Medical is a good choice for those in bilingual families, or that speak English as a second language. With live support for over 170 languages and coverage in all 50 states – even Alaska and Hawaii – it’s earned praise from users for convenience and reliability. Service is priced competitively with other providers (as low s $19.95 a month with their annual plan), and a 30-day in-home trial can help you determine if it will be a good fit for you.
While the connected in-home base will be enough for most homes, more active seniors can benefit from the additional GPS components, which can be taken anywhere they travel. An in-car unit can be installed easily to help caregivers know where their loved ones are at any time – even if they forget to check in or take long their GPS pendant. Bundled packages save money, and fall alert detection is a convenient add-on that can provide extra peace of mind for families at a low price. Compatible with landline, VOIP, and internet phone providers, it’s a no-contract solution that can be set up in minutes and earns it a top spot in our list of the top in home medical alert systems available today.
A connected home can be a safe and happy home. That’s why the products available from MobileHelp have been providing a feeling of security for seniors, their caregivers, and their loved ones for over a decade. Their products include standard in-home, GPS, and fall-detection monitors, but what makes them really stand out is their monitoring software solutions. Their MobileHelp Connect tools can give caregivers and physicians a snapshot of health and activity at any moment. Weight and blood pressure may be included in tracking. The system includes the ability to set medication reminders and tracking, as well.
Priced at a competitive rate to other providers on the market, MobileHelp is an innovative approach toward in-home medical alert systems. Designed for providing a holistic model of care for all ages (children to adults), their products and tools can ease some of the more demanding difficulties of in-home care. With no contracts or expensive equipment to buy up-front, it’s an economical choice, too.
This in-home medical alert company has been around since 1976, proving that in-home monitoring has been a need for some time. What makes LifeFone truly unique is their commitment to families. While many alert companies are designed to monitor one person in the home, LifeFone will allow you to add a second person (usually a spouse) for free to the basic coverage. (Fall protection is an additional $5-10 a month.) This provides a very affordable option for couples who choose to remain in the home together.
A rather wide range of coverage (up to 1300 feet in any direction from the base) and the addition of fully-waterproof pendants and bracelets make LifeFone standout in the industry, as well. As with other companies on our list, they will honor month-to-month agreements, with the biggest savings coming from annual commitments. Users are always free, however, to cancel at any time; the remaining portion of any prepaid plan will be refunded upon equipment return, providing for a low-risk way to get in-home medical alert coverage for a very reasonable price.
An industry disrupter that’s been around for some time, LifeStation was one of the first to break the trend of lengthy contract requirements to give seniors and their loved ones reasonable, monthly service fees. With all of the standard equipment other companies offer (such as GPS, in-home, and fall detection), this company has earned consistently high marks from customers and their loved ones. Their customer service reps are all CSAA certified and trained specifically for the industry, so callers can be assured that the proper steps will be taken to get family, friends, or emergency services to the home quickly – no matter what the situation.
Automatic weekly test timers check into the live center every seven days to ensure everything is working perfectly. Once fully charged, the system will protect your loved one with a lengthy 32-hour backup battery life. A referral appreciation program will reward users who send their friends to LifeStation a $25 gift card for each successful signup. With competitive rates and sound service, LifeStation has earned its place on our list of best home medical alert systems.
Conclusion
Since any claim of being the “best” is completely dependent on your family’s unique situation and needs, we chose to offer a handful of the highest-rated companies to choose from. With stellar track records for response times and customer service, industry-standard pricing, and no restrictive contracts, all of these companies would be a sound choice for anyone looking for added protection for their senior loved one or special needs, adult. Some families are even finding the systems to be a good fit for older teenagers or young adults with special health considerations and who may benefit from simple monitoring and tracking tools to regain independence and live a normal life. These in-home medical alert systems have been changing lives for thousands of people for decades, and AARP recommends them for seniors. What kind of added protection and freedom can they offer you?
Check our 2018 Reviews page for more ways to compare medical alert systems.
