MedicalAlertBuyersGuide.org is an independent review site. We may earn compensation from the providers below. Learn More
Last Updated On:
Between 2012 and 2022, the percentage of American adults using landline phones fell from more than 60% to just 28.7%, significantly reducing the market for landline-based medical alert systems. However, these systems are still essential in regions with poor or nonexistent cell service. Landline medical alert systems provide a crucial safety net in rural, mountainous, or sparsely populated areas during emergencies. The American College of Emergency Physicians recommends personal emergency response systems for older adults, particularly those living alone. It’s encouraging to see that many top providers still offer landline-compatible systems, delivering reliable service at affordable rates.
Our team evaluated landline-based medical alert systems from four companies: Bay Alarm Medical, Medical Guardian, Medical Alert, and Lifeline. We assessed each system based on user-friendliness, cost, reliability, customer support, and other factors to identify the best in-home landline medical alert option.
Disclosure: In order to provide this free service to our visitors, Medicalalertbuyersguide.org may receive compensation if a purchase is made through this website.
| SOS Home Landline | SOS Home Cellular | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Subscription | $25.95 / mo | $31.95 / mo |
| Fall Detection Cost | $8/month, plus $30 equipment fee | $8/month, plus $30 equipment fee |
| Key Lockbox | Yes - $30.00 | Yes - $30.00 |
| Shipping Cost | $12.00 standard shipping | $12.00 standard shipping |
Bay Alarm Medical "SOS Home Landline" Overview
Bay Alarm Medical is a comprehensive medical alert provider, offering a variety of systems to suit different needs and lifestyles. These include basic landline systems, cellular-based options, GPS-enabled devices, and medical alert smartwatches. The company is well-known for its competitive pricing, prompt customer support, and quick, dependable response times.
Bay Alarm Medical delivers on its promise of providing high-quality service at affordable rates, which is why we’ve selected it as our 2024 Editor’s Choice for home landline medical alert systems. The website is user-friendly and informative, featuring user manuals, troubleshooting tips, and short videos demonstrating how each system works and how to set it up. This makes comparing options and pricing straightforward. The sales representatives were more focused on helping us find the right system than just making a sale, encouraging us to explore the FAQ and video sections before deciding.
During the checkout process, Bay Alarm Medical registers your medical alert system. This means that when you conduct your initial test, they already have your details on file, saving you the hassle of waiting on hold to activate the system by providing your personal information. After setup, testing is ready to go immediately.
The unboxing and testing process is fast and simple, taking only about five minutes. We successfully reached the base system from 1,000 feet away, and the help button had a quick response time, connecting to the monitoring center within about 40 seconds.
Bay Alarm Medical’s optional fall detection feature is excellent. We couldn’t trick it with activities like bumping the device or doing jumping jacks, but when simulating a real fall, the system promptly alerted the monitoring center. Since falls are a leading cause of emergency calls, reliable fall detection is a crucial safety feature.
We highly recommend adding fall detection to any medical alert device, especially for those living alone or in isolated areas. The Bay Alarm Medical help button can be worn as either a pendant or wristband. The necklace strap is adjustable, which is important for safety, particularly for shorter individuals. Fall detection requires its own pendant, so wearing the regular help button on a wristband may be more comfortable.
The SOS Landline System from Bay Alarm Medical is quite similar to Medical Guardian’s Classic Guardian system. While Medical Guardian offers additional options for a more customized system, these add-ons can quickly increase costs, and their basic service is already pricier than Bay Alarm Medical’s.
Overall, we find Bay Alarm Medical’s combination of affordability and strong customer service to be a great choice for those needing a landline medical alert system.
Read our full, hands-on review of the SOS Home medical alert system.
| Home System | |
Programming Fee | $99.95 |
Shipping | $24.95 |
Monthly Monitoring | $27.95 Landline / $37.95 Cellular |
Optional Fall Detection | $10.00 / month |
Total Cost (First Year) | $580.30 |
Medical Alert System Overview
MedicalAlert.com’s landline Home System is marketed as “basic monitoring equipment,” and it lives up to that description. Fall detection is available as an add-on for an extra cost. Customers opting for semi-annual or annual plans benefit from discounted monitoring fees and free shipping.
For a landline medical alert system, the initial costs are high. The $99.95 programming fee is steep, especially since many competitors don’t charge for similar services. Additionally, the $24.95 shipping fee is higher than what other companies typically charge.
We recommend reaching out directly to Medical Alert for more specific details about the Home System. While the website is easy to navigate, it lacks comprehensive product information. Thankfully, Medical Alert is easily accessible by phone, with minimal hold times and helpful, knowledgeable sales representatives.
In terms of performance, the system was both reliable and fast. In our tests, response times ranged between 45 seconds and one minute. The fall detection was particularly impressive, performing accurately across multiple tests and resisting efforts to trick it into triggering false alarms.
Medical Alert’s Home System stood out as having the most effective fall detection among all the landline systems we reviewed. This is especially important, given that research from the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society indicates that detecting real-life falls can be challenging. If fall detection is a top priority for you, this system could be a strong option.
Although the landline system and fall detection performed well, we found the account management app to be frustrating and difficult to use. Additionally, the return and refund process was cumbersome. Customers are responsible for notifying the billing department upon returning the unit, and it can take more than a month to receive a refund after the unit is sent back. Overall, customer support was lacking compared to other companies we reviewed.
If you’re looking for a basic, reliable landline medical alert system with limited features, Medical Alert might be a suitable choice. However, make sure to carefully review the return policy and deadlines to avoid overcharges or delays in receiving a refund if you decide the service isn’t right for you.
| 24/7 monitoring subscription | Add automatic fall detection | |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Alert Basic Landline | from $31.99/mo | n/a |
| Medical Alert Plus Cellular | from $37.99/mo | + $11/mo |
| On-The-Go Home + Mobile | from $39.99/mo | + $11/mo |
Exclusive Offer
Get $5 off monthly monitoring + free 2-day shipping + free lockbox. Available on all medical alert systems with annual billing.
Savings of $120 in the first year:
– $60 in monitoring per year
– $59.98 one-time savings with free shipping and lockbox
ADT Health Overview
ADT’s Medical Alert systems provide 24/7 monitoring and emergency assistance for seniors or individuals with medical conditions who might need help during a fall or other health emergencies. Users wear a device, such as a pendant or wristband, with a button that directly connects them to ADT’s monitoring center when pressed.
Among the top five systems we evaluated, ADT’s equipment was the least impressive. The in-home unit had a noticeable yellowish tint, and the mobile device felt cheaply made with its plasticky appearance. Despite this, ADT remains a trusted name when it comes to monitoring services. The monitoring center assesses the situation and dispatches emergency aid if necessary. The systems also come with additional features such as fall detection and GPS tracking for added security.
ADT offers a variety of subscription plans tailored to different needs and budgets, allowing users to choose a package that fits their preferences.
| Lifeline HomeSafe | |
|---|---|
Activation Fee | $99.95 |
Shipping | $29.95 |
Monthly Monitoring | $29.95 Landline / $39.95 Cellular |
Optional Fall Detection | $15.00 / Month |
Total Cost (First Year) | $669.30 |
LifeLine HomeSafe Overview
Lifeline pioneered the home medical alert system nearly 50 years ago and is now owned by Philips, part of the ConnectAmerica suite of services for older adults. Lifeline is known for its outstanding customer service, and its HomeSafe system is easy to set up and activate. For those who prefer, professional installation is available for $99. The HomeSafe AutoAlert system is well suited for users without reliable cellular service, offering added peace of mind. However, it comes with a higher price tag and fewer features than some lower-cost competitors.
Lifeline provides significant discounts for AARP members, including free product activation and shipping. To take advantage of these offers, have your AARP membership number ready when purchasing the system.
In terms of performance, the help button had impressively fast response times—during 10 tests, all calls connected within 20 seconds. Each call’s details were recorded in the Caregiver Portal. However, we encountered delays in some fall detection tests, with response times exceeding two minutes. This was concerning, as operators couldn’t explain the delays, and timely assistance is critical in medical emergencies.
Subscribers have access to the Lifeline Cares app, which links to the Caregiver Portal. The app is available on both Apple and Android devices, and users can also access the portal from a desktop computer.
Lifeline makes cancellation and returns easy. Be sure to keep the original shipping box and the “Equipment Return” envelope, which includes a prepaid FedEx label for returning the equipment.
Lifeline stands out for its top-notch customer service, clear instructional materials, user-friendly Cares app, and hassle-free returns process.
Read our full review of Lifeline HomeSafe.
2024 Editor's Choice
We selected Bay Alarm Medical’s SOS Home Landline as the best value for its combination of affordability, outstanding customer service, and fast response times. For those who aren’t concerned about price, Medical Guardian’s Classic Guardian could be the top choice. This system offers an enhanced caregiver portal and can be perfect for users not concerned with cost but seeking a reliable landline system with extended range.
Our team is here to help you make an informed decision when choosing the right medical alert system for you or your loved one. Depending on specific needs and preferences, a home landline system might—or might not—be the best fit.
Please feel free to share this resource if you found it helpful!