MedicalAlertBuyersGuide.org is an independent review site. We may earn compensation from the providers below. Learn More
866-359-5606Lively Mobile+ Review
Last Updated On: | 10 Minute Read
July 2024 | ReliaScore™ 7.5 / 10
Table of Contents
- Product Overview
- Features
- Mobile+ Specifications
- Our Ordering Experience
- Our Testing Experience
- Pricing
- Summary
Product Overview
The Lively Mobile+ is a straightforward medical alert device designed specifically for its purpose, featuring GPS location tracking and optional fall detection. It operates on the Verizon 4G LTE network, ensuring nationwide coverage. The service includes a 24/7 USA-based monitoring call center, access to medical professionals, and direct connectivity to 911.
The device is priced competitively, with some of the lowest hardware costs in the industry, along with an affordable monthly service plan. In our experience, customer service was outstanding—friendly, supportive, and transparent. There were no hidden fees, high-pressure sales tactics, or unsolicited communications.
Lively is now owned by Best Buy and also sells the Jitterbug cell phones.
Lively Mobile+ competes with other leading mobile medical alerts, including:
- Bay Alarm Medical’s SOS Mobile (ReliaScore 8.8/10)
- Medical Guardian’s MG Mobile 2.0 (ReliaScore 8.5/10)
- Lifeline On The Go (ReliaScore 8.0/10)
- MobileHelp Micro (ReliaScore 7.5/10)
- MedicalAlert.com Mobile (ReliaScore 7.0/10)
Key Features
- Built-in, nationwide GPS
- Optional fall detection
- Two-way communication with the monitoring center
- Can call 911 directly
- Nurse or doctor who can prescribe medications available directly through the Mobile+
- The device is rainproof and waterproof, may be submerged up to 30 minutes in 3.3 feet of water
- Battery life is up to 80 hours in standby mode
- Monitoring team is 100% US-based and trained in CPR and other emergency procedures
- Runs on the Verizon 4G LTE network, so you can check your area’s coverage before purchase
- Qualifies as an eligible medical expense under IRS rules
- AARP discount available
Mobile+ Specifications
- Height: 2.63″
- Width: 1.67″
- Depth: 0.65″
- Weight: 1.98 oz.
- Network – 4G LTE with CDMA fallback support
- Location – GPS with WPS using Qualcomm© IZat™ Location Services
- Battery life – 930 mAh Lithium-ion battery offering up to 80 hours standby time
- Indicators – Battery LED and Service LED
- Waterproof rating – IPX7, immersion in water at 3.3 feet for up to 30 minutes
Our Ordering Experience
Website review
Lively’s website is well-designed and user-friendly. With the Mobile+ as the sole mobile medical alert device in Lively’s product lineup, there are no multiple options to sift through, and information about the device is presented clearly.
Initially, the total cost and discounts were somewhat confusing. The $35 activation fee was only disclosed after entering payment information. However, since our testing of the Mobile+, Lively has updated its website to improve transparency, now explicitly stating: “Tax, shipping, and activation separate.”
NOTES: A phone representative informed us of the activation fee upfront before purchase, highlighting the value of reaching out with questions, even if you plan to finalize your order online. And as of March 2024, Lively’s website no longer lists the activation fee, so it’s uncertain if it’s still being applied.
Sales & Service Contacts
Our experience with Lively’s representatives was completely positive. Before making a purchase, the representative recommended a lower-cost option to ensure our relative would feel comfortable using the device. They suggested upgrading later to include features like Urgent Care, Lively Link, and Fall Detection if needed. The activation fee was also disclosed upfront.
After the purchase, we received a voluntary customer survey via email but no unsolicited follow-ups. Throughout the process, we interacted with various departments: sales pre-purchase, the call center during testing, support on two occasions, and customer service when initiating a return. At no point did we feel pressured to overbuy or keep the device during the refund process. All interactions were friendly, supportive, and hassle-free. Overall, it was a very pleasant experience.
Ordering
The online checkout process was straightforward and user-friendly. It included a helpful prompt to enter your zip code to verify cellular network coverage before proceeding—a thoughtful feature that avoids the inconvenience of purchasing a device only to discover limited service in your area.
The system accommodates separate payor and user details, making it simple to pay for someone else. Additionally, no medical information or medication details are collected during signup. Instead, users provide personal details in the portal after receiving the device and its serial number.
After completing the transaction, we received a confirmation email, and the package arrived in just two days. Overall, this was one of the best online ordering experiences we’ve had—quick, efficient, and seamless. While the system doesn’t include any extras, we did receive a discount on the hardware, as noted in the Pricing section below.
Our Testing Experience
Unboxing and Setting Up the Mobile+ System
A quick-start guide and a full instruction guide come with the package. Opening the box was straightforward and shouldn’t be difficult for most people.
Similarly, the setup was straightforward and even a non-technical person should be able to activate the system. No landline connection or WiFi is involved.
The device came with some charge, but the guides instructed us to put the device on the charging dock. One interesting feature about the Mobile+ is that once activated, the device turns on when it is placed into the charging dock, even if it was originally off or had a dead battery. This means it’s on and ready to go as soon as it has enough power.
After unboxing, we placed the device in its charging base and plugged in the dock. After a short period, the unit loudly announced, “Setting up device. Please wait.” It repeated this for 5 minutes or so and then said, “Welcome to Lively. Your device is ready to be used and fall detection is enabled.”
The device then rang, announcing that the emergency center was calling. It instructed us to press the button to answer. Upon doing so, we encountered an automated test confirming the device was functioning properly. It even identified our tester’s city and state before concluding the call.
The entire setup process was simple and took about 15 minutes from start to finish. We were particularly pleased that activation was seamless—there was no need to contact Lively manually, as the device automatically connected to the network and completed the setup independently.
The other part of setup is creating an account in the online portal and providing requested information, which requires internet access. Alternatively, there is paperwork you can fill out. This takes anywhere from 15 minutes to 45 minutes, depending on how thorough you want to be.
During setup, we noticed that people might forget what the lights on the device mean. The battery light is in the shape of a battery, so that’s self-explanatory, but the circular light on the device represents cell service. Green means you have coverage, while red means there’s no cellular coverage. People might forget there are differently colored lights or confuse them with the battery lights.
First Impression When Wearing
When our tester first put this around her neck, she thought the device was heavy and couldn’t imagine wearing it all day. After three hours of wear, she noticed she really felt it bouncing against her chest when she did chores like the dishes or gardening, and while leaning over. She did get used to it and even forgot she was wearing it. However, when she became aware again, she felt its weight.
The length of the lanyard also placed the device between her breasts, which could be a deal breaker for some women. On the plus side, the cord did not irritate her skin with daily use.
Call the Response Team or 911 Directly
If you want to call 911 directly instead of the response team, you can hold the button for 5 seconds. The user guide tells you that you will hear “Calling 911. Press the button to cancel.” These words make it clear who you are calling when pressing the button. The device also tells you when the call has ended with the line “Your call has ended. Thank you.” This clarity is useful.
After a 911 call, the operator has the ability to call you back. The Lively urgent response agent may call you after a 911 call to see if you need further assistance. If you accidentally push the button and then cancel the call, Lively might call to make sure everything is okay. You can only receive incoming calls from 911 operators or Lively response agents.
Above and Beyond
Mobile+ wearers can upgrade their service plan if they want the ability to connect with registered nurses or doctors who can prescribe certain medications through the device. Lively uses FONEMED for its Urgent Care service. FONEMED’s nurses and contracted physicians through MDLIVE can offer advice regarding healthcare decisions.
For instance, users with upgraded service may have access to medical advice when their primary care physician is not available, at night, during weekends, and on holidays.
Lively also encourages you to press the device for general assistance in situations like:
- Locking yourself out of your house without the keys.
- Getting lost while driving.
- Hearing a strange noise on your roof.
- Suspecting someone is in your house.
This service goes above the potential emergency situations like a health issue or a fall. While we did not test these features, we appreciate that the company is trying to remind its wearers that the device can be helpful in a variety of situations, not just fall-related ones.
In 2020, a California woman with dementia went missing for 6 days before rescuers found her alive in her snow-covered car 150 yards off the road. This is just one example of valuable a device like Lively Mobile+ could be for people with memory issues and their loved ones who just want to keep an eye on them.
Caregiver Tracking Portal
The portal is easy and clear to use, and setting up an account is simple. However, you cannot view the device location from the main dashboard. Instead, tracking the device requires opening another portal called Lively Link where you must log in. This might confuse people who aren’t tech savvy.
Also, some of the wording on the site is a little confusing, because it still uses some legacy terms even though Lively has changed ownership and branding.
For context, the company was named GreatCall and the device was known as 5Star. Now, it’s Lively and Mobile+. Some buttons say “Ping my 5Star,” although the device we purchased is called Lively Mobile+. We anticipate Lively will streamline this, as well as their portals as time goes on.
You can send a test call from the portal, send a tone to find your misplaced device (the ping), see where the device is on a map, and manage “just in case” notes beyond normal billing and personal emergency info.
The Personal Emergency Profile includes:
- Name, number, gender, DOB and primary language
- Locations the wearer frequently visits
- Emergency contacts Lively can notify
- Medical info like medications, doctors, hospitals, conditions
- Vehicles that the wearer drives, including make, model, color and license plate number
You can also submit some of this by mail if you don’t have access to lively.com or prefer to submit it that way.
There’s also space for adding “Just in Case Notes” that could include things like future events, names of people the user will be with, gate codes, locations of a spare key and hearing/speech conditions.
Lively Link Phone App
The Mobile+ provides a phone app and a location portal for tracking the device. After setting up the portal, we downloaded the app, but initially experienced some issues. The app wouldn’t let us sign in and didn’t display any error messages, leaving us uncertain about the problem. After several attempts, we decided to try again the next day.
On the second day, we successfully logged in and were presented with a terms and conditions page to agree to before proceeding. The app starts with a tutorial, which we found helpful. However, it failed to display the device’s location. Tapping the “Update Location” button repeatedly didn’t resolve the issue, as the app was unable to pinpoint the device’s position. Since the device was in the charger and hadn’t moved, our tester speculated that this might resolve with further use—see our observations in the Location Testing section below.
The app refreshes each time you open it regardless of the page you’re on.
Location Testing
Lively manages location permissions ethically and transparently, particularly for users purchasing the device for themselves. Users can invite others to become “links,” but by default, these links cannot view the wearer’s location or receive push notifications. The Mobile+ user must actively adjust the settings to grant location access to their links.
Additionally, a history feature tracks who has viewed the user’s location, providing an extra layer of transparency. Permissions for links can be modified at any time, ensuring that users maintain full control over their privacy.
The “Ping my 5Star” test worked within seconds, although it can take up to 5 minutes. “Test call” from the portal also worked within seconds. It was an automated message that said the unit was working and listed the city the device was in as confirmation. A success message then popped up in the portal to say it was working after we answered using the device.
Even with the device showing a solid green light, indicating a strong cellular signal, the app didn’t update the location. We tried multiple times over several hours, even restarting the phone, but with no success. Eventually, we reached out to support. The representative guided us through some power cycling steps and had us step outside to expedite the troubleshooting process. From there, the support rep was able to send signals to the device to resolve the issue.
After the troubleshooting process, we could view the location but not the battery status in the app. With some additional travel and updates, we eventually saw changes in both location and battery status.
The app is designed to send alerts when someone leaves a designated location, but this feature did not function for us. While our tester was at one location for 18 minutes, it took manually tapping the location button in the app to update the new location. We suspect this may be related to getting the initial setup out of the way for a new device, as when our tester returned home, the location updated immediately without issue.
We tested using an iPhone and have no data on how the Android experience might be.
Fall Detection
We extensively tested the fall detection feature in various ways, but unfortunately, we were unable to get the system to detect a fall. This is disappointing, especially considering that fall detection is a key feature for medical alert systems.
According to the CDC, millions of people experience falls each year, with 28% of adults over 65 reporting falls. Yet, less than half of those individuals inform their doctor about these incidents. Caregivers and family members seeking a medical alert device specifically for fall detection may find this feature lacking.
Most of our tests involved manual simulations: dropping the device, throwing it on a hard surface from heights of nearly six feet, and even bouncing it down a set of stairs. While not all of these motions are explicitly specified for fall detection, we wore the device on a lanyard and simulated a fall to the ground, which still failed to trigger an alert. To be fair, we also couldn’t trigger a fall alert on the Apple Watch during similar tests.
Additionally, the portal does not indicate whether fall detection is activated, so users would need to contact customer service if unsure. We had it included in our order, and during setup, the device charger confirmed that fall detection was activated.
When we called, Lively support could not provide us with a way to test fall detection. The user guide indicates that fall detection doesn’t detect 100% of falls, and that it should only be used with the lanyard around the neck, saying in part:
“Fall detection uses patented algorithms and a built-in accelerometer. Wear the lanyard under your outer layer of clothing when possible. Don’t use the device without the provided lanyard if you have fall detection service. It doesn’t detect 100% of falls […] Fall Detection is temporarily disabled when you use your Lively Mobile Plus with the included Clip Accessory. Fall Detection is an optional enhancement service that works in conjunction with Urgent Response and your Lively Mobile Plus. The service is designed to be used with the included Fall Detection Lanyard. The service works best when the device is worn around the neck.”
When a fall is detected, according to documentation, the device says “Fall detected. Calling Urgent Response. Press the button to cancel.”
As noted, we may have been outside of recommended parameters for some of our testing, but in no instance could we trigger a fall alert.
Call Center Response Experience
We triggered an alert to test the response time, and our call was answered in 23 seconds. We could hear the rep clearly but may have been put on hold for several seconds by accident. We told the rep it was a test, and she confirmed all systems were good on her end. It works as advertised.
Pricing
The Lively Mobile Plus costs $49.99 to purchase the equipment (a one-time fee), plus monthly plans:
- Basic Plan with 24/7 alert response – $24.99/mo
- Premium Plan with additional Nurse On-Call and Care Advocate – $34.99/mo
- Fall Detection for either plan – $9.99/mo extra
There was also a $35 activation fee at the time of publishing, though we no longer see this listed on the website.
We received a discount of 25% off the device for a holiday promotion. There are likely other seasonal discounts, and it’s worth a call or visit to their website to find out.
Bottom line pricing for first-time purchasers: The unit is at most $49.99, plus the monthly service fees of $34.99 and $9.99 if you want all the features Lively has to offer.
If you keep the system for a full year, the first year cost of ownership would be $469.75. This makes Lively Mobile+ the most affordable system among the mobile medical alerts we reviewed.
Here’s how its price lines up against comparable mobile medical alert systems:
Price Comparison, First Year Cost of Ownership
| Company | System | Startup Cost | Monitoring | Fall Detection | First Year Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lifeline | On The Go | $129.90 | $49.95/month | $15.00/month | $909.30 |
| MedicalAlert.com | Mobile | $124.90 | $47.95/month | $10.00/month | $820.30 |
| Bay Alarm Medical | SOS Mobile | $69.30 | $34.95/month | $10.00/month | $620.70 |
2 - First Year Total Cost assumes a monthly subscription plan with fall detection.
An AARP discount applies to the Premium Package or the Basic Package with Fall Detection. It can be used at any time, so you can start Basic and upgrade later if you so choose. The current discount is $5 per month, applied indefinitely. However, you will need to call to ensure this discount is still applicable.
Lively believes everyone has distinct needs and doesn’t offer a 2-for-1 type of spousal plan, where two people can share the device as users. We don’t recommend that for mobile devices either. Like most medical alert companies, Lively offers a referral credit for signing up someone as a customer.
Shipping is free, included in the quoted prices. Sales tax is added, of course.
What’s included?
In addition to the device and charger, the system includes a lanyard (which is required for the fall detection add-on) and a clip-on attachment to wear on a belt, pocket, or bag. The lanyard has a magnetic clasp, which is helpful for those who have difficulty pinching or gripping small items. Those with arthritis or stiff joints should have no problem securing the necklace. The user-friendly clasp is also helpful in case the lanyard somehow gets snagged on something, since it won’t choke the wearer. Even with this safety feature, the magnetic clasp is strong and secure enough that the device won’t fall off during vigorous activities.
The Mobile+ device is rated water-resistant and can be submerged in up to 3.3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes. The lanyard is made of a fabric-like textile that can get wet but would need to dry. The clip is plastic and waterproof.
The wearables are utilitarian — a classic black cord for the lanyard. If you subscribe to fall detection, you must use the provided lanyard at the current length. Otherwise, you can use any necklace/chain/lanyard you like. The clip is also black, and Lively offers no other colors or styles.
What’s available?
The Mobile+ is Lively’s only mobile alert system. The company also offers a home station that connects by voice with Amazon’s Alexa, and it sells Jitterbug cell phones. You can buy the Mobile+ on the Lively website, as well as online or in person at Best Buy, Rite Aid, Amazon and Walgreens. However, return conditions vary based on the place of purchase.
Contracts
There are no long-term contracts, and no cancellation charges.
Returns
We did return the device and were charged a $10 restocking fee. However, you can receive a full refund under the following conditions:
- Return for any reason within 30 days.
- The device must be in “like new” condition, as determined by Lively, in the original box with all components and materials.
- You are responsible for shipping costs (unless the system is defective).
In our case, Lively refunded the activation fee, the first month’s service charge, and the device cost, along with any applicable taxes—minus the $10 restocking fee.
Allow up to 21 days for the refund to be processed. If you purchased the device from a store, the store’s return policy may take precedence over Lively’s, which is one reason we chose to purchase directly from the Lively site.
The device comes with a one-year manufacturer’s warranty, and there is an optional protection plan available for $2.50 per month. Please note, this plan does not cover loss or theft.
Our experience with returning the system was positive. We initially encountered a misunderstanding regarding a shipping label that was supposed to be sent to us. After a follow-up call, we clarified that a shipping label is only provided if Lively covers the shipping cost (e.g., for defective devices). Throughout the process, our interactions were pleasant, and we never felt pressured or up-sold.
Summary
| Pros: | Cons: |
|
|
One Reply to “Lively Mobile+ Review”