Best Medical Alert Systems for Seniors

Compare Top Medical Alert Systems

Brand	Starting Monthly Cost	Device Type	In-home Range	Battery Life	Response Time
Medical Guardian	$29.95	In-home Pendant Bracelet Smartwatch	1,300 – 1,400 ft	Up to 5 days	25 seconds
Personal Living Alert	$24.99	In-home Pendant Bracelet Smartwatch	Up to 2,000 square ft	Up to 5 days	18 seconds
ADT Medical Alert	$29.99	In-home Pendant Bracelet	300 – 600 ft	Up to 26 hours	15 seconds
Lifeline	$29.95	In-home Pendant	Up to 800 ft	Up to 4 days	30 seconds
LifeFone	$24.95	In-home Pendant Bracelet Smartwatch	Up to 1,300 ft	24 hours – 10 days	15 seconds
Lively	$24.99	Pendant Smartwatch Amazon Alexa Jitterbug phone	N/A	Up to 40 hours	15 – 20 seconds
GetSafe	$29.95	In-home Pendant (optional)	Up to 800 ft	Up to 5 years	25 seconds
Bay Alarm Medical	$24.95	In-home Pendant Smartwatch	Up to 1,000 ft	2 – 5 years	10 seconds

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Our Recommendations

Personal Living Alert medical alert devices have the longest range of all systems we compared, up to 2,000 linear feet. At just 10 seconds, Bay Alarm has the fastest advertised response time, and LifeFone has the most affordable fall deduction add-on service.

Here are a few other factors for buyers to consider, based on our experience testing medical alert devices:

1. Consider services beyond just medical alert and fall detection. Today systems are much more advanced, and many brands offer other helpful monitoring and safety services. 

• Personal Living Alert also offers an anti-wandering home system, medication dispensers, and cordless pads and mats that send alarms when the senior steps on it or moves from it. 
• LifeFone has a daily check-in feature, which can be a great compromise for families who want peace of mind and seniors who don’t want a caregiver to come to their house to remind them to take their medication or make breakfast. 
• Lively is a good option for anxious seniors, or those who don’t have family close by. They encourage their subscribers to reach out even if they hear a weird knock at their door or smell a possible gas leak.

2. The service range (how far outside your home the medical alert system works) is one of the most important features you should consider when comparing home-based systems. Test the service in every room of your home, as well as the garage, driveway, and backyard. A system with a limited service range could leave you or a loved one unable to call for help during an emergency. Depending on where you are in the home, you may not be able to hear the response from the base system (in the case of no response, the company will contact emergency services).

3. Fall detection is best for detecting fall movement and then no movement shortly after. This is an important distinction for those considering fall detection monitoring, as the system will only automatically initiate communication with the response team if no movement is detected following a fall. If you’ve fallen and need help, but are still able to move, you’ll need to manually press the button to engage the 24/7 call center.

4. All of the companies featured on this list have U.S.-based monitoring centers and water-resistant buttons. This is important for fast response times and all-day use.

5. Test the system in multiple locations throughout your home upon delivery. Many of the medical alert companies we featured here have return policies, which can help esnure the system you bought works within your home layout. Many brands will request that you press each button in every room to check whether you can hear the response team and whether your connection is strong enough. 

6. Research important features and compare offerings across companies before contacting a brand for more information. (This guide helps you do that.) Our research indicates that some companies implement sales tactics when prospective customers comparison shop on the phone. Utilize online chat features and study the support and FAQ pages online to get an idea of services offered, so you can make a more informed decision.

Best Medical Alert Systems for Seniors, Reviewed

Medical Guardian

Great Variety

• Plan costs: $29.95 – $44.95/month
• In-home range: 1,300 – 1,400 ft
• Device type: In-home unit, pendant, bracelet, smartwatch
• Fall detection: Yes, $10/month
• Battery life: 1 – 5 days
• Response time: 25 seconds

Medical Guardian offers five user-friendly medical alert systems, including two in-home and three on-the-go options. They feature two-way communication, GPS and step tracking, and a mobile app to organize your personal health and safety information.

They offer several add-on features, including fall detection, a separate 911 button, and Care Circle Alerts. The Care Circle Alert will send text or email notifications to family and friends to keep everyone in the loop if you experience an emergency. This feature is especially beneficial for seniors with an extensive care network or multiple adult children.

Their on-the-go systems are sleek and discreet and come in a variety of colors and styles. If you are new to medical alert systems, you can take their quick three-question product quiz to help you decide which option is right for you. However, to receive your quiz results, you must enter your name and email address so they can send the results to your email.

We also like that Medical Guardian is transparent about system pricing. The cost of their products, services, and add-ons is easy to find on their website, and there are no hidden fees or contracts. Medical Guardian values customer feedback and often uses it to improve their devices. They currently have 3.6 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot based on over 900 customer reviews.

To learn more, read our comprehensive Medical Guardian review or view plan options on their website.

Personal Living Alert

Great In-home Range

Retirement Living’s senior editor tested the PLA In-Home System

• Plan costs: $24.99 – $44.99/month
• In-home range: Up to 2,000 square feet
• Device type: In-home unit, pendant, bracelet, smartwatch
• Fall detection: Yes, $8/month
• Battery life: Up to 5 days
• Response time: 18 seconds

Personal Living Alert has a great selection of four different in-home and mobile medical alert systems. If you’re concerned about getting help during a power outage, the in-home unit is made with hospital-grade equipment, features an impressive 60-hour backup battery, and has a range of up to 2,000 square feet. 

During our test of the PLA in-home system, agents responded to our help request in just 18 seconds. It’s also one of the few medical alert companies offering a anti-wandering service.

Personal Living Alert does not charge an equipment fee; however, watchbands, pendants, and warranty protection plans will cost extra. The smartwatch has an additional $99 activation fee, and you must pay for the first three months of your membership upfront. In total, your initial payment will cost anywhere between $75 and $230 plus $22 for their flat-rate shipping.

To learn more about our experience testing the PLA in-home medical alert device, read our comprehensive Personal Living Alert review. Then, view plan options on their website.

ADT Medical Alert

Great Plans

• Plan costs: $29.99 – $39.99/month
• In-home range: 300 – 600 ft
• Device type: In-home unit, pendant, bracelet
• Fall detection: Yes, $33/quarterly
• Battery life: Up to 36 hours (on-the-go base unit)
• Response time: 15 seconds

ADT is a well-known home security company that also offers medical alert systems. Their medical alert systems come with a ForeveRate™ guarantee, which means the price for your service will always remain the same, making this an excellent option for budget-conscious customers. ADT Medical Alert currently has a 4.7 out of 5 stars with ConsumerAffairs based on 482 customer reviews.

They offer two different in-home systems and one on-the-go system. Customers appreciate their free two-day shipping, free activation, and that there are no hidden fees or long-term contracts.

One of the perks we like about their in-home systems is the temperature monitoring feature, as seniors are more susceptible to temperature-related illnesses caused by extreme heat or cold. The ADT in-home units detect and alert you of unsafe temperatures in your home, making this a great medical alert system for seniors who want to be proactive against temperature-related emergencies.

One downside of ADT Medical Alert is that the in-home units only have a range of 300 to 600 feet, which is significantly lower than many competitors’ ranges. The base unit backup battery also only lasts 12 to 20 hours, which is also much lower than that of other medical alert systems. A representative told us that existing home security customers may be able to add medical monitoring to their accounts, depending on your plan type. 

To learn more, read our comprehensive ADT Medical Alert review or view plan options on their website.

Lifeline

Great Reputation

• Plan costs: $29.95 – $49.95
• In-home range: Up to 800 ft
• Device type: In-home unit, pendant
• Fall detection: Yes, $15/month 
• Battery life: Up to 4 days
• Response time: 30 seconds

Lifeline, formally Philips Lifeline, has served over 7.5 million seniors since 1974. Although their selection of medical alert systems is limited, they offer affordable prices and a variety of safety features. Lifeline offers two medical alert systems: one in-home system and one on the go. The in-home system features two-way communication with a trained care specialist and automatic fall detection. 

On their website, you can take their three-question product selection quiz to help you decide which system is right for you. Unlike Medical Guardian’s product quiz, Lifeline shows your results immediately without having to input your personal contact information first. 

Their on-the-go system includes an advanced GPS locator that uses five different technologies, including Wi-Fi and two-way voice communication, to ensure help can find you no matter where you are.

Philips Lifeline is transparent about its pricing, and all fees and optional add-on costs are displayed clearly on the website. At checkout, you will pay for your first month of service, a one-time $99.95 setup fee, and $29.95 for shipping. You can also have a professional install your system for an additional $99, although this is optional.

To learn more, read our comprehensive Philips Lifeline review.

LifeFone

Great for Daily Peace of Mind

• Plan costs: $24.95 – $45.95
• In-home range: Up to 1,300 ft.
• Device type: In-home unit, pendant, bracelet, smartwatch
• Fall detection: Yes, $5/month 
• Battery life: 24 hours – 10 days
• Response time: 15 seconds

LifeFone has provided reliable service to seniors nationwide for over 40 years. At the time of publishing, LifeFone has a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot based on over 900 customer reviews.

One of the things we like most about LifeFone is their consumer-friendly policies and the variety of incentives they offer first-time customers. This includes free shipping, a free lock box, one month of free service, and no activation or equipment fees with their purchase.

LifeFone offers six different systems, including in-home and on-the-go options. The pendants, bracelets, and smartwatches are sleek and lightweight for seniors who prefer more discreet devices.

We like that LifeFone home systems include temperature sensors, first-motion-of-the-day monitoring, step tracking, and on-demand device location. These features can be found in the Caregiver Mobile App, which costs an additional $8 per month.

For $19 per month, a LifeFone agent will call the subscriber daily to check in to monitor safety and provide medication reminders. As an alternative, for $6 per month, subscribers can initiate a check-in call with a LifeFone agent at a set time each day. The device will set off an alarm to remind the subscriber that it’s time to check in. If there is no contact within 15 minutes, an alert will be sent to the monitoring center, and an agent will make an outbound call to the home.

We also like that they offer free spouse monitoring with their in-home systems, with fall detection costing just $5 per spouse per month.

To learn more, read our comprehensive LifeFone review or view plan options on their website.

Lively

Great for Tech-Savvy Seniors

• Plan costs: $24.99 – $34.99
• In-home range: N/A
• Device type: Pendant, smartwatch, Amazon Alexa, Jitterbug phone
• Fall detection: Yes, $9.99/month 
• Battery life: Up to 40 hours
• Response time: 15 – 20 seconds

Lively is a great option for tech-savvy seniors who already own a smartwatch or an interactive voice assistant. Their medical alert systems operate through an Apple Watch, Amazon Alexa device, or a Jitterbug cell phone.

The only medical alert device Lively offers is the Mobile2, which is a waterproof all-in-one medical alert button. It can be worn on your belt, pocket, or purse; however, if you opt for fall detection, it must be worn around the neck for accurate results. The Mobile2 has a one-time equipment fee of $79.99 on top of the cost of your monthly subscription plan.

We like that Lively offers free shipping and is FSA, HSA, and HRA eligible. We also like that they encourage seniors to contact them anytime they feel uneasy, even if it is not an emergency. For example, they encourage you to reach out if you smell a gas leak, experience chest pain, or even hear a strange noise around your home.

They offer two different subscription plans. The basic plan provides urgent response services and an “Ask Lively” feature that allows you to contact them anytime for help with your device, to look up a phone number, or even to get directions. 

The premium plan includes the same features, in addition to their care advocate and nurse on-call services. The care advocate will help you create a personalized care plan to ensure you’re accomplishing your health goals, while the nurse on-call gives you access to medical advice from doctors or nurses anytime, including nights and weekends, at the touch of a button.

To learn more, read our comprehensive Lively review or view plan options on their website.

GetSafe Medical Alert

Great for Large Homes

• Plan costs: $29.95/month
• In-home range: Up to 800 ft.
• Device type: In-home unit, optional wearable pendant
• Fall detection: Yes, $10/month
• Battery life: Up to 5 years
• Response time: 25 seconds

For seniors who prefer not to wear a button, GetSafe has designed a medical alert system with voice-activated technology, pull chords, and standard wall buttons.

Their in-home unit features a highly sensitive microphone and amplified speaker for clear two-way communication. The voice-activated wall button can be placed in high-risk areas around the home and activated by saying “call 911, call 911” or grabbing the bright red pull chord to dispatch assistance.

GetSafe is ideal for seniors who spend most of their time at home. Although it is a home-based system, it does not require a landline and can be connected using 4G LTE. They do offer wearable devices if you change your mind or want to keep one on hand.

The upfront cost of the equipment varies depending on the size of your home. It starts at $79 for one bedroom, $193 for two or three bedrooms, and $279 for four or five bedrooms. If you want a wearable device, they offer pendants for an additional $25 and fall detection for $10/month. 

Their pendants only have an 800 ft. range, so GetSafe’s in-home system is best for seniors who spend most of their time at home and don’t typically wander too far from the house. However, they offer optional GPS pendants for a one-time fee of $99, plus $20 a month for monitoring.

To learn more, read our comprehensive GetSafe review or view plan options on their website.

Bay Alarm Medical

Great Customer Service

• Plan costs: $24.95 – $59.95
• In-home range: Up to 1,000 ft.
• Device type: In-home unit, pendant, smartwatch
• Fall detection: Yes, $10/month
• Battery life: 2 – 5 years
• Response time: 10 seconds

Bay Alarm Medical has been providing life-saving services to seniors for over 70 years. They have five different systems, including both in-home and mobile devices. They currently have 4.6 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot based on nearly 1,000 customer reviews. Customers appreciate their rapid response time and excellent customer service.

They offer a 30-day risk-free trial and will issue a full refund if you decide that their device is not right for you. They also offer free shipping and include a Vial of Life with your subscription, which records your personal medical information for EMS to use during an emergency.

Bay Alarm Medical home systems can operate via cellular or landline connections. Their mobile devices are available on both Verizon & AT&T networks and feature Wi-Fi location services, GPS tracking, and automatic fall detection.

They offer black, white, and four different stylish medical alert necklaces called “Bella Buttons”. For those who prefer bracelets, they offer “Bella Bands”, which are stretchy nylon wristbands that come in four different colors.

We like that their mobile systems can be connected to the Caregiver Tracking app, which can be used to create and manage your personalized safety plan, allows caregivers to track their loved one’s location anytime, and gives details about the device, such as battery power level and location history. The app also allows you to ring into your device if it is ever lost or misplaced.

We also like that they offer free spouse monitoring. Just purchase a second button for $39, and your spouse will receive 24/7 monitoring as well.

To learn more, read our comprehensive Bay Alarm Medical review or view plan options on their website.