One hundred thousand: That’s how many people are protected by One Call Alert. After over two decades in business, you may have seen One Call Alert in your local Walmart, Publix, Rite Aid, or CVS, but it’s also available on the company’s website.
Like most medical alert companies, One Call Alert offers protection both in the home and outside. It also has fall detection, medication reminders, and GPS technology. But how do its products perform? To find out whether One Call Alert is trustworthy, I tested its Complete Protection system. Let’s dive in.
Pro Tip: New to the world of personal emergency-response devices? Take a look at my guide to medical alert devices to learn the basics.
Pros and Cons of One Call Alert Medical Alert Systems
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, here are my main takeaways from testing One Call Alert:
Pros
Medication reminders: Medication reminders are a unique feature of One Call Alert. By including this in your package, a monitoring agent will make daily calls to your house to remind you to take medications on time.
Waterproof devices: Since a majority of falls and injuries occur in the bathroom, I appreciated that my system’s help buttons could come with me into the shower without getting damaged.
Landline options: One Call Alert offers an affordable landline-based system, in addition to its cellular options.
No long-term contracts: You may receive discounts for purchasing an annual subscription, but One Call Alert does not require you to lock into a long-term contract.
Bundled systems: In addition to stand-alone in-home and mobile systems, One Call Alert also offers combined systems for protection in multiple locales. What’s more, these bundled systems come with discounts.
Cons
Limited accessories: One Call Alert offers a variety of medical alert systems, but it has few accessories such as wall-mounted or voice-activated help buttons.
No caregiver features: None of One Call Alert’s systems feature a caregiver app or portal that allows you to keep track of a system’s use or receive updates on emergency calls.
One Call Alert Systems Overview
I tested only the Complete Protection package, but that’s not all One Call Alert has to offer. I had five options to choose from — some that worked only in my home and some that worked anywhere I went.
In-Home Landline: If you have a landline and mostly stay at home, this system could work for you. The pendant works from 1,300 feet away from the base unit, which should cover most houses and apartments. Plans start at under $25 per month. This system, however, cannot be used with fall detection.
In-Home Wireless: For those without a landline, I’d recommend One Call Alert’s in-home wireless system. It functions exactly like the landline system, but with a cellular-based connection. Additionally, fall detection can be added to this system.
Mobile On-the-Go: The Mobile On-the-Go system is the best choice for active seniors. This all-in-one pendant features a help button and speakerphone built into one device. With its GPS capabilities, the monitoring center will be able to track your location if you need help while outside your home.
Mobile Double: If you’re part of a couple or have two seniors in your life to protect, the Mobile Double is a great choice. It offers two medical alert pendants for the price of one — ideal for a couple that’s active outside of the home.
Complete Protection: The system I purchased from One Call Alert, Complete Protection, is a combination of the In-Home Wireless and Mobile On-the-Go systems, and it has the sum of both systems’ features.
FYI: One Call Alert’s mobile systems don’t have the medication-reminders option; this feature can be used only with in-home units.
One Call Alert Medical Alert Features
Two-Way Talk
Yes
Connectivity
Cellular or landline
Average Response Time
26 seconds
In-Home Range
1,400 feet
Fall Detection
$10 per month
Caregiver Portal
Not available
Using One Call Alert Medical Alert System
Once my Complete Protection package arrived in the mail, I opened the box and found the following:
1 in-home base station
1 pendant help button
1 wristband help button
1 in-home fall-detection pendant
1 mobile unit
1 charging cradle
1 instruction manual
1 lockbox
Installation
Setting up my system was easy. I plugged in the base unit and charger, charged my button, and put the help-button pendant around my neck. I also wanted to make sure my system actually worked before I recommended it, so I pressed the button and was pleased to be connected immediately to emergency personnel.
During this part of the installation process, I was prompted to give a list of medications to the monitoring agent. He took down my medications, dosages, and the times of day I’m supposed to use them. This came in handy later.
Did You Know: It can be difficult to administer multiple prescriptions properly. Check out my guide to medication management to learn about some easy tricks to keep track of them all.
Testing One Call Alert
I started my One Call Alert system test with the in-home component. I walked around my house, placing emergency calls with my help button. Each time, my calls were answered promptly by a monitoring agent, and I was able to communicate with them using my system’s speakerphone. The speakerphone was so loud and powerful that I could even conduct calls from my porch, several rooms away from where I placed the base station.
Since fall detection is built into the system, I wanted to try that out as well. I climbed to the top of my stairs and threw the necklace pendant down to the lower level. Even without pushing the button, I heard the monitoring center from both the necklace pendant and the base unit.
I took my mobile unit for a walk through town and placed several test calls. Each time, my calls were once again received in under 30 seconds. I was impressed by how my device could connect from anywhere. Even on a brief hike through the woods, this device still had enough signal to make distress calls.
For medication reminders, I received calls on my in-home unit each morning and night. This feature would be very useful for someone prone to forgetting their medication, since it offers a degree of accountability.
One Call Alert Medical Alert Systems Pricing
In total, I paid $51.95 per month for my Complete Protection system — $41.95 for the system and monitoring, and an additional $10 for fall detection. This is definitely on the pricier side for a medical alert system, but Complete Protection is actually two systems (in-home and mobile) combined into one, making it a pretty good deal in my eyes.
If I paid in advance for a whole year, I would have received a discounted rate of $36.95 per month. Fortunately, for those averse to commitment, One Call Alert does not require you to lock in a long-term contract. Additionally, all of its systems come with a 30-day trial period, during which you may send back your system and receive a full refund.
Overall, I was pretty happy with the medical alert system I got from One Call Alert, and I think it would work for most seniors. With affordable pricing, flexible contracts, and a wide array of systems that suit different lifestyles, there are very few things to complain about with One Call Alert.
I’d recommend One Call Alert if you’re looking for:
A system for spouses: All of One Call Alert’s systems come with an extra help button, making them a perfect medical alert for spouses or roommates. Its Mobile Double system is an affordable bundle of two stand-alone mobile units.
Medication reminders: For those who struggle to remember their medications, a One Call Alert in-home system can help you keep track with daily calls and reminders.
Long-range in-home protection: At 1,400 feet, One Call Alert’s in-home system has one of the longest connectivity ranges available. This makes it great for those with large houses or those who want a bit of protection in their yard.
Affordability: Life Alert costs a minimum of $50 per month, and One Call Alert can cost less than half this amount. To learn more about this provider, read our Life Alert review.
I wouldn’t recommend it if you want:
Caregiver features: One Call Alert features no app or portal for caregivers to keep track of their loved one. If you want a system that will alert you of low battery, location, and emergency calls, then I’d recommend looking into a system from Aloe Care Health.
Specialized monitoring: One Call Alert’s systems do an excellent job of keeping users safe from falls or other medical issues, but there are no additional forms of monitoring. If you want a system that can monitor temperature (in case of fires) or carbon monoxide levels, then I’d recommend checking out ADT’s medical alert systems.
One Call Alert Medical Alert System Frequently Asked Questions
One Call Alert costs around $24.95 to $44.95 a month, depending on which system you get, what contract length you sign up for, and other factors. Fall detection costs an additional $10 a month with some systems, but it’s included with others.
You can sign up for One Call Alert for as little as a month, but the company offers discounts for signing up for three months, six months, or a year. There are no fees if you want to cancel, although you’ll have to pay for shipping costs when you return your system. The company will also provide you with a pro-rated refund if your balance is $15 or more.
Some of One Call Alert’s pendants work outside the home, but only if you buy the Mobile On-the-Go, Mobile Double, or Complete Protection packages.
Written By
Amie Clark
Amie has been writing about senior care products and services for the last decade. She is particularly passionate about new technologies that help improve the quality of life for seniors and their families. Seeing her parents and grandparents age made Amie ask herself, “Would this be good enough for my loved ones?” In her spare time, Amie enjoys outdoor adventures and spontaneous road trips. Learn more about Amie here
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