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|---|---|---|
| Editor's Ratings | ||
| Cost | ||
| Equipment Costs | N/A |
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| Monthly Price Range | $50 - $90 | $30 - $50 |
| Contract Required | Yes | No |
| Activation Fee | Set-up costs start at $95 | $50 |
| Shipping Cost | Free | Depends on the installation type |
| Contracts | 3-year contract | Monthly |
| Return Policy | Only in the event of a move to a care facility or death | Full refund if returned within 30 days of ordering |
| Product Features | ||
| Connection | Landline or cellular | Landline or cellular |
| Two-Way Talk | Yes | Yes |
| In-Home Range | 800 feet | 800 feet |
| On-the-Go Battery Life | Up to ten years | Depends on model |
| Water-Resistant Help Button | Yes | Yes |
| GPS | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 USA-Based Monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| Add-Ons | ||
| Fall Detection | No | Yes |
| Spouse Monitoring | Yes | No |
| Wall-Mounted Help Buttons | Yes | No |
| Lockboxes | No | Yes |
| Contact | ||
| Phone Number |
Call for best price:
844-615-0088 |
*We recommend calling because representatives can sometimes offer special deals or pricing. We make every effort to provide and maintain accurate information on our site. However, the businesses reviewed on our site may periodically change their pricing, equipment, and packages and there may be a lag between the time they make such changes and the time we become aware of such changes. If you identify any outdated or inaccurate information, please contact us here.
Generally, we recommend Lifeline over Life Alert due to the lower cost of monthly monitoring service and the optional fall detection. Both companies charge upfront costs either activation fees or installation costs. However, if you are looking for a larger in-home range or long battery life on the mobile medical alert, Life Alert scored better in these areas.
There are a number of factors to consider for seniors looking to increase their safety at home, especially for those that live alone. When it comes to peace of mind for you and your loved ones, you may want to think about buying a medical alert system.
Medical alert systems differ from home security systems but can be just as important for overall safety. With the press of a button on a pendant or on the wall, medical alert systems notify the proper first responders and send help in the event of a fall or other injury. As with most products, there is a wide range of medical alert companies that offer a number of options to meet your personal lifestyle needs.
Two of the oldest names in the medical alert system business are Life Alert and Lifeline. While they share many similarities in the products they offer, there are some key differences you will want to explore before making the best choice for you.
FYI: The National Council on Aging provides a free online assessment for seniors to help determine their risk of fall-related injury.
Life Alert has been a name in the medical alert systems business since 1987. You may remember seeing their commercials on television. Their I’ve fallen and I can’t get up catchphrase made Life Alert one of the most recognizable names in the field, and they continue to serve Americans across the nation.
They claim to save a life every eleven minutes, and they offer an array of products to provide seniors with added security from falls around the house, in the shower, and even on the go with their GPS feature. While Life Alert has a long history of providing reliable service, they do come at a higher cost than some other comparable systems.
With that said, Life Alert prices start at a steep $50 per month, making them much more expensive than other options.
To learn more about this company, read my Life Alert review.
| System | Monthly Starting Cost | Connection | For Use | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life Alert Basic | starts at $50/mo. | landline or cellular | at home | Individuals that want personal security around the house. |
| Life Alert Basic with Shower Button | starts at $69/mo. | landline or cellular | at home | Individuals that want personal security around the house with added protection against falls in the shower. |
| Life Alert Basic with Shower Button + Mobile | starts at $89/mo. | landline or cellular | at home, on the go | Individuals that want personal security around the house with added protection against falls in the shower, and would like additional coverage outside the home as well. |
One of the few companies that has been in the medical alert business even longer than Life Alert is Philips Lifeline. Founded in 1974 by Dr. Andrew Dibner, Lifeline was the first in North America to provide a personal medical alert system. In 2006 Lifeline was purchased by Philips, a globally recognized technology company.
Offering a few options for medical alert systems, Lifeline has an easy-to-navigate website, produces a highly-rated mobile app for iPhone and Android users, and does not require customers to sign a contract but rather operates on a monthly basis. Lifeline does offer fall detection technology options, and some systems come with a choice between a pendant worn around the neck or around the wrist. A drawback to Lifeline is that they do not offer wall-mounted help buttons for the shower.
Philips Lifeline prices start as low as $29.95 per month, making them much more affordable than Life Alert. To learn more about this company, read my full review of Philips Lifeline.
| System | Monthly Starting Cost | Connection | For Use | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HomeSafe Standard | $29.95/mo. plus $50 activation fee | landline or cellular | at home | For those who want standard protection at home. |
| HomeSafe with AutoAlert | $44.95/mo. plus $50 activation fee | landline or cellular | at home | For those who want standard protection at home, and would like the added protection of fall detection. |
| GoSafe 2 | $49.95/mo. plus $99.95 device fee | cellular | at home and away | For those that would like medical alert protection while both home and on the go. |
Two of the oldest, most trusted names in medical alert systems, Lifeline and Life Alert share many similarities. These include 24/7 nationwide coverage, two-way talk capability, wearable pendants, and short response times.
Some other similarities include:
Both Life Alert and Lifeline offer nationwide, 24/7 coverage in the event of an emergency. Each of these companies boasts short response times and operators that are fluent in Spanish as well as English. Life Alert’s monitoring center is Five Diamond Certified, while Lifeline offers translator services to provide help in over 140 languages.
FYI: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has a number of suggestions on how to create a safer living space for older adults.
When exploring which is the best option for your needs, there are a number of factors that come into play. Life Alert and Lifeline both have decades of experience in providing protection in the event of a medical emergency at home. They offer comparable plans and products and they both charge higher set-up and monthly costs than some other companies out there.
Life Alert and Lifeline offer basic plans for around the house and on-the-go protection. However, It is important to consider additional specific needs when choosing a medical alert system, as some other companies offer services that cater to conditions such as medical alerts for disabilities or medical alerts for Alzheimer’s and dementia.
