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December 17, 2021
If you’ve ever used an Alexa-enabled device, then you already know how helpful its array of voice commands can be. Setting reminders, checking the weather, and queuing up music can all be performed solely by verbalizing commands to your smart speaker.
With Alexa Together, a new subscription service, Amazon augments these features to include access to 24/7 urgent response calls. Moreover, this service provides a handy hub to keep track of a user’s activity, streamline communication, and detect falls (provided a compatible device is purchased). But how do these features compare with those of a bona fide medical alert system?
Let’s take a closer look.
Pro Tip: To learn more about the best ways to stay safe in your home, read our guide to this year’s best medical alert systems.
Whereas traditional medical alert systems utilize a combination of a base station and wearables, Alexa Together offers a more customized approach. With your monthly subscription, Alexa Together functions like an app. Through this app, the primary user can contact emergency monitoring services, receive custom daily alerts, and make use of fall detection (provided you have a compatible device).
Secondary users — that is, family members or loved ones — can also access this app to track a loved one’s activity, create alerts for them, and initiate video calls (provided a compatible device is purchased).
While most of these features would be available on any Alexa-enabled device, Alexa Together provides the additional functionality of 24/7 monitoring. While Alexa can call 911, only Alexa Together gives you access to a monitoring center. The benefit here is that these trained monitoring agents will coordinate a response unique to the user, whether this means contacting first responders or a loved one or neighbor for help.
Additionally, Alexa Together allows secondary users to track the activity of the primary user. This allows secondary users to see an itemized list of interactions with their Alexa device, letting them know if a user is up and about.
Broadly speaking, Alexa together requires a minimum of two devices:
That said, you could potentially add a number of different Alexa-enabled devices used by the primary user. For example, in my tests, I had three Echo Dots placed throughout my home, and my secondary user accessed the app through their iPhone.
If you don’t currently have an Alexa-enabled device in your home, you’ll need at least one in order to use Alexa Together. Here are a few options.
As the most basic of Amazon’s smart speakers, an Echo Dot gives you access to all of the basic features of Alexa Together. Slightly larger than a hockey puck, an Echo Dot can fit easily on a side table, nightstand, or countertop. With its Wi-Fi connection, this device uses voice commands to help you play music, ask questions, and set reminders. When paired with Alexa Together, this device can update secondary users about your activity. Additionally, they can place voice calls directly to your Echo Dot.
Echo Dot devices currently cost $19.99 when purchased through Amazon.
With its eight-inch touchscreen, the Echo Show combines all of the features of a smart speaker with some additional features of a tablet. With an Echo Show, you can browse the web, stream videos, take photos, and utilize all of the voice command functionality of an Echo Dot. Additionally, with this device’s front-facing camera, you can make video calls to a secondary user through Alexa Together.
Echo Show devices currently cost $94.99 when purchased through Amazon. Additionally, they include a six-month free trial of Alexa Together.
While any Alexa-enabled device can make emergency calls to Amazon’s monitoring center, only a fall detection device can automatically sense a fall and contact an agent in the event a user is nonresponsive. The SkyAngelCare pendant is designed specifically for Alexa Together. When worn around the neck, it can automatically detect when a user falls and then contact monitoring personnel. Additionally, this device has an SOS button for manual calls, and it’s fully waterproof, meaning users can wear it in the shower.
Currently, the SkyAngelCare Fall Detection Pendant costs $169.99.
If your primary user would prefer not to wear a fall detection unit, then the Vayyar Care fall detection device might be the option for you. Mounted on a wall, this device can automatically sense a fall and, when paired with Alexa Together, can contact monitoring personnel. With no cameras, this device is fully private, and it can even work in the dark or in steamy conditions, making it ideal for bathroom usage.
Currently, the Vayyar Care fall detection device costs $241.41 when purchased through Amazon.
Pro Tip: If you’re looking for additional fall detection devices, then take a look at our rundown of the best fall detection devices.
With Alexa Together, you have the freedom to build your own system that suits both your personal needs and your living environment. For example, in my one-floor, three-bedroom home, I used three Echo Dots and one wall-mounted fall detection device. However, provided your devices are compatible with Alexa, you can create any setup — big or small — that accommodates your needs.
Armed with my Echo Dots, wall-mounted fall detection, and Alexa Together app, I was excited to set everything up. Since my Echo Dots were already connected to my in-home Wi-Fi, all I had to do was pair them with Alexa Together and set up my fall detection unit. For this, I simply mounted it on my bathroom wall and paired it through my Alexa Together app.
Overall, the setup of any Alexa Together system shouldn’t take you that long. All you have to do is choose a place for your devices, pair them with your Wi-Fi network, and then add them through the Alexa Together app.
With this feature enabled, each time I interacted with Alexa, my secondary user was notified on their smartphone. For example, when I used my Echo Dot to play music, my secondary user received a notification that I was active. It also displayed the time and the specific device I’d used.
Alternatively, when I went for a period of time without using any Alexa devices, my secondary user received a notification of this. They were informed that there had been no activity on my Alexa devices, and they were presented with the option to place a call directly to my Echo Dots to check in on me.
With this feature, I could say, “Alexa, call for help,” and I was quickly connected to trained monitoring agents. An agent responded to each of my test calls in under 30 seconds, which is pretty quick for a medical alert system. Additionally, I was impressed with the range of this feature. For example, even when I called out to Alexa from another room, my Echo Dot was able to pick up my voice and initiate a call.
Additionally, each time I made an emergency call, my secondary caregiver was notified immediately.
While I’m mostly accustomed to wearable fall detection devices, I was quickly impressed by the wall-mounted fall detection unit from Vayyar. In each of my test falls, it accurately registered the event and contacted monitoring agents. It’s important to remember, however, that this device does not contain a speaker, meaning you’ll want to have an Echo device close by in order to respond to calls. If you’re unable to respond to the monitoring agent, they’ll send emergency responders to your home by default.
An Alexa Together subscription costs $19.99 per month, or $199 per year (about $17 per month). Additionally, no matter which subscription option you choose, Amazon is currently running a six-month free trial with either option. During this time, you may cancel your service and pay nothing.
When considering the cost of Alexa together, you’ll also want to factor in the cost for an Alexa-enabled device. Echo Dots cost as little as $20 for older generations, while Echo Shows cost nearly $100 each. That said, compared to the price of other smart speakers, like the WellBe smart speaker, this price is pretty reasonable.
The fall detection devices that are compatible with Alexa Together will cost you either $169.99 for the wearable unit or $241 for the wall-mounted unit. While this is much higher than you’d pay for a medical alert system with fall detection, it’s important to note that these numbers represent one-time payments.
For example, the Active Guardian will cost you $44.95 to start; however, after one year of these monthly payments, the overall cost will be more than double the price of either Alexa-enabled fall detection device. That said, mobile medical alerts like the Active Guardian have built-in GPS, allowing you to wear them outside of your home.
For less than $20 per month, Alexa Together is definitely a compelling buy, particularly when you factor in the initial six-month free trial. With my Alexa Together system, I was able to easily stay in touch with a secondary user and receive quick emergency assistance in my test calls.
That said, while Alexa Together gives you access to 24/7 emergency response services, its main function is one of connection, helping the primary and secondary users stay in touch throughout the day. If a user doesn’t have a nearby loved one or caregiver, I’d recommend a standalone medical alert system.
Additionally, while Amazon states that Alexa Together will soon have support for multiple caregivers, this functionality is currently confined to one.
Alexa Together supports automatic fall detection when you purchase a compatible device from Vayyar or SkyAngelCare. Vayyar offers a wall-mounted fall detection unit, and SkyAngelCare has a wearable unit.
Alexa Together costs $19.99 per month; however, if you don’t currently own an Echo device, you’ll also have to purchase one to make use of Alexa Together.
For users who primarily stay at home, Alexa Together could conceivably replace a medical alert system; however, you’ll want to make sure you pair it with a compatible fall detection device.
Currently, Alexa Together supports one primary and one secondary user; however, Amazon states that multiple users will be able to use this service in early 2022.
