It’s true.
While the systems that are advertised on television are usually the expensive services that cost many hundreds of dollars a year, you can also find different options that cost a lot less.
The big difference is the cost of having a dedicated monitoring center on the other end of the phone line.
Some people want this, but for others the ongoing monthly expense is just too much. For these people, the best option is a no-monthly-fee medical alert.
You can get a unit that just dials 911. Or you can get one that will call your children, a neighbor, or any other number you program into it (including 911 if you want) such as the Freedom Alert II Newest DECT Model 600 Foot Range (60 day return policy)
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The big differences between no-fee medical alert systems are in how they’re designed. The bottom of the line ones just dial the numbers and play a pre-recorded message. The best ones have a two-way pendant that allows you to have a conversation with the person on the other end of the line. The middle-of-the-road ones just have a speakerphone for the two way conversation.
You’ll need to think through your own needs as you evaluate different systems. The systems with two way pendants are definitely more expensive, but when you compare them to the monitored systems they’re still a bargain.
The best ones have a two-way pendant that allows you to have a conversation with the person on the other end of the line. The middle-of-the-road ones just have a speakerphone for the two way conversation.
I agree. The two-way pendant is the best. It’s surprising to me that the technology for medical alert devices is lagging so far behind other consumer technology. I guess it speaks to the way we think about elderly people.