When you first start to look for a medical alert system, the variety of systems can feel a little overwhelming.
But it’s less complicated than you might think.
The first distinction is between medical alerts that call a monitoring center (I call these “monitored medical alerts“) and ones that are pre-programmed to dial friends, family, or anyone else you choose, including 911 (I call these “no-fee medical alerts” because you don’t pay a monthly fee for the service).
Monitored medical alerts are the ones you see advertised on TV and in magazines. They’re very popular, but they are more expensive than no-fee alerts.
The next difference is the design of the equipment. There are two main designs. In the first, your panic button activates a base station unit with a speakerphone. You talk to the responder using the speakerphone. In the second design, the panic button contains a small cordless phone, so you’re “talking through the pendant.”
And then, of course, there’s the area of cell phone and mobile medical alerts. These are available in monitored and friends & family versions, with many different kinds of equipment. My favorites at this point are the various 5Star offerings from GreatCall.
Click here for a short list of medical alert systems I like, sorted by type.
This comparison table can help you understand the basic differences between different kinds of medical alerts.
| No-Fee (not monitored) | Monitored: “Speakerphone” | Monitored: “2-Way Pendant” | Cell Phone / Hybrid | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | A no-fee system dials 911 or friends & family in a pre-programmed sequence. The person who answers helps you out. | This is the basic medical alert. You wear a panic button on your wrist or around your neck. Press it to call the monitoring center, and communicate through a powerful two-way speakerphone. | The talk-through-the-pendant system is a big upgrade to the classic medical alert. Instead of a panic button, you carry a small pendant that allows two-way voice communication with the monitoring center, anywhere within range of the base station. | The newest technology, ranging from cellphone-only solutions to hybrid systems that act like a speakerphone solution at home and cell solution around town. |
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| Best For | Good if you need to control monthly costs, are concerned about giving personal information to a monitoring center, and have family & friends nearby to help. | Good for less active people living in relatively small homes. Systems are very simple to use and test, so they are good for a wide range of people. | Best for anyone living in a larger home, or for someone who is still active around their home. The ability to communicate clearly wherever you are around your home is the real benefit of this unit. | Good for someone who really wants coverage both at home and away, which implies they are active and out and about quite a bit, and functioning at a pretty high level. |
| Details | Read about No-Fee Medical Alerts | Click here for reviews of standard monitored medical alert companies | Solution: The MediPendant | Click Here |
Click here for a short list of medical alert systems I like, sorted by type.
