A no fee medical alert system is a medical alert device that does not require a monthly fee paid to a professional monitoring center.
The device consists of two parts, a panic button worn on the wrist or around the neck and a base station that automatically dials your phone.
When you set up the unit, you program the base station to dial certain phone numbers if the panic button is pushed. Most units store about 4 phone numbers. The unit dials each number in turn until someone picks up.
Differences between no-fee medical alert devices
There are big difference between the various models you can purchase.
Obviously price is a big one. You can find units in all price ranges.
The next biggest difference is range. Some units allow you to press the button 600 feet away from the base station and still have it work. Other units limit you to approximately 50 feet. If you live in a small house, the smaller range could be fine. But if you have a sprawling house or like to garden, the unit with the bigger range makes a lot more sense.
Most medical alert base stations allow a two-way conversation, but you have to be close enough to the base station for your voice to be heard. Depending on the size and arrangement of your house, this might or might not be a problem.
Some of the best systems actually allow you to talk through the pendant, so you can be farther than speaking distance from the base station. In these cases, the pendant is actually a small cordless phone.
Systems I like:
I have a big bias toward the “talk through the pendant” systems. That’s because I worry that with a speakerphone unit it’s too easy to be somewhere (such as in the shower with the water running) where the person on the other end of the phone couldn’t hear you).
There are two basic “talk through the pendant” systems.
The first is the LogicMark Guardian Alert 911. This unit just dials 911.
The second is the LogicMark Freedom Alert. This unit can be programmed to dial up to 4 family or friends, plus 911. Or you can set it up just to call 911.
Learn more:
Advantages of no-fee systems
Disadvantages of no-fee medical alert systems
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My Doctor wants me to have a alarm system, I have had many bad falls. We have a very limited income I would like to have any advise you can.
Patricia–
Tough situation. If you need to find the most affordable system, make sure you have family or friends who can respond in an emergency and choose a no-fee medical alert. You might be able to find a used system on Craigslist. I have even seen them at garage sales and thrift stores. Most of the units you find for cheap are the “whole house speakerphone” units. If your house is fairly small one of these units might work for you.
I guess one thing to balance off is the cost of a $200 unit against the cost of hospitalization if you have a fall and don’t receive treatment in time. The medical alert device might be cheaper in the long run. But that depends on your financial situation and whether or not you ever need the system.
Good luck,
Joe
Ebay could be another resource. I’ve found many that go well below retail.
Great point, Ken.
Is there a site that actually compares de different no-fee alert devices available? They are not cheap and I do not want to buy a ‘lemon’. My father lives in Brazil, so a monitored system is not an option.
I don’t know of one. I’m working on that for this site, but I’m having trouble finding time…
Joe,
Thank you for this site and your emails.
My mother has mobility issues and after my father’s passing several years ago, I signed my mother up for a monitored PERS. She wore the pendant faithfully and actually had to use the service once. She had fallen in the bathroom, pressed the pendant button and EMTs quickly responded. The service worked.
We did, however, discontinue the service several months ago when she moved into an assisted living community. Calling 911 to the facility would not have been appropriate and her apartment had an emergency button in the bathroom and a portable “button-in-a-box” that she kept in the main room. When pressed, the buttons would summon one of the caregivers in the residence. We thought all was well.
However, last week I went to visit her in the new facility for the first time and realized that because of her mobility issues, there is a significant risk of her falling and not being able to reach either of the emergency buttons.
Fortunately, I had recently come across your site and signed up for the emails. I learned about the many different kinds of PERS that had come into the market since I first looked many years ago. The emails must have re-enforced the concepts because as soon as I saw my mother struggle to get out of her electric scooter, I immediately thought of the type of PERS that can be programmed to call specific numbers. So we ordered the product and programmed it to ring the caregiver desk, which is staffed 24/7.
So, once again, thanks for the site.
Thanks for your comment, Dennis. I’m glad the site and my educational email series has been helpful. Your example is a great one because it points out that with any system there can be “gaps in coverage.” The in-room devices you describe are only good if they’re in reach, and if the “button-in-a-box” isn’t easy to carry (especially when struggling to get off a scooter) then it doesn’t do any good. Even if her unit in the assisted living community isn’t large, it doesn’t take too much distance to feel really far away from the help button.
It’s great that you can program the medical alert to call the caregiver desk. This eliminates one of the possible problem with the non-monitored systems, which is that you don’t know if any of the people on your call list will be able to answer the phone.
Thanks for taking the time to share your story.
What phone number can I call or what website can I go to find find a listing of the different PERS and features of each. I specifically want one that automatically detects falls and calls the appropriate phone numbers.
Thanks for your help.
Brian, are you looking for a monitored system or a no-fee system? I don’t know of any page that lists all the different devices and companies, but knowing whether you want monitored or no-fee is the first step. For automatic fall detection the big name is Phillips LIfeLine. I don’t know of a no-fee system that does automatic fall detection.
Thanks to all your helpful information, I recently purchased the LogicMark Freedom Alert from a seller on Ebay. I got it new for $250.00 and it was worth every penny, as I now feel so much safer, knowing I can get help when I fall. I love the ability to talk through the pendant, since I don’t have a very loud voice and wouldn’t be heard if I was in the other room. It has a great range and I can even talk from outside.
Thanks for sharing your experience! Your example of why the talk-through pendant is such a good idea is right on.
Joe – Thanks for your insight and advice regarding medical alerts and home safety for seniors. I recently purchased the Logimark Guardian 911 system for my 87 year old mother. The talk-through pendant and the immediate access to 911 were selling points for us with this system. I would advise anyone shopping for an alert system to spend some time shopping around, as I found mine on eBay for about 50% less than the retail price. With free shipping, too. I have to chuckle when I realize that about 35 years ago, I spent time and money “baby-proofing” our home; now I am spending time and money “senior-proofing” my mother’s! But both well worth the effort!