Top Medical Alert Systems Worn as a Bracelet
Stay protected on-the-go

Medical Guardian has been in business for 16 years and boasts over 300,000 users. Their medical alert systems deliver 24/7 at-home and on-the-go monitoring, while their versatile devices can connect to landlines, WiFi, and cellular networks.

Chris McDermott, an advanced practice registered nurse and certified life care planner at Intercoastal Consulting & Life Care Planning (ICLCP), states that the company's connectivity options give consumers "the best of both worlds, as some other devices [are] limited to a landline or cellular service." He adds, "[this] service also uses Verizon for its cellular network, which can be helpful if one travels somewhere with limited connectivity and has an emergency."

Medical Guardian provides monthly, quarterly, or annual subscription options, and offer add-on services, such as fall detection, at an extra cost. Long-term contracts are not required, and the initial subscription fee includes the price of the equipment.

Why we chose Medical Guardian: Medical Guardian offers features like automatic emergency response, fall detection, and an extended signal range of up to 1,400 feet. In addition, their certified Diamond Monitoring Center is available around the clock and notifies your designated contact in emergency and non-emergency situations—no matter which subscription you choose. 

Our experience: We felt that Medical Guardian's product quiz effectively determined which device best suits our needs. After answering three questions, the site recommended we try Mobile 2.0. This device had an extended, five-day battery life and GPS tracking - fit for active seniors. However, we didn't like that they asked for our contact details before sharing this recommendation.

With MobileHelp, you can choose between an in-home or on-the-go system, or a bundled package that combines the two. These medical alert systems suit seniors who spend most of their time at home and active older adults who enjoy being out and about.

MobileHelp's devices have several valuable add-on services, such as MD Live and Mobile Vitals, which help seniors take charge of their health and maintain their independence. MDLive, for example, provides telehealthcare services that let you connect with a board-certified doctor through video calls.

John Buchanan, a registered nurse and former EMT at Saint Francis Hospital, remembers responding to an older woman who had fallen and hit her head. She lived alone with a MobileHelp system and only spoke Spanish. Fortunately, the monitoring representative on the base unit was able to interpret. He alerted John's team that the patient had been taking blood thinners, so they took her to the hospital as a precaution. Tests later showed she had internal bleeding. John says, "without an interpreter, we might not have known her history or what medications she was taking."

Why we chose MobileHelp: This provider allows you to try their service for 30 days. When you join, they don't ask you to sign a contract or pay equipment fees (for six of the eight products offered).

Our experience: We like that MobileHelp offers a wide array of add-on services. We also appreciated their quick response times—from 1-15 seconds on average — indicating speedy and attentive service.

LifeStation’s equipment is matched by its live, 24/7 monitoring team, allowing users peace of mind at both ends of any emergency. Operators are certified by the CSAA and have undergone 6 weeks of training to ensure responsiveness. Working out of UL-listed monitoring centers, they are thoroughly equipped to handle emergencies with timeliness, responsibility, and compassion.

As for the equipment itself, LifeStation’s medical alert systems have a field range of up to 500 feet, and standby battery that lasts around 32 hours. The console is equipped with a speaker phone with voice-to-voice communication, as well as waterproof buttons and, no less impressive, an automatic test feature programmed to send weekly check-ins to the monitoring center to ensure the system is functioning properly. 

LifeStation offers landline alert systems as well as mobile equipment with GPS and fall detection features, though fall detection costs extra. Each client will have a personalized emergency plan with prioritized emergency contacts built in, and can opt to have additional emails sent to caregivers in the event of an emergency, weekly test, or service issue.