Established in 1987, Life Alert is one of the oldest personal medical alert companies in the industry. The company popularized the use of personal emergency response systems with its tagline, “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” It currently handles over two million calls for help annually. According to Life Alert, its U.S.-based call center is staffed by twice as many emergency operators as a traditional security company, and operators stay on the line with callers until help arrives.
There are two Life Alert medical alert systems available; an in-home system with a help pendant paired with a speakerphone-equipped base unit, and a mobile all-in-one GPS pendant that works anywhere GSM cellular phone service is available.
In this guide you’ll find an in-depth overview of Life Alert medical alert systems, monitoring services and costs.
Life Alert Features
Life Alert is focused on providing simple, reliable medical alert solutions, so there are no add-on features or optional services offered, which is perfect for seniors who are technically challenged. Subscribers simply press the help button on their medical alert device, base unit or optional wall-mounted help button when they’re in distress to reach an operator at the monitoring center, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Life Alert also provides GPS location tracking on the Life Alert Mobile plan, which is helpful when a subscriber is out alone in the community and needs help. The device with this plan guarantees its batteries don’t need charging for up to 10 years, so this feature is great for active seniors who are often out and about.
Life Alert’s in-home help buttons are available worn around the neck as a pendant or on the wrist, and the call buttons are waterproof, don’t need an electrical outlet or telephone line, designed to be durable and maintenance-free with an 800-foot range. The Life Alert Mobile help button can also be carried in a purse, pocket or on a belt clip. Batteries in the pendant help buttons are non-rechargeable and rated to last seven years on the home system.
Life Alert is not only for medical emergencies but can be very helpful in a fire or possible home intrusion situation. With the audio monitoring system, a Life Alert dispatcher can hear the activity in the home and even inform an intruder that they’re being recorded and police are on the way.
Life Alert Plans for Seniors
Life Alert monitoring plans range in price from $49 per month for the in-home system up to $68 per month for the mobile device. There’s also an activation fee that ranges from $98 to $198, and shipping fees may apply. Monthly monitoring fees include medical alert equipment, which is leased from Life Alert.
Unlike most other medical alert companies, Life Alert doesn’t sell their systems online. Prospective customers need to call a Life Alert sales agent for information on current pricing and to subscribe to Life Alert services.
It’s important to note that while Life Alert plans are billed monthly, Life Alert uses a three-year monitoring plan agreement. This means that new subscribers to Life Alert must pay the monthly fee for 36 months via automatic credit card or bank transfer. Life Alert does allow cancellations under specific circumstances, if the subscriber is deceased or placed in a 24 hour care facility, nevertheless, canceling the Life Alert system is a complex process requiring medical documentation.
Prices for Life Alert are not locked in, so prices can change at any time.
| In-Home Life Alert System | Life Alert Mobile | |
|---|---|---|
|
Monthly Cost |
$49 |
$68 |
|
Device Type |
Wearable help button paired with an in-home base unit |
Mobile pendant |
|
Connection |
Landline |
Cellular |
|
Range |
Up to 800′ |
N/A |
|
Fall Detection |
No |
No |
|
GPS Location Tracking |
No |
Yes |
|
Battery Life |
Seven years on the emergency call pendant Up to 72 hours battery back-up on the base unit |
Up to 10 years on the pendant |
|
Water Resistant Help Button |
Yes |
Yes |
Who Should Use Life Alert Medical Alert Systems?
Pairing the right medical alert system with each user is important because the more comfortable a senior is with their emergency help button, the greater the chances are that they’ll wear it and activate the help button if they require immediate assistance.
Life Alert medical alert systems are geared towards seniors who want a simple, maintenance-free personal emergency response system. The lack of advanced features, such as automatic fall detection, activity monitoring and medication reminders, makes Life Alert an option for those who are looking for a durable, bare-bones monitored medical alert device from an established company.
The Life Alert Mobile system may be suitable for seniors who need a help button that works both at home and in the community, as the mobile system works off of mobile phone signals. This device may also be helpful for seniors who may be prone to wandering, as it includes a GPS location tracker that the emergency monitoring center can use to identify where the Life Alert pendant is.
Pros and Cons of Life Alert
As with all medical alert companies, there are a number of pros and cons prospective customers should consider before signing up with Life Alert.
Life Alert Pros:
- The battery in the emergency pendant is non-rechargeable and irreplaceable, meaning users never need to worry about charging their help button or replacing the batteries
- The in-home system can connect to either an existing landline or GSM cellular service
- Life Alert owns and operates its own call center
- The monitoring center is Five Diamond CSAA and UL certified
- Life Alert has been in business for more than 30 years
- Subscribers can request that the call center notify their emergency contacts if the help button is activated
- Wearable help buttons are waterproof, making them safe for use in the shower
- Customers can choose between a neck- or wrist-worn call button (in-home system only)
- GPS tracking, using GSM cellular networks, is included with the Life Alert Mobile monitoring fee
- Life Alert dispatchers can scare off intruders if someone is breaking in and send the police immediately
- Life Alert offers wireless, waterproof help buttons that can be added to high-risk areas in the home, such as the bathroom
Life Alert Cons:
- Automatic fall detection isn’t available
- Life Alert uses GSM cellular technology, which isn’t as fast or reliable as 4G/LTE mobile networks
- No caregiver app
- No medical alert smart watch option
- Unclear if monitoring center offers multilingual services
- The Life Alert devices are dated and are only available in white
- Prices aren’t listed online
- Prospective subscribers need to phone a Life Alert sales agent for pricing information, which may lead to undue sales pressure
- Activation fees range from $95-$198 in addition to the monthly monitoring costs
- Monitoring services are over twice the price of comparable systems and services from other major medical alert companies
- Prices are not guaranteed and could increase at any time
- Life Alert customers must enter a three-year service contract, while many other medical alert companies offer month-to-month monitoring services
- Subscribers are only allowed to terminate their service if the Life Alert user passes away or is admitted to a nursing home, and even in these cases cancellation is exceptionally difficult
While Life Alert is one of the most recognized names in the medical alert industry, their high monitoring fees and three-year service contract have led to multiple consumer complaints against the company.
Before choosing a medical alert system for yourself or your loved one, take the time to consider what services and features you need in a personal emergency response device. Consider your budget, where you need coverage and whether you require access to an online caregiver dashboard or mobile app. Remember, medical alert systems can help seniors remain independent without compromising on safety or security.