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COVID-19 Update: Medical Alerts are considered essential devices during the COVID crisis, so monitoring and customer service centers are still open and ready to help. To learn more about how these and other essential products can keep older adults safe and connected during this crisis, take a look at our list of 10 essential products. |
Medical alert systems are quickly becoming a necessity among seniors who want to retain their independence and avoid placement in a care facility. Emergency help buttons provide added peace of mind to older adults and their loved ones by ensuring help is always available even when a phone isn’t close by.
LifeStation is one of the oldest providers of medical alert systems in the county. Established in 1977 and based in New Jersey, LifeStation offers traditional landline-based home medical alert systems as well as systems that use a cellular connection. LifeStation’s wearable help buttons are waterproof for use in the bath or other wet locations, and users can install the system themselves in under five minutes.
As with most other medical alert companies, LifeStation charges a monthly monitoring fee that gives subscribers access to a 24/7 emergency call center. When a subscriber presses the help button on their in-home base unit, medical alert pendant or wrist-worn device, a call is placed to the LifeStation monitoring center. The emergency operator talks with the caller through the speakerphone on the base unit or the mobile GPS help button, assesses what kind of assistance the caller needs and activates the emergency response plan. This could include contacting a neighbor or family member, calling a caregiver or sending EMS to the caller’s home.
In this guide we cover all the devices, services and features offered by LifeStation to help you decide if LifeStation is the right medical alert system for you and your loved ones.
LifeStation Features
When compared with other medical alert providers, LifeStation’s lineup of devices and services is fairly basic. The company has two options — an at-home system and an on-the-go system. Optional features include fall detection, a PIN-protected lockbox and extra wireless wall-mounted help buttons that can be placed anywhere within range of the base unit. GPS location tracking is available on the mobile GPS medical alert pendant, so no matter where you are, family and EMTs know where to find you.
LifeStation Medical Alert Plans
LifeStation has three monthly monitoring packages that begin at $19.95 for basic in-home systems, $26.95 without a landline and $34.95 per month for mobile GPS-enabled help buttons.
| In-Home Landline Medical Alert | Mobile GPS Help Button | In-Home No Landline | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $19.95 | $34.95 | $26.95 |
| Device Type | Wearable water-resistant help button, base unit and wireless wall-mounted help buttons (optional) | 4G LTE water-resistant help button with two-way communication | Wearable, water-resistant help button that can be worn on the wrist or around the neck |
| Connection | Landline | Cellular (AT&T) | Cellular (AT&T) |
| Fall Detection | +$7/month | Included in monthly fee | +$7/month |
| Battery Life |
Non-rechargeable battery in wearable help buttons Up to 32-hour battery backup on base unit |
Up to 5 days |
Pendant never needs charging Base unit includes a battery backup that lasts up to 32 hours |
| Optional Accessories |
Fall detection PIN-protected lockbox Additional wall-mounted help buttons |
PIN-protected lockbox | PIN-protected lockbox |
In-Home Medical Alert
Device Information
LifeStation’s In-Home Medical Alert system includes a landline-connected base unit equipped with a speaker and microphone for hands-free communication with the emergency response center. Subscribers can choose either a wrist- or neck-worn help button that works up to 500 feet away from the base unit. A total of six wall-mounted help buttons can be added to the system and placed throughout the home within range of the base unit to provide extra protection should the subscriber remove or misplace their wearable help button.
Pricing
Starting at $19.95 per month for an annual prepaid plan, the landline-based In-Home Medical Alert system is the lowest-price plan offered by LifeStation. Users can upgrade to an in-home system that includes the LifeStation’s protection plan for $26.95 per month or upgrade to include both the protection plan and automatic fall detection for $34.95 per month.
In-Home No Landline
Device Information
The In-Home No Landline package is the same as the landline package with one exception — the base unit is connected to the AT&T cellular network rather than a traditional wired landline phone.
Pricing
The Standard package starts at $26.95 per month and includes 24/7 monitoring, one help button and a cellular-connected base unit. The Select package adds LifeStation’s protection plan for $31.95 per month, while the Supreme package includes everything in the Select package plus a PIN-protected lock box.
Mobile GPS Help Button
Device Information
LifeStation’s Mobile with GPS medical alert button is an all-in-one medical alert system that works anywhere there is AT&T cellular service. The pendant is larger and heavier than a traditional medical alert call button because there’s no base unit with this system.
The mobile GPS help button is equipped with a GPS locator, a microphone and speaker and a manual help button that users can activate to connect with the emergency call center. The device is also water-resistant and can be safely worn in the shower or other damp environments.
Pricing
LifeStation’s Mobile GPS plans start at $34.95 per month for one cellular-connected help button, while a mobile help button with automatic fall detection, GPS locating and caregiver tracking through the Bay Alarm Medical app costs $44.95 per month.
Who Should Use LifeStation Medical Alert Systems?
LifeStation may be a good option for seniors who are looking for a simple, user-friendly medical alert system that provides reliable service without any bells and whistles. The basic at-home service starts at under $20 per month when prepaid for 12 months and includes either a neck-worn help button or a wrist-worn button. This system can be customized by adding up to six bathroom and hallway buttons for added protection around the home.
Seniors Who Are Active
The LifeStation mobile medical alert button with GPS is geared towards seniors who want the protection of a medical alert system at home and in the community. Because the device is equipped with a GPS locator, the emergency call center can pinpoint the exact location of the subscriber in an emergency to ensure help arrives as quickly as possible. And for family members peace of mind, the exclusive LifeStation Amazon Alexa Skill app is available for family to keep watch over their loved ones from a distance.
Pros and Cons of LifeStation Medical Alert Plans & Devices
LifeStation is ranked as one of the top medical alert companies in the country, and reviewers often comment on the simple set-up, easy to use devices and friendly, prompt call response. Despite the positive reviews, there are also some drawbacks to LifeStation’s products and services.
Pros of LifeStation:
- Established U.S. company founded in 1977
- Has an ‘Excellent’ rating on Trustpilot
- Emergency monitoring center is UL-listed and CSAA Five Diamond certified
- Shipping is free
- Most basic monthly monitoring cost starts at $19.95 (when paid annually)
- Offers landline and cellular options
- Fall detection available for an added fee
- No cancellation fees or equipment fees
- Call center operators have six weeks of additional, specialized training
- Medical alert buttons are waterproof and safe for use in the shower or bath
- A second user in the same home can be added for $3.99 per month
- Average call response time is 20 seconds
- 32-hour battery back-up on in-home base unit
- Mobile unit has a five-day battery life
- Service comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee
- Systems are designed for easy self-installation
- Cellular coverage provided through the AT&T network
Cons of LifeStation:
- Help button range is limited to just 500 feet from the in-home base unit
- Company website can be difficult to navigate, making it hard to find information online
- Some users have reported false alarms from the fall-detection pendant
- The sound quality on the mobile GPS help pendant can be poor, making it difficult for users to hear the emergency operator
With dozens of medical alert companies offering a variety of medical alert devices and systems, choosing the right system for you or your loved one can be challenging. Take the time to consider your needs and weigh the pros and cons of each service before deciding which device and provider is the best choice for your situation.