Medical Alarms

All about personal medical alarms

Living with an illness or disease can be scary, especially if symptoms or effects of it can strike spontaneously. Never knowing when you may have an attack or seizure, or simply suffer the effects of a serious allergy, can make it hard to live life normally. Medical alarms (or medical alert alarms) can offer more security and help you go about your day-to-day life without fear.

Personal medical alarms are offered by emergency response companies as a means of providing a direct line to emergency services. Home medical alarms are the most common, especially for seniors in failing health. Home medical alarms equipment includes buttons installed at various points around the home that send a signal to the service company when pushed and possibly a two-way communication speaker through which the agent and the homeowner or someone in the room can communicate. Home alarm systems work on a monthly fee structure, and services are available 24 hours a day.

Along with home medical alarms, devices worn on the body are a popular choice. These include bracelets, necklaces or belt clips equipped with a button that signals emergency response when pushed. This type of medical alarm is most useful when the owner falls and cannot move to the buttons placed around the house. They are often waterproof and resistant to impact.

Medical alarms can offer peace and personal security to the elderly, the ill and the disabled. They also offer peace of mind to families who can't be with their loved ones all the time but who worry about leaving them alone. Emergency response services not only dispatch medical care teams when the alarm buttons are activated, but they also contact a select list of family and friends in the event of an emergency so they can be made aware of the situation as quickly as possible.

Why Are Medical Alarms Essential for Personal Security?

  • Can be placed in convenient locations, as well as on the body
  • Offer 24-hour service
  • Make it easier for the elderly, disabled and those with serious illnesses to live on their own

Things to Consider When Buying a Medical Alarm

  • Where should the alarm buttons be placed?
  • Would you feel more secure with an on-the-body alarm button as well?
  • Who will be on the contact list provided to the medical alarm company?

Reviews of Top Brands of Medical Alarms

Once you've decided that you want to acquire a medical alarm, you'll need to decide which brand of alarm do you want to buy. We recommend taking a look at a variety of medical alarm reviews online to determine which brand you trust most. We offer our own reviews below, but don't trust a single source. Look for websites that have numerous medical alarm systems reviews in order to ensure that you are looking at a sufficient sample size. Online forums are another great place to read collect information and you can even ask questions about specific brands and models.

In our opinion, some of the best medical alarms brands include:

  • Phillips Lifeline medical alarms - More expensive than some other brands and some extra fees (for installation and cancellation), but overall a good choice. Offers a fall detection feature that not all other brands have. ★★★☆☆
  • LifeStation medical alarms - Priced competitively and no hidden fees (including free equipment delivery), but does not offer all the features that other brands do. One of our favorites. ★★★★☆
  • LifeFone medical alarms - Excellent range and reasonable prices. Very good all-around. Offers a unique feature that provides protection for those traveling. ★★★★☆
  • Alert1 medical alarms - Reasonable prices, average range and a good number of extra services offered. Very solid overall. A respected name in the business. ★★★★☆
  • ADT Companion medical alert systems - This brand is relatively new on the medical alarms scene, although it has a reputable history in home security. A bit pricier than other brands and requires you to sign a contract. ★★☆☆☆
  • LifeAlert medical alarms - This is the brand that was made famous by the "I've fallen, and I can't get up" commercials. It isn't our favorite brand, as it has extremely limited range to its products (only 100 feet), poor customer service at times and a very expensive price compared to other brands. ★☆☆☆☆
  • Bay Alarm medical alert systems - Cheap monthly fees, great customer service, a good range of features (including 24 hours a day, 365 days a year assistance at the touch of one button) and a proven track record in the industry. The only knock on these products is that they have a limited range. ★★★★★

When comparing medical alarm brands, be sure to consider factors such as the following:

  • Are you required to sign a contract or can you pay on a month-to-month basis?
  • How expensive is the monthly fee?
  • Does the product offer a money-back guarantee?
  • Is 911 phone service included?