Article by David Dansereau,MSPT,CAPS | SmartMovesPT.com
Here’s a fast start guide to help seniors and loved ones evaluate and purchase the best medical alert systems (aka Personal Emergency Response Systems or PERS) for home safety and fall prevention.
I’ll be diving deeper into this topic for a new module in my Believe in Balance course and hope to bring in a few experts in this area on a bonus Substack Live.
Below is a summary of some of my early research with quick tips to consider when evaluating medical alert systems. Top independently reviewed devices are included with links to learn more and order.
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Why Consider a Medical Alert System?
* Provides 24/7 emergency help at home or on-the-go.
* Reduces risk of delayed medical care after falls.
* Supports independence and peace of mind for seniors and loved ones.
Key Features to Look For
* Fall Detection: Automatically alerts help when a fall is detected.
* Type of Monitoring: Landline, cellular, or GPS-based for mobile use.
* Response Time & Center Quality: 24/7 certified monitoring.
* Ease of Use: Simple wearables and easy setup.
* Cost & Contracts: Watch for hidden fees and long-term agreements.
* Discounts and Benefits: Check Your Insurance Coverage, ie) Medicare Advantage Plans, AARP and possible coverage with Veterans benefits
Top-Rated Systems at a Glance
* Why it stands out: Rated Best Overall by NCOA; fast response, long range, diverse device options
* Offers home base, mobile pendants, smartwatches, GPS on-the-go.
* Monitoring starts around $29.95–$36.95/month, no long-term contract
* Touted for outstanding customer service, price-lock guarantee, and discounts
* Basic plan starts at $24.95/month, with fall detection add-on (~$10/month)
3. MobileHelp
* Best Value pick: lowest starting cost (~$24.95/month), no hidden fees, 30-day trial
* Offers in-home and on-the-go devices; fall-detection pendants; 4G LTE connectivity.
Honorable Mentions
Lively – integrates with Jitterbug phones, offers fall detection pendants
ADT Medical Alert – lifetime warranty, no hidden fees, cellular/base range options
Action Steps
✅ Decide: Do you need a home system or mobile coverage (for outdoor use)?
✅ Prioritize: Fall detection is essential for higher-risk individuals.
✅ Check: Trial periods and avoid long-term contracts.
✅ Review: Compare monthly & upfront costs carefully.
✅ Test: Use trial periods to confirm comfort and reliability.
“What about using my Apple Watch with the Fall Detection Feature??”
I cover this option and the pros and cons, with costs in my new course. For example, Apple Watch fall detection can be paired with a monitoring service like FallCall and their app on your iPhone.
Note on Pairing with Your Own Devices for Falls Alerts and HELP
Bottom line: You’ll still most-likely need a way to be notified if a loved on falls and will have to connect with a subscription based Falls Alert Monitoring Service like FallCall that has an app based alert response system.
Learn more here and use their FAQ chart to see which options are best for your needs. As of the writing of this article most monitoring plans were similar to the other vendors mentioned or slightly less, ranging from $25-35/month.
FallCall also has partnerships with other device manufacturers like Trelawear (ALERT spelled backwards) that have pendants that look more like jewelry as show below.
Note, these pendants might not help detect falls, and may only have a button to call for help after a fall has occurred. Be sure to look at all product descriptions and FAQ pages before purchasing.
Trusted Resources & Reviews
* National Council on Aging (NCOA): ncoa.org
* SafeWise: safewise.com
* Consumer Reports: consumerreports.org
* SeniorLiving.org: seniorliving.org
Final Tips
* Best Overall: Medical Guardian — full-featured options and strong support.
* Best Value: MobileHelp — affordable and transparent.
* Best Budget: Bay Alarm Medical — lowest price with good service.
Stay Safe, Stay Independent- Take Charge of Your Health!!
Stay on You Feet
Take My Balance Course: Now Offered With a Substack Paid Subscription
To learn more about my Believe in Balance Course with a comprehensive review of fall detection and medical alert systems subscribe to my Substack and podcast for updates.
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For a personalized comparison chart or for local deals get on my list, and always talk with your healthcare provider or reach out to a trusted aging services advisor or Certified Aging in Place (CAPS) professional for best fit for your individual needs.
Resources and Disclosures: I am an Amazon associate and the links in this post are connected to my account. This does not affect my evaluation of the products listed. They were all independently tested for 2025 by the reviews mentioned in this article. Purchasing through my links does not change the price you pay, all current offers and pricing are up to date and adjusted for sales on Amazon’s platform by the vendor and reflected here.
