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More than 55 million people in the world live with dementia.1 The disease takes a physical, social, and psychological toll on those diagnosed and their caregivers. Medical alert systems can make living with and caring for someone with dementia a little easier. Below, we’ll dive into five different medical alert systems with features that help keep individuals with dementia as independent as possible while offering more peace of mind to their families.
Our Top 5 Medical Alert Systems for Seniors With Dementia
Seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia have unique needs when it comes to a medical alert system. That’s why we’ve narrowed down the options to make choosing the best medical alert system for your loved one easier. We evaluated the following criteria: pricing, customer service, ease of use, and special features such as GPS, fall detection, and caregiver integration.
Medical Alert System – Medical Guardian’s Home Guardian system
Medical Guardian offers a vast selection of at-home and on-the-go medical alert systems. Each system is backed by the company’s impressive customer service team. Their monitoring professionals see all of your information when an alert goes out. They can then share information about your medical conditions, medications, allergies, and preferred hospital with emergency services. We appreciate this information exchange, especially for seniors with medical conditions that require a little extra care.
Money-Saving Tip: Medical Guardian runs seasonal promotions to help you save on your medical alert system. Make sure to ask a representative about any deals when you shop!
For older adults with dementia, we’d recommend the MGMini Lite system. It’s a water-resistant mobile unit worn on the wrist that features advanced location detection that utilizes GPS, Wi-Fi, and LTE. This sophisticated monitoring is especially important for an individual at high risk of wandering. The battery lasts up to 36 hours, which is long for a mobile medical alert system. That means your loved one can get away with forgetting to charge their device from time to time. At $44.95 per month, it’s one of Medical Guardian’s more expensive systems, and there is also an equipment fee of $149.95. Still, we think it provides excellent value for those living with dementia as well as their families.
Medical Guardian is a trusted leader in the medical alert system industry. They offer several add-ons, so look through those before purchasing. To help prevent falls, we’d recommend adding fall detection ($10 per month) and voice-activated wall-mounted help buttons in the bathroom ($4.99 per month). Learn about other add-ons and our firsthand experience with Medical Guardian in our 2023 Medical Guardian review.
Call to speak with a Medical Guardian representative. Get your questions answered, products recommended, and ask about current deals and promotions.
Answer a few questions on Medical Guardian's website to get a quote on the best product and plan for you. This process is slower than calling a representative.
Bay Alarm Medical – Wall Button
Bay Alarm Medical is known for their inexpensive systems that still come packed with top-of-the-line features. Prices start at $24.95 per month for their in-home system and $29.95 to $39.95 for their on-the-go systems. Whether you need an at-home or on-the-go system, Bay Alarm Medical has you covered.
Bay Alarm Medical made our list for their SOS Mobile, an updated on-the-go system. The device comes with your choice of an AT&T or Verizon connection, so you can opt for the cellular provider with the best service in your area. This will provide extra assurance that your loved one is always protected. The lightweight device comes with a caregiver tracking feature: You can pinpoint the location of your loved one, view their location history, and receive low-battery notifications right in the app. All of these features help you keep tabs on your loved ones, which is helpful if you’re concerned about them wandering or missing appointments. Plus, you can add fall detection for an extra $10 per month.
Bay Alarm Medical’s SOS Mobile is available as a solo device or in a bundle with the in-home system. If your loved one is more of a homebody, it may make sense to bundle so that you get the best of both systems. Just be prepared for the $49.95 monthly cost for the bundle plus equipment costs. Another option is Bay Alarm Medical’s SOS All-in-One system, which also provides at-home and on-the-go coverage. This system starts at $39.95 per month. Read our review of Bay Alarm Medical to learn more about how they can help provide peace of mind to you and your loved one with dementia.
Call to speak with a Bay Alarm Medical representative. Get your questions answered, products recommended, and ask about current deals and promotions.
Answer a few questions on Bay Alarm Medical's website to get a quote on the best product and plan for you. This process is slower than calling a representative.
LifeFone – At Home (Landline or Cellular) Equipment
LifeFone offers six different medical alert systems designed to meet seniors’ needs, whether they are homebodies or spend time out and about. You can add fall detection to any in-home system for just $5 — half of what most other companies charge. That’s a must-have feature for those with dementia, considering they face a higher risk of falling than older adults without dementia.3
FYI: To learn more about what LifeFone has to offer, read our 2023 LifeFone review.
LifeFone’s prices range from $29.95 to $49.95 per month for month-to-month plans with no upfront activation or equipment fees. These are competitive prices for the level of service and equipment quality. There are discounts available for quarterly and annual payment plans. You can also choose from a number of helpful add-ons, like a caregiver app with location tracking, a medication reminder service, and daily check-in calls.
LifeFone’s extensive equipment lineup and add-ons go above and beyond to care for older adults with dementia. We love that this company cares about family too. In fact, spouses can receive a pendant and monitoring for free with basic service.
MobileHelp Base Unit
MobileHelp is known for their Duo alert systems designed for two users, but the company made this list thanks to their high-tech touchscreen system, MobileHelp Touch Classic. The touchscreen device features a rotating picture gallery, cognitive games, and access to 24/7 emergency monitoring services. Also, since many people with dementia report issues with medication management, we love that MobileHelp lets users add on medication reminders.2 You will need to pay extra, though.
MobileHelp’s touchscreen system also works with its neck pendant, waterproof wall button, or wrist button. We suggest a wearable device and at least one waterproof wall button in the bathroom for easy access to help in case of a fall. Prices for MobileHelp’s systems range from $19.95 to $54.95 per month.
MobileHelp’s large product lineup makes it easy to build a system that best meets your needs. You can enhance your system with add-ons like fall detection for $10 per month or a 24/7 telehealth platform for $9.95 per month. Just keep an eye on the cost as you pick accessories, because it can quickly add up. See what we thought about MobileHelp and some of its add-ons in our latest MobileHelp review.
Pro Tip: MobileHelp Connect, an online portal and phone app, has standard (free) and premium ($5 per month) features. Standard features include help button alert notifications, location detection, and a section to store important health info.
The Aloe Care Health Smart Hub
Aloe Care Health uses new technology to keep older adults safe and connected with their loved ones. They offer in-home and on-the-go systems with advanced monitoring, including fall detection and motion sensors. We’re impressed with their caregiver app, too. It provides real-time updates on your loved one’s movements throughout the home. This is crucial data if you’re concerned about them falling, wandering, or forgetting to complete activities of daily living like bathing and eating.
Seniors with dementia may also benefit from Aloe Care Health’s Smart Hub. They can connect with an emergency response professional simply by saying “emergency” repeatedly. We think this voice-activated system is ideal for those who may misplace their phone or forget to wear their help button. Plus, caregivers can place check-in calls to the Smart Hub from the family app.
Aloe Care Health’s pricing ranges from $29.99 to $49.99 per month, plus upfront equipment costs ranging from $99.99 up to $349.99. While Aloe Care Health is on the pricier side, we think the advanced features are worth it.
Aloe Care Health may be new to the medical alert system game, but this company really understands what older adults and their caregivers need. For families most concerned with falls, we recommend the Total Care Package. While a bit pricey at $49.99 per month, it does include both in-home fall detection and automatic fall detection in the bathroom. Learn more about our experience with this company by checking out our 2023 Aloe Care Health review.
FYI: U.S. military and all essential workers get one free month of service. To learn more, call Aloe Care Health.
A medical alert system is more than just a piece of technology; it offers assurance for loved ones and allows seniors to get help when they need it. Monitoring professionals can get in touch with emergency contacts or emergency responders, even if your loved one is unable to articulate what’s wrong or doesn’t know where they are.
Plus, with features like GPS and caregiver tracking apps, it’s easier than ever for families to keep an eye on their loved ones. You can make sure they don’t wander from the yard, stay in bed all day, or miss important medical appointments. This technology helps family members be better caregivers, even if they live across the country.
Having any medical alert system is better than not having one at all, but if your loved one has dementia, it’s important to prioritize a few key features to best meet their needs. Let’s take a look.
Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults.4 Seniors with dementia face an even higher risk of falling. Wearable fall detection devices sense the wearer’s position and send an alert to the monitoring company if they fall.
Some companies, including several on our list of the best medical alert systems for seniors, offer caregiver integration features. Caregivers download an app on their mobile device to receive alerts about their loved one’s location, activity, device battery level, and more. Companies like Aloe Care Health go even further: Their app lets caregivers communicate directly with their loved one’s medical alert system through a hub with a two-way speaker.
Find out if the company you’re considering uses monitoring professionals accustomed to working with older adults. Why does that matter? It ensures that they know to speak loudly and clearly and to take action if the caller is confused, unable to speak, or difficult to understand. You should also prioritize companies that keep user files in the monitoring center. That way, when an alert activates, the operator can see the caller’s medical information, including their dementia diagnosis.
Older adults with dementia may struggle to remember day-to-day tasks like charging a phone or medical alert system. Prioritize systems with a long battery life, like Medical Guardian’s MGMini Lite system, which has up to 36 hours of battery life for on-the-go use.
Everyone forgets to take their meds from time to time, but for individuals with dementia, meds can be even more difficult to keep track of. Some medical alert systems, like MobileHelp and LifeFone, offer medication reminders to help your loved one better manage their medications.
Linda’s Acclaimed Career in Senior Care Linda Schlenker is a comforting voice for seniors and caregivers across the U.S. For nearly three decades, Linda has helped seniors remain safe in their own homes, while helping them to regain priceless independence and peace… Learn More About Linda Schlenker
Sarah covers a range of senior lifestyle topics, from reviews of walk-in tubs and hearing aids to overviews of Medicare and Medicaid. Her close relationship with her grandparents gave her a firsthand look at the evolving life needs of older adults, and… Learn More About Sarah Goldy-Brown
World Health Organization. (2021). Dementia.
National Center for Biotechnology Information. (2018). Medicines management issues in dementia and coping strategies used by people living with dementia and family carers: A systematic review.
National Center for Biotechnology Information. (2017). Risk Factors Associated with Falls in Older Adults with Dementia: A Systematic Review.
National Council on Aging. (2021). Get the Facts on Falls Prevention.
