Best Medical Alert Systems With Fall Detection for Seniors

Bay Alarm Medical’s powerful GPS-equipped mobile devices are the reason the company is on our list. It offers three mobile systems: SOS Micro, SOS All-In-One 2, and SOS Smartwatch. Fall detection can be added to each system.

If a device detects a fall or you press the button, Bay Alarm Medical pinpoints your location and sends a fall alert to emergency services quickly. They also send a fall alert to people authorized to receive them, such as friends, family members, or neighbors. Falls can happen anywhere, so your system should be equipped for on-the-go use, especially if you stay active. Starting at just $34.95 per month for a cellular home-based subscription, Bay Alarm Medical offers some of the more affordable GPS systems on the market.

» Learn About: Best medical alert systems for active seniors

Do you spend most of your time at home? The SOS Home can be upgraded to include a fall alert and detection service. When we tested the SOS Home, an operator answered our test call in 20 seconds, within the industry standard of 15 to 45 seconds. With fast response times, a 30-day risk-free trial, no long-term contracts, and Bay Alarm Medical’s affordable pricing, I feel as if the company truly cares about its customers.

Trying out Medical Guardian's MGMini Lite

Setup and Testing

Bay Alarm Medical systems are easy to install and use. When I tested the SOS Smartwatch, I learned that a smartphone or other internet-connected device isn’t required to use it. Just plug it into the charging cradle and turn it on.

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That’s similar to other medical alert watches, including Medical Guardian’s MGMove. I’m a big fan of that, since many older adults don’t own a smartphone or want to deal with connecting another device to their phone.

I pressed the SOS button for five seconds to place a test call. An operator answered within 10 seconds — five seconds faster than Medical Guardian! The SOS Smartwatch is one of the few watches on the market that includes fall detection.

» Read More: Best Medical Alert Watches

Testing out Bay Alarm Medical's SOS Smartwatch

Features for Caregivers

The Bay Alarm Medical app keeps users and their caregivers connected, and it’s free with any subscription. Caregivers can update emergency contacts and manage billing, and caregiver tracking is available for SOS All-In-One 2, SOS Micro, and SOS Smartwatch users. Caregivers can also view their loved one’s exact location, check the device’s battery life, and ring the device in case it’s misplaced.

I am notorious for misplacing things, and my testing experience with the SOS All-In-One 2 was no different. I couldn’t remember where I put the system one afternoon, so I used the mobile app to check its location and ring it. The device made a noise, and I realized I’d left it in the car.

Battery Life

Bay Alarm Medical understands the importance of reliable, long-lasting batteries. Let’s take a look at what its systems offer.

• In-Home Auto Fall Detection Button: Up to two years
• SOS Micro: Up to 36 hours per charge
• SOS All-in-One 2: Up to three days per charge
• SOS Smartwatch: Up to 8 hours per charge

If the battery in your fall-detection button runs low, it’ll send a notification to Bay Alarm Medical’s monitoring station. Someone will contact you to let you know it’s time to replace the battery. Bay Alarm’s systems offer decent battery life — longer than providers like Lively, but shorter than Medical Guardian. Some of Medical Guardian’s mobile systems last up to five days, which is great for individuals who consistently forget to charge their devices.

» Learn more: Bay Alarm Medical Review

Bay Alarm Medical Pricing and Products

Medical Guardian includes fall alerts and detection on all five alert systems, offering options for different needs and budgets. Whether you prefer an at-home or on-the-go system, Medical Guardian lets you add fall-detection capabilities.

I love the company’s vast product line and friendly customer service representatives. With Medical Guardian’s plans, you won’t find any hidden fees or long-term contracts — always a plus for seniors on a budget. With five medical alert systems to choose from, starting at $31.95 per month and just $10 per month to add fall detection, Medical Guardian provides top-quality protection at multiple price points.

Testing out Medical Guardian's MGMini Lite

Setup and Testing

Medical Guardian’s systems are easy to set up and use alone. I’ve tried all five of the company’s systems, including MGHome Landline, its only landline system. It just needed to be plugged into a phone jack and an outlet before being powered on. My grandma set it up without any trouble.

Setting up our MGClassic system was as easy as plugging it in!

She also tried the MGMini, one of the company’s on-the-go systems. After setting the mobile unit on the charger for a few hours, she put it on like a necklace and wore it on a walk with her dog.

The system is slightly larger than a box of Tic Tacs, with a rope lanyard. It’s smaller than some mobile medical alert systems we’ve tested, such as Lively’s Mobile2 system, but it’s not exactly stylish. Luckily, it’s small enough that my grandma tucked it under a sweater, and you couldn’t tell she was wearing it. My grandma dropped the system on the ground to test the fall detection, and she spoke to an operator in just 15 seconds.

Not so luckily, there was one occasion when she set the pendant down, walked into another room, and didn’t realize the system recorded a fall. Twenty minutes later, first responders arrived at her front door, asking if she was OK. I appreciated the fast response, but it’s not something you want to happen regularly! My grandma now keeps her pendant nearby, even if she takes it off, so she can cancel any false alarms.

Expert Insights

From Linda Schlenker, M.S., M.A., O.T.R

Some people I have worked with are hesitant to have fall detection because they are concerned with false alarms. While this can happen, I still firmly believe it is better to risk a false alarm here and there than to need help and be unable to call for it.

Features for Caregivers

All five Medical Guardian systems include access to the MyGuardian customer care portal and app. The wearer and invited members of their Care Circle can chat, set up activity reminders, enable auto-pay, and more. Members of the Care Circle will also receive a fall alert should fall detection occur.

Caregivers can also access GPS location, battery, and connection history if their loved one uses the MGMini. I love that Medical Guardian makes it easier for everyone on a senior’s care team to stay connected and up-to-date. I used the portal to check on my grandma when she tried the MGMini system and found it accurate.

Battery Life

Remembering to charge devices is a struggle for anyone, especially older adults, who may not already be in the habit of charging devices like cell phones or a smartwatch. Fortunately, Medical Guardian’s systems offer a long battery life.

• Fall-detection pendant: Up to three years (not rechargeable)
• MGMove: Up to 24 hours
• MGMini Lite: Up to 36 hours
• MGMini: Up to five days

Even the MGHome Landline and MGHome Cellular systems, which plug into an outlet in your home, feature a 32-hour backup battery to get you through power outages.

» Related Reading: Best Cellular Medical Alert Systems

We tested the backup battery by unplugging the MGHome Cellular system. Once unplugged, we received an audible notification that the system was running on its backup battery. Backup batteries are standard, so you’ll find the feature on other in-home alert systems from companies like Bay Alarm Medical and LifeFone.

I appreciate this added layer of protection in case of a storm or power outage. You’re at even higher risk of a fall if your house is dark during a power outage, so your medical alert system must keep chugging along like normal.

To learn more about Medical Guardian, visit our hands-on Medical Guardian review.

Medical Guardian Pricing and Products

ADT offers fall detection as an optional add-on with two of their systems: Plus (meant for use at home) and On-The-Go. Unfortunately, the most affordable system, ADT Medical Alert Basic, does not have the option to add fall detection. That still gives seniors one at-home and one mobile option, which can be paired with reliable fall detection. It’s a step above Lively, which only offers fall detection with one system.

Where ADT sets their systems apart is the two-way speaker. All three systems have two-way speakers (either on the base unit or mobile device), and the sound is loud and clear, with virtually no feedback or static noise. Having a great two-way speaker in tandem with fall detection is perfect for seniors prone to falls, as they may struggle to speak at full volume when they have an ADT agent on the line.

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Setup and Testing

I set up all three and had no issues. The Basic unit can work with a landline or cellular connection. If you use a landline, place the base unit in your home’s central location, preferably near an electrical outlet and a phone jack. I set up the Basic system with a cellular connection, so a phone jack wasn’t necessary. However, if you use it with a landline, you’ll need to plug the connector into the phone jack on the wall and the corresponding phone jack on the base unit.

The Medical Alert Plus ADT Health system

To set up the Plus system, I plugged in the base unit, turned it on, and held down the test button until it turned green. The screen display read “User Auto Test,” so I pressed the pendant button, which prompted me to complete an emergency test call. It took roughly 20 seconds to connect to an ADT agent.

» System Review: ADT Medical Alert System Review

One disappointing aspect of ADT’s medical alert systems is the short range of the base unit. The maximum range from the base unit is just 300 feet for the Basic system. I tested this by positioning myself on the opposite side of the house from the base unit, and the pendant still worked.

However, when I went out to the end of the driveway, I found myself out of range. The Plus system has a range of 600 feet, which afforded me more room to move around, but it’s still less than half of the ranges offered by systems from Medical Guardian (1,400 feet) and LifeFone (1,300 feet).

» Pricing Guide: ADT Medical Alert Systems: Pricing and Getting the Best Deal

Features for Caregivers

ADT is surprisingly short on features for caregivers. They don’t offer a companion app or caregiver portal, such as Bay Alarm Medical or Medical Guardian. The Plus and On-The-Go systems offer optional fall detection, and the latter system has GPS tracking via AT&T’s cellular network, both of which afford greater peace of mind for caregivers. Unfortunately, there’s no app for caregivers to track locations or falls in real time. The only feature ADT offers caregivers is notifications via text or email if there’s a fall or emergency recorded.

Battery Life

The at-home systems are powered by electricity. For this reason, we recommend keeping them close to your home’s outlets. However, during a power outage, the Basic unit can stay powered for up to 20 hours, while the Plus unit can last up to 24 hours. The rechargeable mobile device for the On-The-Go system has a 40-hour battery life. That’s nearly twice as long as Medical Guardian’s MGMove, but it pales in comparison to the MGMini Lite and MGMini, which can stay powered for up to three to five days, respectively, on a single charge.

ADT Products and Pricing

Lively made our list for its on-the-go medical alert system featuring optional fall detection and its mobile app that can be accessed on other devices. The Lively Mobile2 is an all-in-one, on-the-go device with optional fall detection built in. You can use it anywhere; my grandma even used it in the shower! The alert system also has an urgent-response button, two-way talk, and enhanced location detection. Lively has an equipment fee, but at $79.99, it won’t break the bank.

» For Voice Activation: Best Medical Alert Systems With Voice Activation

Lively’s two health and safety packages offer various services, including Nurse On-Call, a telehealth service, and Lively Link, which enables caregiver tracking and enhanced communication for your support network. Fall detection is offered as an add-on service with either package for an additional $9.99 per month.

Nurse On-Call is one of my favorite features Lively offers. Users can receive medical advice from nurses or doctors day or night. This feature is a huge plus for people who have mobility issues or struggle getting in to see their doctor on short notice. It’s also something you won’t find from other popular providers, such as Medical Guardian or Bay Alarm Medical.

Prices range from $24.99 to $34.99 per month, $5 to $15 less than comparable systems from companies such as Medical Guardian and LifeFone. Lively offers only one medical alert system (and two phones), so you may consider another provider on our list if you prefer a customized system.

Charging the Lively Mobile2

Setup and Testing

Setting up the Lively Mobile2 with fall detection is a breeze. I just turned on the device, placed it on the charger, and waited for it to say “Setting up device; please wait.” It flashed a green light, and an automated voice told me that the setup was complete. My grandma put the device around her neck, and it was ready to go. You can put the Lively Mobile2 device in your purse or clip it to your pocket or keys, but wearing it as a necklace is the only way fall detection will work.

Conducting a test call was as simple as pressing the emergency button. My grandma and I placed calls inside the home and on a walk around town with no issues. It took only around 12 seconds for a monitoring agent to respond. That’s two seconds slower than Bay Alarm Medical and three seconds faster than Medical Guardian's response times. Simulated falls were successful, too, resulting in an automatic call to Lively’s urgent-response team.

Features for Caregivers

All health and safety plans include Lively Link app access, which offers caregivers real-time updates. Simply install the Lively Link app on your smartphone, and you can check the user’s exact location, get instant update notifications when they’re on the move, receive alerts in an emergency, and monitor the device’s battery levels.

Testing out the Lively Link app's location tracking feature

Battery Life

According to Lively, a full charge offers up to 80 hours of standby time. Our testing, however, found that 24 hours was a more realistic estimate. We’d suggest charging the device daily to ensure it’s always ready. Thankfully, the charging dock’s drop-in design is easy to use. Read our Lively review for more details on this provider.

Lively Products and Pricing

Offering a price-lock guarantee, lifetime warranty, and fall detection add-ons starting at $5 per month, LifeFone was an obvious choice for affordable fall detection. LifeFone prices start at just $24.95 per month with an annual plan with no device or activation fees, making it one of the most economical options on our list. The price to add fall detection is one of the least expensive we’ve seen. Bay Alarm Medical, Medical Guardian, and Lively charge around $10 for fall detection.

Expert Insights

From Linda Schlenker, M.S., M.A., O.T.R

Fall detection is absolutely critical, and it is wonderful that LifeFone makes this feature affordable. A double bonus is that they offer a price lock guarantee so there are no surprises with the bill in years to come.

Although it is a low-cost option, LifeFone still delivers reliable service and quality on-the-go and at-home medical alert systems. Our editor-in-chief, Jeff Hoyt, tested the systems and can attest to that. LifeFone offers fall detection on all its medical alert systems, so your choices aren’t limited, unlike with other providers we’ve reviewed.

Our Editor Jeff Hoyt with the LifeFone Wearable Pendant

Setup and Testing

Setting up LifeFone’s systems couldn’t be easier. Jeff tested the At-Home and On-the-Go systems, as well as a fall-detection pendant. He plugged in the At-Home base unit, turned it on, and put on the pendant. Jeff’s test call went through with no issues. The mobile unit needed to be fully charged before it was ready.

Jeff tested it while running errands and was connected to the response center in around 30 seconds. The response time is about twice as long as we experienced with the other providers on our list, such as Lively and Bay Alarm Medical. Since every second counts, that was a drawback.

Features for Caregivers

Caregiver features vary depending on the device and add-ons you choose. LifeFone VIPx users can purchase the VIPx Caregiver app for an additional $8 per month. The app allows caregivers to track location, monitor activity, and see button presses and battery levels. Safe Watch Active offers a text-to-locate feature, enabling caregivers to locate their loved ones via text message.

LifeFone also has a $19-per-month daily check-in service. That is unique for the industry, and you can even customize the check-in to your needs, whether you need a medication reminder or want to ensure your loved one is alright. It’s excellent for people with memory loss or older adults who don’t have a cell phone.

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Battery Life

LifeFone silently supervises the fall-detection pendant’s battery life and will replace it (for free!) when it falls below 20 percent. The company supervises its rechargeable fall-detection products, too, sending a text and email reminder when the battery runs low. It’s a feature some other providers, such as Bay Alarm Medical, offer, and it’s super helpful in case you forget to charge your devices.

• Fall-detection pendant: One year
• VIPx with fall detection: Up to 10 days per charge
• VIP Active with fall detection: Up to five days per charge
• At-Home and On-the-Go Safe Watch Active: Up to 24 hours per charge

LifeFone’s at-home systems should remain plugged in at all times, but the backup battery lasts up to 32 hours during a power outage. Read our latest LifeFone review for more information about this provider.

LifeFone Products and Pricing