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Frank is an active older adult who regularly takes his mobile medical alert device along with him when he goes out as a precaution. But when he’s at home, he feels encumbered wearing a lanyard or bracelet and doesn’t wear it.
Helen is an older adult who rarely goes out on her own. Still, Helen is resistant to wearing a medical alert device because it makes her feel old. She also struggles with using new technology.
Mary, who lives at home, is in the early stages of dementia. She often misplaces her medical alert device or forgets to charge it.
Frank, Helen, and Mary are all great candidates for voice-activated medical alert systems. Voice-activated systems come in a few different forms. For some systems, voice activation is the central feature of the system. Others embed voice activation within a base unit that provides other functions. And for still others, voice activation is included as an accessory to the base unit.
If you’re in the market for a new medical alert device, a voice-activated system might be an excellent option for you. In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at voice-activated systems, who they’re best for, and popular providers that offer them.
Let’s begin by discussing what voice activation is not. Many medical alert systems enable users to speak directly to a response center agent or caregiver through a base unit or mobile cellular device. This feature is typically referred to as two-way communication. However, two-way talk is not voice activation.
Voice activation works with the sound of your voice. When you say a predetermined word or phrase, such as “Emergency help needed,” out loud, the alert system activates in response to the command and completes a specific task. In this case, a call goes directly to the system’s emergency response center. This is different from other types of medical alert systems, where users need to press a button to call for help.
Quick Tip: If you’re new to medical alert systems, check out our guide to medical alert systems to learn more about the different types, features, and providers.
Most systems with voice activation are limited to the single function of alerting the response center of an emergency. A few systems have more advanced features you can activate with your voice, such as contacting family members or even retrieving health information from a database.
Testing out the WellBe Smart Speaker
Voice activation isn’t necessary for everyone, but it is beneficial for the following groups of older adults.
Some older adults prefer not to wear a medical alert device. They may feel stigmatized, find wearables uncomfortable, or just not want the bother. With voice activation, the system stays in the background unless emergency help is needed.
Voice-activated systems are simple to use. You don’t need to remember which button to press or whether the battery needs charging or replacing. (Voice-activated systems are generally plugged in with a backup battery available in case of a power outage.) If you’re not a big fan of high-tech products with confusing bells and whistles, voice-activated systems keep things straightforward.
Finally, voice-activated systems are beneficial to the 6.2 million Americans living with and approximately 6.1 million older adults with vision With a voice-activated system, you don’t wear a help button or have to keep the unit charged, and you don’t need to look for your system in an emergency. They also are handy for those with mobility issues who may have difficulty getting up to press a button or retrieve a device during an emergency.
Medical Alert System – Medical Guardian’s Home Guardian system
Medical Guardian, a leader in the industry, offers a diverse selection of at-home and on-the-go systems, as well as a full menu of add-ons. One of these add-on accessories, the voice-activated wall-mounted button, adds voice activation to your system. You can purchase this wall button with either of Medical Guardian’s at-home systems, Classic Guardian or Home 2.0. The voice-activated add-on has a 1,350-foot range, or as far as your voice carries. If you’re interested in voice activation features within a comprehensive medical alert system, take a look at our recent review of Medical Guardian.
Classic Guardian costs $29.95 per month and does not include an equipment charge. The newly updated Home 2.0 costs $37.95 per month and includes a $149.95 equipment fee. While the monthly fee is slightly higher than many other at-home landline systems, the nice thing is that you don’t pay any activation fees. The voice-activated wireless wall-mounted button will cost you an additional $2.99 per month.
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WellBe from HandsFree Health offers a voice-activated smart speaker that works similarly to Amazon Alexa, with some additional senior-friendly features. Launched in 2020 by HandsFree Health, the WellBe Smart Speaker goes beyond the functions of most other voice-activated medical alert systems. With WellBe, you can request information from a curated health database, ask questions about your health insurance or other general information, and call emergency contacts or the response center. You can also receive reminders to take your medication or get your prescription filled, which is an excellent feature for seniors who have trouble remembering to take their medications.
Did You Know? You can even use your WellBe Speaker to listen to audiobooks, music, and check the news. One device keeps you safe and entertained!
HandsFree Health offers a unique pricing system for the WellBe Speaker. First, the equipment fee for the speaker is $189. This part is not unique – other medical alert systems with high-tech equipment charge similar prices for their equipment. However, HandsFree Health does not charge a monthly fee for its use (much like Alexa or Siri), unless you want the benefit of access to the emergency response center. For this benefit (really, a core function of medical alert systems), the monthly cost is a minor $10 per month, lower than any other monthly fee that we have seen.
Aloe Care Health arrived on the medical alert system scene in 2018. They offer three at-home and on-the-go packages all centered around one piece of equipment: the Smart Hub. Using voice activation, the hub keeps things simple for seniors while simultaneously supporting caregivers. The hub’s voice activation has a 10-foot range, and also comes with a care button that you can wear as a bracelet or necklace when out of range. Air quality, temperature, and motion sensors provide real-time information through a caregivers’ app, which could provide relief and peace of mind for the 53 million caregivers in the For more information, read our full Aloe Care Health review.
FYI: Aloe Care Health offers a 30-day, money-back guarantee on equipment and monthly fees. After 30 days, if you return the system, you will receive a refund worth 50 percent of the equipment cost.
Aloe Care Health offers sophisticated systems and technology, so their prices are somewhat steep. Monthly fees range from $29.99 to $49.99, while equipment prices begin at $99.99 and run as high as $349.99. To help justify the cost, keep in mind that the two most expensive packages are really two systems (at-home and mobile) in one. For a good comparison between the pricing of Aloe Care Health and other systems, read our overview of medical alert system costs.
Unlike some medical alert systems that add voice activation almost as an afterthought, GetSafe has incorporated voice activation as a central feature. It’s designed specifically for older adults who want the safety of a medical alert system but who don’t want to bother with a wearable. GetSafe offers one type of system in three different packages, depending on the size of your living space. In addition to a base unit, mini-consoles, which include voice activation, are placed in separate areas of the home.
GetSafe charges one monthly price, regardless of the package you order. And it is a price that you will like: only $29.95 per month. The trade-off is that you will pay an equipment fee based on the package you select. This one-time cost starts at $79 and runs as high as $279 for equipment costs. Still, these equipment fees are somewhat lower than what we’ve seen with other medical alert systems.
If you think a voice-activated system is the right fit for you, your next step is choosing one brand. Here are a few things to consider:
After doing your research and answering these questions, you’ll be on your way to picking the system that works best for you.
To learn more about popular medical alert systems, visit our list of the top medical alert systems for older adults.
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
Since graduating from Harvard with an honors degree in Statistics, Jeff has been creating content in print, online, and on television. Much of his work has been dedicated to informing seniors on how to live better lives. As Editor-in-Chief of the personal… Learn More About Jeff Hoyt
