Lifeline vs Life Alert

Medical alert systems bring an added sense of safety to the wearer and give peace of mind to their loved ones. For elderly or disabled individuals who live independently, it's important to have a quick means of communication to alert someone in case of an emergency. This could be a fall, the onset of a heart attack, or some other medical crisis. Medical alert systems contact emergency services to provide urgent care to the wearer.

You might think, "Why not just use a cell phone to call for help"? Well, sometimes the time it takes to dial a phone number or look up a phone contact will take too long. Also, it's likely that if someone fell out of their car or even around the house, they may not have their phone in hand. Plus, some patients who show signs of dementia may get confused and not know who to call when it comes down to it - or not have the dexterity to dial.

Medical alert systems can be worn as a bracelet or necklace, so they stay out of the way, but are conveniently accessible at all times. Some companies have shower-mounted devices that can withstand heat and moisture. No matter how you wear your device or where it is, the point is that they're as easy as clicking a single button to connect to an operator and ask for help. A neat feature available with some medical alert systems is the ability for the device to detect a fall before the person even calls for help. This could be life-saving if someone was unable to speak or move due to their fall.

There are quite a few companies that offer medical alert services. Some have a long-established history and tons of feedback from customers. Others are newly entering the industry, so it's important to do a lot of research about each one to find a company that will be responsive to the wearer, keep up-to-date with latest technologies, and be around for a long time. Look for a company that's really transparent with their pricing so you won't be overpaying or confused about what the price will be month-to-month.

We've thoroughly explored many of the companies that sell medical alert systems. They each offer a slightly different variety of features and pricing plans, so you'll need to go with the one that will be the best solution for yourself or your loved one. We've highlighted a few things that we recommend you look for specifically as you shop around:

• Cost. There's usually a one-time cost to buy the medical device equipment and then an ongoing fee for the service to be available 24/7. Does the company have all their pricing clearly posted on their website or do you have to talk with a sales agent to figure it out? Transparent is best, so go with a company that makes it easy to see what you'll be paying.
• Contracts. How does the company structure their contracts? Are you able to pay month-to-month or will you need to commit to something longer than that? What is the process for canceling if you no longer need the service at some point?
• Features. Do you get automatic fall detection with your device? Does the company provide more than one device to keep around the house or does this cost a lot extra? How strong is the connection on the device around the house or in the yard?
• Reputation. You get a pretty good idea of how reliable and trustworthy a company is based on how they've treated their customers in the past. People will speak up about this, so pay attention to customer reviews as well as the company's rating from the Better Business Bureau.

To give you the best, most reliable experience with a medical safety device, the experts at Top Consumer Reviews have vetted multiple companies and done plenty of research on the pros and cons of each. We hope this information proves valuable guidance to help you find a medical device company that gives you an added sense of safety!