Monitored medical alert systems give users instant access to a 24/7 call response center via a wearable panic button, making these devices popular among seniors and people with disabilities. These systems connect to a landline phone or nationwide cellular network, and many come with additional features such as automatic fall detection, GPS location tracking and secure online caregiver apps.
With dozens of medical alert companies offering a variety of devices, services and monitoring plans, narrowing down the options can be challenging. In this article, we highlight our picks for the three best medical alert systems for women based on company reputation, customer reviews, features, and pricing. We cover the features of each personal emergency response system and provide tips to help you find the right device for your particular needs.
The 3 Best Medical Alert Systems for Women
QMedic Cellular Medical Care Alert System
Based in Boston, Massachusetts, QMedic Medical Alert Systems was founded by a group of MIT scientists using innovative, predictive health monitoring technologies. Call monitoring services are provided by two UL-listed call centers located in Utah and Idaho, and the average call answer time is 30 seconds or less.
The QMedic cellular medical alert system is an in-home system that includes a waterproof medical alert pendant or bracelet, and a speakerphone-equipped base station that comes with an active cellular SIM card. The wearable panic buttons come with built-in batteries that last up to 2 years, and the help buttons can be activated up to 1,000′ from the base station.
What sets QMedic apart from other monitored help buttons is the built-in activity monitoring feature that automatically tracks users’ wear compliance, sleep and activity patterns using integrated motion sensors. If the system detects changes in users’ regular activity levels, a QMedic operator will place a wellness call to the user and escalate the response as needed. QMedic subscriptions also include access to a secure online dashboard that caregivers can use to access real-time compliance and activity level data.
The QMedic cellular medical alert system costs $30 per month or $300 per year, and subscription fees include cellular service for the base unit.
ResponseNow Belle+
ResponseNow Medical Alert Systems is a Portland, Oregon company that offers in-home and mobile monitored medical alert devices. Established in 2001, ResponseNow is family owned, and the company has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Belle+ from ResponseNow is an all-in-one medical alert pendant with a built-in nationwide cellular SIM card, GPS location tracker and automatic fall detection. The device is waterproof and lightweight, and it’s powered by a built-in rechargeable battery rated to last up to 5 days. Users can opt-in to ResponseNow’s notification service that sends a low-battery alert via text or email.
To contact the ResponseNow monitoring center, Belle+ users simply press and hold the panic button on their medical alert pendant. The device includes a speaker and microphone to enable clear two-way communication with the operator, and the operator can pinpoint the caller’s location and relay this information to first responders.
The Belle+ costs $49.95 per month or $539.40 per year, and ResponseNow offers a lifetime price guarantee.
Medical Guardian Freedom Guardian
Medical Guardian is a monitored medical alert company that takes pride in providing industry-leading customer service combined with a range of user-friendly devices. Call response services are provided through a U.S. call center equipped with a triple-redundant backup system to ensure subscribers can always reach an operator.
The Medical Guardian Freedom Guardian is a lightweight, water-resistant medical alert smartwatch that works on the nationwide AT&T mobile network. The watch is equipped with advanced location-tracking technologies that Medical Guardian operators can use to dispatch help to the user’s exact location, and the panic button can be triggered by holding the multifunction side button for three seconds. The Freedom Guardian also has an integrated text-to-speech SMS message feature that can be used to send and receive text messages, and a calendar that’s programmed using a secure caregiver app.
Costs include a one-time device purchase fee of $179.95 plus monthly monitoring fees of $44.95. Subscribers can also opt for a prepaid $494.45 annual monitoring plan that includes one month of service, a lockbox and ground shipping at no cost.
Why Should Women Use a Medical Alert System?
Medical alert systems are largely marketed towards men and women who are disabled, elderly or living with chronic medical conditions. Women aged 65 and older are more likely to live alone than elderly men, making medical alert systems particularly popular among senior women who want to remain as active and independent as possible.Many women opt to carry a medical alert button to enhance their safety and security while at home and in the community, even if they don’t have medical issues. These devices provide users with a discrete, simple way to call for help in situations where using a landline or mobile phone isn’t practical or safe. Given the fact that an estimated one in four American women have experienced domestic violence, and one in seven have been stalked by a current or former intimate partner, it’s easy to see why medical alert devices are popular with women of all ages and abilities.
How to Choose the Best Medical Alert System for Women
To find the best women’s medical alert system, start by deciding where coverage is needed. The lowest-priced systems connect to existing landline phones and work within a 600′-1,500′ range of the in-home base unit. Cellular-based personal emergency response devices cost more than in-home systems; however, mobile help buttons will work virtually anywhere cellular signals are available, making these systems ideal for women who want access to an emergency monitoring center at all times.
Think about the type of device that’s best suited to the user. Most medical alert systems come with either a pendant or wrist-mounted button, and some systems can be paired with wireless wall-mounted buttons. Keep in mind that women tend to have smaller wrists than men, which can mean some wrist-mounted help buttons and medical smartwatches may be too bulky to be worn by a woman.
