While many people think of their home as a safe place, the fact is that 113,500 Americans died from preventable injury-related causes while in their own homes in 2020, an increase of 272% since 1999. A medical alert system can make all the difference when it comes to getting help quickly following accidental falls, choking, fires or poisoning, since these wearable help buttons eliminate the need to dial a phone in an emergency.
All medical alert systems work by connecting a help button with an automatic phone dialer that’s programmed to call the medical alert call monitoring center. These help buttons are generally lightweight and water-resistant, making them easy to wear and use. Features vary between systems and companies, as do medical alert system costs.
This guide highlights the medical alert systems offered by LifeFone. There’s information on LifeFone’s medical alert devices, pricing and options, as well as an overview of the pros and cons of LifeFone’s systems and services.
What You Should Know About Lifefone
Based in White Plains, NY, LifeFone has been in business since 1976, making the company one of the most experienced in the industry. LifeFone’s systems are targeted towards seniors and people living with disabilities, and the product range includes in-home and mobile personal emergency response systems. LifeFone’s call monitoring services are based in New York state, and the company maintains three backup centers to ensure no call goes unanswered.
LifeFone offers six medical alert systems, and each system can be customized with add-on devices, features and services. Customers have a choice of wristband or pendant style help buttons, and a GPS-based smartwatch medical alert system is also included among LifeFone’s product offerings. Fall detection can be added to any system for an additional fee and optional services such as daily check-ins, medication reminders, and location monitoring may also be available to users of LifeFone devices, depending on system compatibility.
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At-Home Landline
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At-Home Cellular
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At-Home and On-The-Go
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At-Home and On-The-Go Smartwatch Active
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At-Home and On-The-Go, VIP Active
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At-Home and On-The-Go, VIPx
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Connection
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Landline
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AT&T Wireless
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AT&T Wireless
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AT&T Wireless
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AT&T Wireless
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AT&T Wireless or Verizon
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Range between base unit and help button
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Up to 1300 feet
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Up to 1300 feet
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Up to 1,400 feet for at-home system
Up to 600 feet for mobile system
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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Help button style
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Pendant or wrist-mounted
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Pendant or wrist-mounted
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Pendant or wrist-mounted
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All-in-one wrist-mounted device
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All-in-one pendant
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All-in-one pendant
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GPS enabled
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No
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No
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Battery life
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32 hour back-up battery for base unit
Non-rechargeable help button batteries last up to 5 years
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32 hour back-up battery for base unit
Non-rechargeable help button batteries last up to 5 years
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32 hour back-up battery for base unit
Rechargeable mobile unit holds charge for 24 hours
Non-rechargeable help button batteries last up to 5 years
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Rechargeable, lasts up to 24 hours
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Rechargeable, lasts up to 5 days
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Rechargeable, lasts up to 16 days
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Customized emergency contact list
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Water-resistant help button
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Speakerphone
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On base unit
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On base unit
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On in-home base unit and mobile base unit
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Integrated into smartwatch
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Integrated into pendant
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Integrated into pendant
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Automatic fall detection
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Available
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Available
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Available
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Available
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Available
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Available
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Lifefone Plans, Pricing and Costs
LifeFone’s monthly monitoring fees start at $24.95 and go up to $45.95 for annual prepaid plans. The fees include use of LifeFone’s medical alert devices, 24/7 call monitoring and unlimited activation of the help button. Customers can create a free emergency contact list that can be updated at any time and LifeFone will contact as many people as requested at no extra cost. LifeFone also offers a lifetime price guarantee so customers can be confident that the price of their service will never increase.
LifeFone subscribers can add a fall detection feature to any system for an additional $5-$10 per month. LifeFone also offers two services that check on the daily wellbeing of its subscribers: its Activity Assurance service, priced at $6 per month, and its daily check-in service, priced at $19 per month. Additional optional services include an automatic medication reminder service for $6 a month, and GPS location tracking for an additional $9 per month on compatible systems. Caregivers can make up to 30 location tracking requests each month, and there’s a $5 fee for each additional 30 location requests.
Pros and Cons of Lifefone
As with all medical alert systems, there are pros and cons with LifeFone products and services.
Pros of LifeFone:
- Long-standing company based in the United States
- Main call center located in New York
- Three backup call centers
- No activation, equipment, or cancelation fees
- Prices guaranteed to never increase
- Spouses receive free protection with basic service plans
- Unlimited emergency contacts
- Fall detection available on all LifeFone systems
- GPS location tracking on mobile systems
- Optional wall-mounted help buttons
- Jewelry-style pendant button available
- Referral program provides subscribers with a free month of service for each new customer they refer to LifeFone
- Base units have back-up batteries that allow them to work even during power outages
- Mobile help buttons work while charging
- Help button batteries are continually monitored and will automatically be replaced at no charge
- Customers who choose annual plans get a free month of service, free shipping, and a free lock box
Cons of LifeFone:
- LifeFone pricing can be difficult to decipher
- Cost of add-on features and services such as fall detection can add up quickly
- The fall detection feature doesn’t detect 100% of all falls
- Caregiver App is only available for the VIPx system for $8/month.
- Pricing is higher than similar systems from other companies
- Except for the VIPx, all cellular-powered systems only work in areas with AT&T wireless coverage
- The VIPx is the only device that can use either an AT&T or a Verizon network
