What to Know When Buying a Medical Alert System
Key takeaways:
Falls are one of the leading causes of serious injuries in older adults in the U.S. Many falls happen while a person is at home.
Medical alert systems are tools that can help you contact emergency services when you can’t get to the phone. Some devices are designed to detect when you fall, including some smartwatches.
Which medical alert system is best for you depends on cost, desired features, and what you feel most comfortable using.
For older adults who live alone, the fear of falling and being unable to call for help is a real concern. For instance, every second in the U.S., an adult over 65 falls. And 20% of those falls will lead to a serious injury, like a broken bone. Given that over half of all falls occur at home, these concerns are valid.
And for those who have chronic conditions, like Type 2 diabetes or heart failure, and run the risk of having a heart attack or stroke, those fears might increase.
Considering this, a medical alert system might be helpful for you or a loved one to help get medical attention in these instances. Here, we'll discuss what types of medical alert systems are available and if they may be something you want to consider getting.
What do medical alert systems do, and who should use them?
Medical alert systems are tools that allow you to connect to someone to get help during a potentially dangerous situation. For example, if you fell and couldn't get to a phone, this device could contact emergency services for you. These devices can also be called personal emergency response systems.
Several companies sell medical alert systems or items that have medical alert features. Some are devices you place in your home, and others are items you wear.
Not everyone will need a medical alert system. But they can be helpful for older adults who live alone. Medical alert systems may give someone the ability to stay at home instead of having to live in an assisted living facility or hire a full-time caregiver. They may also benefit adults of all ages who have medical conditions that put them at risk for needing emergency medical help.
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Medical alert systems aren’t foolproof and have been found to have different risks and problems. For instance, the time it takes for a system to connect you to a person could be a lot longer than a direct call to 911. But if you can’t reach a phone from where you are, one could still be helpful.
Features of popular medical alert systems
There are several features medical alert systems may have. Not all systems have each of the features discussed below.
Stand-alone unit
Medical alert systems typically contain a device that can alert someone that you need help. This is usually placed in a central single location, like a bathroom or a kitchen. This base unit can dial out for help using a cellular or landline connection. Some systems also have a speaker built into the devices for two-way communication.
Wearable help button
A second common feature of medical alert systems is a wearable item with a button. It’s common to see advertisements showing people wearing the button on a lanyard around their neck. Pushing this button alerts the standalone device to call for help. This feature allows you to call for help even if you’re far away from the rest of the unit.
Fall detection
But what if you can't press the button? Well, some of these systems also have a fall alert built-in, as well. So if the wearable item senses a fall, representatives from the medical alert system company will try to contact you. If you don't respond within a certain time, they’ll alert emergency services to check on you. If you’re at a high risk of falls, having a system with fall detection may be desirable.
Home safety and general well-being
Some medical alert systems can also help with home safety. This can include things like fire detection. These systems can let emergency services know something is wrong in your home.
Companies are going beyond safety and looking at general health as well. For instance, some wearable medical alert bracelets can also measure your blood pressure.
How do medical alert systems work?
In general, many medical alert systems work in similar ways.
Let's say you suddenly don't feel well, and you’re experiencing symptoms of a heart attack or stroke. You press an emergency button to signal that you need help. This typically connects you with the company’s response team. The key thing to know here is that your call is usually directed to the medical alert system company first — not emergency responders. So if you’re able to reach a phone, calling 911 directly may be faster in emergency situations.
After connecting with the response team, they’ll identify your problem and send for help. This could be family members (for less serious matters) or emergency medical services.
As mentioned above, medical alert systems typically have a wearable button, like a necklace or a bracelet. This can help give you peace of mind that you can stay active and still get help if needed. These buttons allow you to talk to the response team through a speaker on the button.
Home-based vs. mobile systems
The biggest difference in medical alert systems is whether they can provide help outside of your house. A home-based system has a shorter working range than a mobile system. But mobile systems may cost more.
Some mobile systems also have a GPS tracker built into them, meaning you can take it with you on the go. Some even have a car charger, so you can keep them ready to use no matter where you go. Just be aware of the battery life on mobile medical alert systems, and charge them regularly.
Monitored vs. unmonitored medical alert systems
A monitored medical alert system is probably the most commonly advertised. A monitored system is one that connects you with a response team, no matter what time of day you push the button. But it’s important to realize that these often come with extra fees for this service.
Unmonitored medical alert systems are simpler and usually less costly. These systems can contact emergency services or a family member, depending on how you set it up. They don’t have a response team that speaks with you first.
What about smartwatches?
Both the Apple Watch and Samsung smartwatches have fall detection features. These devices use technology to detect a sudden shift in movement, like your hand changing position really fast. This can indicate that you’ve fallen. You can turn this feature on or off at any time in the watch’s settings.
After sensing a fall, the smartwatch sends you a notice asking if you fell. You can either select that you’re OK or to call emergency services from your watch. If you don’t move for a minute after the notice is sent out, the watch can reach out for help. The Apple Watch will call 911 in this instance. Samsung’s smartwatches can send a message to people you’ve selected as your emergency contacts in your watch’s settings.
The accuracy of these smartwatch features hasn’t been studied much yet. One low-quality study looked at young, healthy people who simulated a fall (meaning they fell on purpose) while wearing an Apple Watch. The smartwatch only detected a fall about 5% of the time. However, mimicking a fall and actually falling are two different things. This study didn’t look at anyone who actually fell. And it didn’t look at older adults.
Another ongoing study will look specifically at older adults who went to an emergency room due to a fall. The study will determine whether an Apple Watch was able to accurately detect falls. This study is planned to continue until 2024.
How much do medical alert systems cost?
Deciding which medical alert system works best for you will come down to what features you want, the technology you’re comfortable using, and the cost. Systems can vary in price depending on the initial setup cost, the equipment cost, and how you’re charged for services (e.g., monthly fees or long-term contract).
When first getting set up, you’ll have to pay for the equipment. This can be pricey, sometimes costing hundreds of dollars. Monitored medical alert systems also typically have a monthly charge. This charge can vary depending on the features you choose. Some systems have a one-time installation fee as well.
It’s important to compare prices and features when looking for medical alert systems. This can help you save money and find the type of system that you feel most comfortable using.
Are medical alert systems covered by Medicare?
In general, Medicare Part A and B don’t cover medical alert systems since they’re not considered medical devices. However, some Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) plans may cover medical alert systems. This varies from plan to plan. Other programs, including state Medicaid programs and Veteran-Directed Care, may help cover the costs of a medical alert system.
The bottom line
Medical alert systems can be very valuable tools for older adults living at home who want an extra layer of security. New medical alert systems can detect several different emergency events. Which service and product works for you is going to come down to cost and desired features. Keep in mind some of these services have monthly fees, so costs may continue after your initial purchase.
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References
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