Editor's Rating | |
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Monitoring Services | |
Alert Equipment | |
Pricing | |
Customer Service |
Positives
- Coverage up to 1,000 feet
- Assistance in over 170 languages
- In-car alert system
- GPS and fall detection
Negatives
- No medication dispensers
- Additional service fees
Bay Alarm Medical is one of the most experienced medical alert system providers in America, the company’s main strength lying in its reliable monitoring service. Assistance is provided 24/7 by highly trained care agents awaiting emergency calls in UL certified response centers. Using third-party translation services, operators can answer calls in over 170 languages. Bay Alarm Medical offers freedom and peace of mind for seniors and recovering patients, providing solutions for all of life’s circumstances. The company has three medical alert systems: one that aids users at home, one that grants mobile protection for keen travelers those with an active lifestyle, and one that is designed for cars. What’s more, seniors are able to enhance their safety with optional fall detection. Bay Alarm Medical prices start at $19.95 per month and all new subscriptions include a no-risk 30-day trial period.
Monitoring Services
Bay Alarm Medical prides itself on the fact that their monitoring agents are available all year long, even on holidays. They can be called at any time of the day, even in the earliest hours of the morning or in the middle of the night. The company operates three CSAA Five Diamond certified control centers, all based in the U.S. Additionally, seniors are encouraged to speak in their native tongue, since the operators will relay with a third- party translation company who can mediate in over 170 languages. When an unexpected emergency arises, one press of a button is enough to request help. The operators will get in touch immediately since fast action is key when a life is possibly in danger. They will first inquire in a loud, clear voice the seriousness of the situation, and if the senior confirms that they are in distress, then agents will further assess the situation and determine the next course of action.
Depending on the circumstances and with consideration of the personalized emergency plan that each client has customized to their needs, the operators will contact either a person from the senior’s contact list or the paramedics. If an ambulance must be called, the agent will supply them with the location of the user and will describe the known details of the emergency, ensuring that the correct course of action is taken.
If the senior is unable to talk or has fallen unconscious after a fall, there is no need to worry about the issue being ignored; so long as the emergency button is pressed, the agents will send help.
Monitoring Equipment
Bay Alarm Medical uses state of the art technology for its devices, with the standard system consisting of a wearable, waterproof emergency button – either a wristband or a pendant – and a home station. The hub features a speaker and a sensitive microphone that picks up even the faintest voice of the user while enabling clear audio responses. The main station’s range is 1,000 feet. The device is available with a landline connection but has an AT&T 3G cellular version as well.
Mobile GPS Alert System
Bay Alarm Medical offers a mobile system with built-in GPS that provides protection for on-the-go seniors. The device enables two-way communication so the wearer can communicate with the monitoring personnel, and it has a battery that can last up to 72 hours.
The constant GPS connection grants family members and caregivers the option to monitor the elderly relative’s activity through an online Tracking Portal. Although this comes at an additional monthly fee, worried family members can pinpoint the senior’s location on a map and even set up geo-fences. If the owner of the button steps outside the designated location, the caregivers will receive an instant email or SMS notification.
In-Car Alert System
The company is the only one in the business to offer a system specifically designed for use in the car – developed in collaboration with splitsecnd – and its function is somewhat similar to that of a fall detection pendant in that it sends out an emergency signal as soon as it senses a crash. The device also features a regular emergency button as well as built-in GPS and is powered by a standard 12V plug.
Accessories
Bay Alarm sells additional products for furthering the senior’s sense of security. The lockbox contains a key to the home, for example, with the combination held at Bay Alarm Medical’s response centers for the paramedics to access should they be dispatched to the owner’s residence, allowing entry without damaging the door.
There’s also a Vial of Life, which contains the senior’s medical history for 911 staff to quickly learn about any allergies or other vital information. Bay Alarm Medical also sells additional help buttons and for larger households, there are waterproof wall-mounted buttons with a battery life of five years.
Setup
After purchasing a subscription on the website and the process of signing up has been completed, an easy-to-install package will be shipped to new customers alongside a step-by-step manual that contains clear instructions to follow. Activating the base station just requires plugging the device into a power socket, though the landline version should also be connected to the phone. Since the equipment requires no further installation, it is ready for immediate use, but be sure to test that the base station is installed correctly by pushing the ‘HELP’ button.
Pricing
There are three different packages available, with the only difference between them being the monitoring equipment as everyone enjoys the same level of monitoring service. Although Bay Alarm Medical doesn’t charge for the in-home system equipment, users that get a GPS mobile device have to pay an additional $79 when they get their subscription. Regardless, you don’t have to worry about any activation fees.
The subscription rates start from $19.95 a month for the in-home system, while the mobile button costs $24.95 per month. Interestingly, Bay Alarm Medical offers a third option, a bundle deal that – for $39.95 per month – provides customers with both an in-home station and a mobile button.
Adding fall detection to the arsenal increases the standard monitoring fee by $10 per month while upgrading the in-home station to support a cellular connection also adds an extra $10 per month to the bill. Bay Alarm Medical also charges an extra $5 per month for the Tracking Portal, which provides GPS tracking and geofencing for the caregivers.
Seniors who opt for a higher tier plan are exempt from paying the shipping fee. In all cases, there is no cancellation fee for terminating a subscription. New customers are also granted a 30-day money-back guarantee, so those who are unhappy with their purchase can request a full refund. Members of senior organizations like AARP, USAA, American Seniors Association, AMAC, and others may be eligible for additional discounts, making it worthwhile to give the company a call on 855-557-6706 to ask about this.
Both the base station and emergency button pendant are protected under a standard warranty, which can be further extended if desired. At the end of the emergency button’s battery life, Bay Alarm Medical will be notified via a signal in the pendant and the company automatically sends a replacement without any extra charge.
Extra Accessories & Services
Bay Alarm Medical’s storefront features a set of useful accessories for those who seek complementary protection. The lockbox that grants the emergency personnel easy entry to the patient’s home costs a one-time $39.95.
The water-proof wall button has a five-year battery life and can be rented for $3 per month. The extended warranty features a 600-joule surge suppressor coupled with a higher tier insurance package. The warranty costs an extra $5 per month, and customers who opt for it are eligible for one equipment replacement each year. Lastly, an additional Vial of Life comes at a one-time cost of $8.95.
Customer Service
For consultation, technical support, and customer service, the company has three call centers located across the United States. Bay Alarm Medical can be reached via telephone on 855-557-6706 or by sending an email, but the company is also present on major social media networks like Facebook, Google+ and Twitter.
The website features an extensive FAQ section coupled with video tutorials on how to install and use the products. The blog is regularly updated to inform readers of the latest trends and developments in the industry, along with general hints and tips on how to get the best out of any given plan. It’s also important to mention that Bay Alarm Medical is UL certified and BBB accredited with a grade of A+.
Bottom Line
With its monitoring services available at affordable prices, it’s easy to see why Bay Alarm Medical is so popular. Advantages such as fall detection, GPS tracking, an in-car system, and its excellent customer service keep Bay Alarm in high regard. However, several attractive and even certain necessary features are only available with an additional monthly fee. The costly cellular connection is perhaps the biggest letdown, especially considering that much of the competition offers in-home base stations that don’t need a landline right from the bat. Still, Bay Alarm Medical provides a top-quality monitoring service paired with stellar hardware in packages that give customers options to customize based on their needs.
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Stephanie T says
We bought this service for my grandma 2 years ago and it never once worked when she fell and tried to press the button. We had to buy the equipment twice because “lightning hit it” and it stopped working (this was an extra $300). We called to cancel the service in July 2019 and sent both sets of equipment back that week. We received no further communication and saw that it had been delivered to them, so we assumed it had been cancelled. After received another month’s bill, I spent 30 minutes on the phone with a rude member of their customer service team who told me we had only sent one system back and I had to somehow prove what was in the box if I wanted to cancel the service or pay an additional $300. Because the box was a standard priced box from USPS, we had no way to prove this, so we had to pay to avoid continuing to accrue monthly charges for something we didn’t have. I am thankful that it was us receiving the bills and not my grandmother, who could not have afforded this. I feel like this company is scamming the elderly!
Finnerman A. says
My husband is using the GPS mobile alert we got him after he suffered a stroke late last year. It was a befriended nurse who told us we should get one of these. Luckily he hasn’t been using it yet, but it’s the “guardian angel” we needed for him as our main fear is simply that it will happen again while there’s nobody else around.
It won’t be long before I get one of these for myself. No hurt or shame in carrying it around, you can only benefit from it if emergency strikes…
Malika says
Bay Alarm’s medical alert system has been of great help for my mother who passed away two months ago now. My father, mother started using it four years ago and there have been a couple of situations where they were helped by it, including one 911 emergency that led to my father being taken away by an ambulance for a stay in hospital.
Now we’ve concluded our contract with Bay Alarm Medical. I’m happy with how fast things went here, contrary to what insurance companies are making us suffer through with other affairs….