In the past decade, smartphones have taken over our lives, and, as such, there has been an increase in innovative safety solutions. While medical alert system providers also provide apps, standalone emergency alert apps for cell phones have also become commonplace.
However, the former type of app often supplements a wearable device and offers administrative features such as account management, location monitoring, and reminders. It is designed to enhance the medical alert system experience – particularly regarding caregiver management.
Standalone medical alert apps aren’t specifically designed for the elderly or disabled. They act more as a general emergency app and come with features such as fake-call and crash-detection alerts.
Supplemental Medical Alert System Apps vs Standalone Medical Alert Apps
Features |
Supplemental Medical Alert System Apps |
Standalone Medical Alert Apps |
---|---|---|
Caregiver Management | ||
GPS Location | ||
Features | Basic | Advanced |
Emergency Help | 24/7 trained emergency call operators | Emergency contacts |
Fall Detection | ||
Pricing | Subscription | One-time purchase |
Best for | Seniors | All ages |
Many people looking for everyday medical assistance may not turn to a medical alert system, assuming that it includes investing in numerous pieces of bulky equipment, along with its dedicated app. However, many providers offer the possibility to rent devices, and the objects themselves are small, portable, and designed to be discreet. Their subtle appearance means that users don’t need to worry that wearing one may make them appear old.
While some people may turn to a convenient standalone medical alert app since they already own a smartphone, its suitability all depends on the user’s needs. A standalone app can provide help in some emergencies but doesn’t provide the level of 24/7 support that seniors living alone or those with neurological or physical limitations require.
Making the Right Choice
A standalone app is only perfect for tech-savvy users who won’t be overwhelmed by an app with numerous features. For users with cognitive issues, even remembering where their phone is, getting to it, and unlocking it to contact 911 will never be as simple as pushing a handy wearable button.
Although some standalone medical apps offer voice activation features, there may be situations where even this isn’t possible. Additionally, smartphones tend to lose battery much quicker than most medical alert devices – although this is only relevant for those users who don’t live in total symbiosis with their cell phones.
While both supplemental and standalone apps are designed to offer reassurance, only one comes with a full-time monitoring team. How the app will be used is the best way to determine which is the most suitable for a particular user.
Best Medical Alert Systems with Apps
Bay Alarm Medical
For 70 years, Bay Alarm Medical has been receiving praise for its medical alarm systems dedicated to senior safety. Its app is available for Android and iOS, helping seniors keep track of their account status, history, and billing.
It also comes with a tracking feature for caregivers and relatives, which is only available on the SOS Mobile and SOS All-In-One plans with smart wearable devices. It allows caregivers to access the user’s location in real time, keep an emergency safety plan up to date, and check the battery status of devices. The app goes hand in hand with the device to provide an all-around medical alert service that includes fall detection.
Plans start at $24.95 per month, and Bay Alarm Medical also provides a 30-day risk-free trial and regular promotions.
Medical Guardian
Medical Guardian is another respected medical alert system provider, combining a range of devices with its handy MyGuardian app, available for Android and iOS.
MyGuardian offers users access to their billing information, a scheduler, activity monitoring, and emergency contact information. Caregivers can use the app to check the system status, receive emergency notifications, and peruse the location history. This last feature only works with Medical Guardian’s wearable devices and built-in GPS.
The app’s Care Circle feature allows caregivers, emergency contacts, and loved ones to interact. It instantly notifies contacts in an emergency or when the device has low battery and allows for communication through its embedded chat.
With monthly plans starting at $29.95, Medical Guardian rewards customers who choose longer subscriptions. The company also provides seasonal discounts.
Medical Alert Connect
Like other services, Medical Alert provides both in-home and mobile options. Its Medical Alert Connect app is available for Android and iOS, providing users with real-time notifications, battery status indicators for home devices, direct customer service, and multiple-user management.
The app is also helpful for caregivers, providing access to a response-center call history. It also includes location tracking with its on-the-go mobile plan and syncs with wearable devices.
In-home plans start at a very competitive $19.95 per month. While there’s no free trial, Medical Alert does provide a 30-day money-back guarantee and discounts for longer-term subscriptions.
Standalone Medical Alert Apps
Features |
Red Panic Button |
FallSafety Home |
Senior Safety App |
---|---|---|---|
Logo | |||
Price | $0.99/mo | $4.99/mo | $3.75/mo |
Free Version | |||
In-App Alert Button | |||
Vitals | |||
Medication Reminders | |||
GPS Monitoring | |||
Fall Detection | |||
Device Status | |||
Android | |||
iOS |
Red Panic Button
Red Panic Button is designed for the general public and is available on Android and iOS via a free-forever or paid subscription.
The free, smartwatch-compatible version can send messages via SMS and social networks with photos and videos. While its many attractive features may hinder the experience and make it hard for seniors to set it up or navigate their way around, the Android version provides accessibility options to improve usability for people with disabilities. Other features only available for Android are its home-screen widgets, which help to create a one-touch panic alert.
Despite the ease of contacting a caregiver in an emergency, this app doesn’t provide reminders, fall detection, or any of the other handy features provided by a medical alert device and supplementary app.
FallSafety Home
FallSafety Home prides itself on its intelligent fall detection. This iOS-only app can be downloaded for free, but additional features can be unlocked with a paid subscription.
FallSafety Home has a minimal and streamlined interface and also offers a panic button, location monitoring, as well as voice, text, and email alert messages. In addition, users with an Apple Watch can install the app to monitor their heart rate. FallSafety Home’s online dashboard lets users, caregivers, and relatives manage emergency contacts, access usage, and check alarms.
Despite lacking features delivered by other apps, such as activity monitoring and geo-fence alerts, FallSafety Home is perfect for any iOS and Apple Watch user vulnerable to falls.
Senior Safety App
Android-only Senior Safety App is fundamentally an emergency alert system, allowing users to send an alert or trigger an extremely loud alarm via its free or paid subscription.
The app is more for the caregiver than the user, as most features are for monitoring. It comes with the ability to customize an alert that emails caregivers if the senior is unusually inactive or has been exposed to loud noises or fast speeds. Plus, its web console lets caregivers access location history, notifications, and reports.
Senior Safety App offers fall detection and geo-fence alerts. While the design leaves a lot to be desired and most features are behind a paywall, caregivers can benefit from a decent standalone emergency alert app.
Senior Safety Alerts
Senior Safety Email Notification
Senior Safety Location History
Different Apps for Different Needs
Although both medical alert systems and standalone emergency alert apps help ensure a loved one’s safety, the two services differ. Integrating with a wearable device, the supplemental app lets a user manage their accounts and payments, although focuses more on protecting and monitoring another person. Standalone apps are cheaper and often used to ensure a user’s own personal safety.
The most significant difference is that a standalone app will contact 911 or a relative in an emergency. This doesn’t help if the user can’t communicate or the family member is unavailable. A full medical alert system not only provides a team of professionals at the end of the line 24/7 to reassure the user while they contact the emergency services and family, but they also have access to complete medical histories.
All things considered, active seniors may find standalone apps a more affordable way to protect themselves. But for anyone thinking through every eventuality, the only way to feel wholly reassured is to have a truly comprehensive medical alert system. Combining an app and a wearable device will always provide the quickest way to get help.
Best Medical Alert Systems of 2024
Rank | Company | Info | Visit |
1 |
Editor's Choice 2024 |
|
|
2 |
|
||
3 |
|
Get the Best Deals on Medical Alert Systems
Let our experts keep you up to date on the latest trends, news and deals on medical alert systems.