Best In-Home Medical Alert Landline Systems of 2024

#1

9.8/10

MedicalAlertBuyersGuide Recommended

9.8/10

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1-855-412-1539

Bay Alarm Medical "SOS Home Landline" Overview

As a full-service medical alert system provider, Bay Alarm Medical offers options for every need and lifestyle. Its options include basic landline systems, cellular based systems, GPS-enabled systems, and medical alert smartwatches. The company has an excellent reputation for affordable pricing, responsive customer service, and fast, reliable response times.

Bay Alarm Medical promises to provide top-tier service at affordable prices – and they deliver. That’s why we are choosing this system as our 2024 Editor’s Choice for home landline medical alert systems.

The Bay Alarm Medical website is well-designed and packed with information — including user documentation, troubleshooting guides, and short videos that explain how each system works, how to set it up, etc. It makes it easy for shoppers to compare systems and prices. The sales representatives seemed just as interested in helping us choose the right system for our needs rather than “making a sale,” and urged us to visit the FAQ and video sections before making a decision.

Bay Alarm Medical registers your medical alert in their system during checkout. When you perform your first test, they already know who you are. Instead of waiting on hold to “activate your system” and provide your name, address, product serial number, etc., you’re ready to test immediately after set-up.

The unboxing and testing process is quick and easy. Only five minutes after opening the box, we were ready to test the system.

During testing, we successfully reached the base system from 1,000 feet away. Help button tests showed fast response times of approximately 40 seconds from pushing the button to connecting with the monitoring center.

Bay Alarm Medical’s optional fall detection is outstanding. We weren’t able to trick the system by knocking the device against a desk or doing jumping jacks. Yet when we actually simulated a fall, the system immediately alerted the monitoring center. Considering that falls are the most common reason for emergency calls, reliable fall detection is essential.

We strongly recommend adding fall detection to whatever medical alert device you select. It’s an important safety feature, particularly for those living alone or in remote areas.

Users can wear the Bay Alarm Medical help button as a pendant or wristband. The pendant necklace strap is adjustable (a safety concern if you’re of shorter stature). Fall detection requires a separate pendant, so it may be more comfortable to wear the basic help button on the wrist strap.

Bay Alarm Medical’s SOS Landline System is very similar to Medical Guardian’s Classic Guardian system. Medical Guardian offers add-on options that allow users to create a more personalized system. Those extra costs can add up quickly however, and Medical Guardian’s basic service is already more expensive than Bay Alarm Medical’s.

We believe that Bay Alarm Medical’s affordability and positive customer service are a winning combination for people who need a landline medical alert system.

Read our full, hands-on review of the SOS Home medical alert system.

#2

9.4/10

MedicalAlertBuyersGuide Recommended

9.4/10

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800-695-7419

Classic Guardian Overview

Medical Guardian is a premium medical alert system provider based in Philadelphia, PA that offers a full-suite of medical alert systems. Options include landline systems, cellular systems, GPS-enabled mobile systems, and medical smartwatches.

The company’s options are generally more expensive than comparable systems, but we found Classic Guardian to be a good choice for anyone who needs a landline-based medical alert system that is easy to customize to individual needs.

The Classic Guardian system is the lowest-priced system available from Medical Guardian. With a 30-hour back-up battery and 1400 ft range, it’s a solid choice for someone in a rural area with limited cell service or spotty internet connectivity.

Medical Guardian’s website offers information about the different systems as well as a “Product Quiz” to help you select the best option. However, to retrieve the results users must enter personal information and give Medical Guardian permission to contact them later via email, phone and/or “pre-recorded messages and texts.”

That’s not the case when you directly call the company and speak with a sales agent. During our test, Medical Guardian representatives provided clear information and assistance with no high-pressure sales tactics.

Unboxing and system set-up was quick and easy: everything was charged and ready to use. During unit testing, the average time from button press to operator response was about 40 seconds. Meanwhile, fall detection response times were a bit slower – often over a minute. That said,the system reliably distinguished actual falls from regular exercise, bumping the device against furniture, and other everyday activities.

Access to Medical Guardian’s Caregiver Portal is a real benefit, although the registration process isn’t user-friendly. Nevertheless, it’s worth the trouble and we highly recommend registering for this feature. Use the Caregiver Portal to manage your account (billing, contact information, etc.), connect and collaborate with caregivers, and enter important health information that first responders would need during an emergency.

In addition to fall detection coverage, Medical Guardian customers can tailor their service with other options, including:

• Additional pendant for a spouse/family member – $2.99/month
• Voice-activated wall button – $5.00/month
• Protection plan – $6.99/month
• Lockbox – $2.99/month

Medical Guardian also offers several perks for annual plan subscribers, including free shipping, free lockbox, and a free month of service.  We recommend talking with a sales representative first if you think you might want to design a custom system with several optional services.

What we like about MGClassic

Unboxing and setting up MGClassic was a breeze. The instructions were written in a large font on a large piece of paper, with all necessary information on a single sheet. Simply plug in the base unit, turn it on, and plug the phone line into the back. Be warned: Once you turn the device on, you may encounter a red blinking light or the “Unit Malfunction” light. After about a minute, the lights should stop blinking, and the device is ready to go.

What we don’t like about MGClassic

You might need some help when setting up your MyGuardian portal. We weren’t able to create an account because it said we already had an active profile, and requesting a new password didn’t work either. But a quick call to the 24/7 customer service fixed the problem.

MGClassic offers flexibility for users to customize the system to fit their needs, yet it comes at a higher cost. There might be better options for someone on a tight budget.

Bottom line: The system is exceptional. The Medical Guardian Classic Guardian is an excellent option for users who aren’t price-conscious and need extended range from the base station or the flexibility of a custom-built package.

Read our full review of Medical Guardian’s MGClassic system

#3

9.1/10

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9.1/10

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1-800-800-2537

Medical Alert System Overview

Medical Alert’s landline Home System is advertised as “basic monitoring equipment,” and it meets that test. Fall detection is available at extra cost. Customers who choose semi-annual or annual plans receive discounted monitoring fees and free shipping.

For a landline medical alert system, the system has a high startup cost. We find the $99.95 programming fee high, since many other companies don’t charge such a fee for their landline systems.  The $24.95 shipping cost was also high compared to other companies.

We recommend contacting Medical Alert directly for detailed information about the Home System. Although the website is easy to read and navigate, it lacks in-depth product information. Fortunately, it’s easy to contact Medical Alert by phone. We encountered little or no hold time and friendly, knowledgeable sales agents.

The system was reliable and fast. During out tests, response times ranged from 45 seconds to one minute. The fall detection was incredibly reliable and performed accurately during multiple tests and attempts to “trick” it into reporting a fall. Medical Alert’s Home System had the best fall detection of any landline system we tested. This is a notable accomplishment, since research from the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society shows that real-world falls can be difficult to detect. If a medical alert system for fall detection is a primary concern for you, this system could be your best bet.

Although the landline system and fall detection performed quite well in tests, the account management app was both cumbersome and frustrating.

The return/refund process was lengthy and complicated. The customer is responsible for notifying the billing department that the unit has been returned — and that it takes over a month after sending the unit back to receive the refund.  Overall, we found customer support lacking when compared to other companies we evaluated.

If you’re satisfied with a basic, reliable landline medical alert system with limited options, Medical Alert may be a good choice.  But pay careful attention to the return requirements and cut-off dates to ensure that you receive your refund or avoid being over-charged if you’re unhappy with the service.

Read our full review of  the MedicalAlert.com Home System.

#4

9/10

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9/10

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1-855-428-6531

LifeLine HomeSafe Overview

Lifeline was the first company to market a home medical alert system almost 50 years ago. Philips later purchased the company, and it’s now part of the ConnectAmerica family of goods and services for older adults.

The company’s customer service is exemplary, and the system is easy to install and activate. Professional installation is also available for $99. The HomeSafe AutoAlert system offers peace-of-mind for customers who are without or have unreliable cellular service. However, it’s more expensive and has fewer options than lower-priced competitors.

Note:  Lifeline offers hefty discounts to AARP members, including free product activation and free shipping. To take advantage of these savings, have your AARP membership number handy when you call to purchase the system.

Response times for the help button were exceptionally fast. In 10 tests, all calls connected within 20 seconds. The details of each call were recorded in the Caregiver Portal. We did experience response times of over 2 minutes in some fall detection tests. The operators couldn’t explain the delays, and that was concerning. In a medical emergency, every minute counts.

Service subscribers have access to the Lifeline Cares app, which connects users to the Caregiver Portal. The app is available in both Apple and Android versions. Subscribers can also access the Caregiver Portal directly from a desktop computer.

Lifeline offers a seamless cancellation and returns process.  Be sure to save the shipping box and the envelope marked “Equipment Return.” You’ll return the equipment in the original shipping box, and the envelope contains a prepaid FedEx shipping label.

Lifeline can be proud of their high-quality customer service, instructional materials, Cares app, and returns process.

Read our full review of Lifeline HomeSafe.