GreatCall Lively Mobile Review

GreatCall is a relatively new company, founded just more than a decade ago in 2006. It began as a phone company with mobile phones designed for seniors. It then began offering mobile medical services, and in 2011, introduced its mobile medical alert device, Lively Mobile.

Equipment

Lively Mobile is the only mobile alert device offered by GreatCall and is considered one of the best medical alert systems by some. The mobile device has integrated cellular technology using Verizon networks which allows two-way communication. It also has built-in GPS, enabling location tracking. The device can be worn on the wrist or as a pendant and is waterproof for up to 30 minutes.

The biggest drawback to the Lively Mobile device is its battery. With a battery capacity of 525 mAh, the device has a battery life of 36 hours. This is a considerable issue as users would frequently need to charge the device. Competitor mobile devices typically offer a five-year battery life knowing that their users don’t want the inconvenience of  a battery with a shorter charging-life.

Monitoring

Lively Mobile users requesting assistance are connected to an agent at the 5Star urgent response center located in the United States. Agents are trained in emergency response and can locate a user, assess the situation, and dispatch emergency services when necessary. Users may manually press the emergency button to access support, or their device may automatically initiate contact after a fall if the user subscribes to the fall detection add-on fee.

One unique feature of Lively Mobile is the Urgent Care feature, which connects a user to a nurse or doctor without needing an appointment or insurance. Using the Urgent Care service, a user can receive prescriptions for some medications – all without leaving their home.

Pricing

The company claims to be one of the lowest priced medical alert providers on the market. However, alongside its competitors, Lively Mobile is one of the more expensive medical alert system options given the considerable upfront cost. Customers face separate costs for equipment, activation fees, monitoring, and extras. The equipment cost is $49.99 in addition to a $35.00 activation fee – totaling nearly $100.00 just to start service.

Monitoring starts at $24.99 per month, which includes the most basic monitoring service with no additional features. Extras like automatic fall detection are only available on the most expensive “Ultimate” plan which costs an additional $15.00 monthly. There are no organization discounts or periodic payment options that can lower the monthly cost. There are also no contracts or cancellation fees.

GreatCall Lively Price Comparison

Reputation

GreatCall’s expertise in senior communication has helped boost its position in the medical alert system space. They’ve also been able to achieve a strong reputation for fast response when their users request assistance. It has received the PC Mag Editor’s Choice award, along with a Good Housekeeping Research Institute award for fastest agent response time in 2014.

Summary

GreatCall is a relatively new medical alert system provider but may be worth consideration to some users. A swift, U.S-based response system, on a reliable network and a range of additional  features are clear perks of the Lively Mobile device. However, higher costs and daily battery charging may cross the line for some users. Visit our website for more reviews of the best medical alert systems for 2024 and find the best fit for your needs.

GreatCall Lively Key Specifications