Medical Alert Facts
Medical Alert & Medical Alarm Facts
Monitoring Center Certifications
To get a UL Listing for your monitoring center it gets put through a rigorous set of criteria that covers:
- How employees are trained. How much time and supervision is given to this training.
- How the building and your records are secured.
- How the backup systems work for both their employees and hardware.
- How the power and telephone lines are brought into the building.
- They cover move items than we list here…
If a monitoring center has an additional monitoring center in a separate state they would be exceptional. The second center can cover outages caused by a tornado, flood, hurricane or other natural disaster.
All of the medical alert companies reviewed on our site are UL Listed.
What a CSAA Five Diamond Monitoring Center means to you…
The Central Station Alarm Association was established in 1950. This is a self-governing association of central monitoring stations throughout the country. Their inspections guidelines and compliance codes are set and controlled by the heads of these monitoring centers. While it sounds nice, a self-governed certification is far from ideal.
The one monitoring center that proudly lists this CSAA approval has also taken their time to receive a UL Listing.
The one monitoring center that proudly lists this CSAA approval has also taken their time to receive a UL Listing.
Does a company own their monitoring center?
Let’s face it, there are good monitoring centers and there are bad monitoring centers, and whether a company owns their center has very little to do with it. In fact partnering with a monitoring center (rather than owning their own) allows medical alert companies to focus on great customer service while their center focuses on great monitoring. Partnering still allows a company to be hands on with their monitoring. It’s not about who owns the center, it’s about quality!
“Medically Trained” sounds good, but what does it mean? Ask specifics about the level of training that a company’s operators have, how does their medical training help in an emergency, are they legally able to give medical advice or instructions in an emergency? Monitoring center operators should be trained to respond quickly, communicate effectively, and provide complete & accurate information to the necessary agency in emergency situations.
In our experience, “Medically Trained” doesn’t realistically apply to your medical alert monitoring.
In our experience, “Medically Trained” doesn’t realistically apply to your medical alert monitoring.
About Redundant Monitoring Centers
When a monitoring center has a backup center in separate state, the second center can cover outages caused by a tornado, hurricane, flood, earthquake or any other natural disaster. This allows your medical alert company to provide uninterrupted monitoring no matter what the circumstance.
While backup monitoring centers are rare in the medical alert industry, increasingly unpredicable weather patterns are making these backup centers more and more of a necessity.
While backup monitoring centers are rare in the medical alert industry, increasingly unpredicable weather patterns are making these backup centers more and more of a necessity.
Monitoring Agreements & Contracts
Time Commitments and Contracts
One of our minimum 3 requirements for a risk free medical alert is that a company offers their service without time commitments. We reject all companies that obligate you to any period of time in their contract- even 3 months is too long.
Many seniors will surprise you and refuse to wear their medical alert button, and other seniors move on to a retirement center, nursing situation, or assisted facility before even 30 days are complete. Ultimately you never know for how long you will need this sort of service. So why sign up for a contract?
Many seniors will surprise you and refuse to wear their medical alert button, and other seniors move on to a retirement center, nursing situation, or assisted facility before even 30 days are complete. Ultimately you never know for how long you will need this sort of service. So why sign up for a contract?
Trial Periods and Money Back Guarantees
Our second requirement for a risk free medical alert is that a company offer you a 30 day money back guarantee with their service. This time period allows you to get the system in your home, plugged in, and tested to make sure that everything is working properly. Companies that offer this sort of guarantee want you, above all else, to be happy.
Price Guarantees
Our third requirement for our “check” approved medical alert companies to is that they guarantee their price for as long as you are a customer. Most seniors live on a fixed income. It just makes sense to make sure that a company is not going to raise their price on you after a couple months or years of being their customer. Fixed prices allow for you to plan on that set expense for as long as you still need your medical alert system.
Medical Alert Ratings & Recommendations
About Better Business Bureau (BBB) Ratings…
Unfortunately, BBB ratings mean very little. Companies can easily pay to get a great BBB rating. So here’s what a Better Business Rating should mean to you: When you are shopping for a medical alert company and you come across a company that has bothered to be registered with the BBB (most have), you want to make sure that they have an A+ rating and that they have no unresolved complaints. If you come across a company with lots of complaints or some unresolved complaints – Run!
Medical Alert Recommendations by Good Housekeeping, CVS, etc.
A number of medical alert companies are recommended by companies or magazines that you are familiar with, like Good Housekeeping or CVS. While this recommendation is a nice talking point, it is nothing to base your decision on. These recommendations are business arrangements, plain and simple. Medical alert companies pay for recommendations just as they pay for advertisements.
Other Medical Alert Topics
Who was the Original Medical Alert?
It seems like every company claims to be the original medical alert! Here is the true history…
In 1977, Lifeline started the first medical alert service. The monitoring for their medical alert service was handled through volunteers at local hospitals. Most of the companies that claim to be the original did not even start offering their medical alert service until the early 90′s.
In 1977, Lifeline started the first medical alert service. The monitoring for their medical alert service was handled through volunteers at local hospitals. Most of the companies that claim to be the original did not even start offering their medical alert service until the early 90′s.
Speaker Square Footage v. Help Button Range
It’s important to understand how medical alert systems work in order to really understand the area or ranges that a company quotes you:
Any area or square foot measurement that a company gives you applies to the size of home that their speaker works well in. This is the area that you will be able to hear the speaker and speak back to an operator. When a range is given (feet or yards) this applies to your help button. This is how far you can be away from your speaker box while still able to press that button and send a signal that you need help.
Any area or square foot measurement that a company gives you applies to the size of home that their speaker works well in. This is the area that you will be able to hear the speaker and speak back to an operator. When a range is given (feet or yards) this applies to your help button. This is how far you can be away from your speaker box while still able to press that button and send a signal that you need help.
What is a Medic Alert or Med Alert?
Medic Alert and Med Alert refer to medical ID bracelets and their corresponding medical information service. A Medic Alert customer wears their ID bracelet and emergency crews use the information on the bracelet to dial the information service and get the appropriate medical information for the patient.
There are other ways to keep your medical information ready for the paramedics. We recommend looking into the Vial of Life Project for a free, easy way to have your information ready for emergencies.
The terms Medic Alert and Med Alert are sometimes used instead of or confused for Medical Alert.
There are other ways to keep your medical information ready for the paramedics. We recommend looking into the Vial of Life Project for a free, easy way to have your information ready for emergencies.
The terms Medic Alert and Med Alert are sometimes used instead of or confused for Medical Alert.
Medical Alert & Medical Alarm Terms
There are entirely too many terms for these emergency systems. They all mean the same thing – these are systems that provide seniors and others in need with a way to get help during a fall or other emergency.
Other terms for medical alerts: Alarm Monitors, Alert Button, Elder Alert, Elderly Alarm, Elderly Call Button, Elderly Monitoring Devices, Emergency Alert Devices, Emergency Call Button, Emergency Response System, Fall Alert, Fall Alarms, Help Button, Home Alert System, Home Monitoring for Seniors, Medical Emergency Alerts, Medical Monitoring Systems, Medical Panic button, Medical Pendants, Medical Response Systems, Panic Buttons, Personal Alarm Systems, Personal Alarms, Personal Alert, Personal Emergency Response System, PERS, Personal Security Alarms, Senior Alarm Systems, Senior Citizen Alert, Senior Monitoring, Wrist Alarms, Wrist Alert.
Other terms for medical alerts: Alarm Monitors, Alert Button, Elder Alert, Elderly Alarm, Elderly Call Button, Elderly Monitoring Devices, Emergency Alert Devices, Emergency Call Button, Emergency Response System, Fall Alert, Fall Alarms, Help Button, Home Alert System, Home Monitoring for Seniors, Medical Emergency Alerts, Medical Monitoring Systems, Medical Panic button, Medical Pendants, Medical Response Systems, Panic Buttons, Personal Alarm Systems, Personal Alarms, Personal Alert, Personal Emergency Response System, PERS, Personal Security Alarms, Senior Alarm Systems, Senior Citizen Alert, Senior Monitoring, Wrist Alarms, Wrist Alert.
Help build our community by sharing your comments…
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My mom is worried about fainting during an emergency and not being able to press a button. We’ve talked to a couple of companies at this point about the type of system that alerts automaitcally. It seems like very few companies actually carry those though. Has anyone here used those systems before? Do they work well?
Hi, You are correct. Only a couple of companies offer that fall detection type service. It is my understanding that the technology is not very far along. While it works, it is only about 90% accurate and leads to a higher numbers of false alarms. I have not personally tested fall detection systems, but I know first hand how problematic false alarms can be. Often these accidental activations can really discourage seniors from wearing their medical alert button or even having a medical alert in their home.
Personally, I think that most seniors will do just fine with a standard medical alert system. I’d only recommend fall detection to seniors who have a specific condition where they absolutely need that service. Also, sticking to a standard medical alert will often save seniors about $10.00 a month.
I hope this information helps! Best of luck with your search.
Would you say that there is a benefit to getting a companuy to send someone to come over to the home and install the alarm? My mom doesnmt think that i can plug this in for her because some companies send someone and others don’t send anyone. But i think it is such a pain to schedule a appointment and wait for someone to show up. i don’t like waiting i guess. AND one company told me its easy. what do you recommend?>
Hi Lin, plugging in a medical alert for your mom should be easy. Most seniors are able to do it themselves, and most companies are even available to walk you through the process over the phone. Yes. I would recommend just setting it up yourself. The only scenario that it could be good to schedule an appointment and have a technician come out is if you can’t help, mom doesn’t have any friends or family who can help, and she is unable to get to the phone jack (because it is behind heavy furniture).
Plugging the system in yourself should also end up saving you some money. It could save you up to $100.00. And with all medical alerts you’d be able to test it after to make sure you plugged it in right!
do these products work everywhere? Mom is in WY and doesnt get cell service
Hi Phyllis, Most medical alert companies provide service to the entire U.S. Some cover Alaska and Hawaii too. It’s okay that your mom doesn’t get cell service – medical alert systems connect through her home telephone service!
Some companies (like *Lifeline) charge you based on your zip code. You will have to call them in order to get a quote for your mom’s area.
Have you heard of FBI screened operators? I’m having a hard time even imagining that this could be true but someone told me their med alert operators are screened the same way the FBI screens agents. any help wading through this mess is much appreciated.
Yes, you are right. As far as I understand, the FBI spends A LOT of money and time screening their employees. This goes far beyond a simple background check. I’m sure the company that told you this screens their monitoring center’s operators well, but “FBI Screened” is simply not true.