Seniors who live alone may not always be prepared to handle an emergency, such as a fall or sudden medical issue, on their own. Family members and caregivers who have concerns about an independent senior often turn to medical alert systems for peace of mind.

The best medical alert systems work by providing seniors with a way to call for help, typically with just the touch of a button or using voice activation. These systems come with a wearable device, typically worn as a pendant or on the wrist, so assistance is always within easy reach. While wearing a medical alert device doesn’t prevent injuries or accidents, it can help ensure that seniors get assistance as quickly as possible. Knowing that help is available 24/7 makes caregivers feel more comfortable about leaving loved ones home alone.

Caregiver Features for Medical Alert Systems

Because caregivers are often intimately involved with managing a senior’s health, many medical alert systems offer features to help relatives track and monitor the seniors in their care. These systems alert relatives if the senior presses the help button or if an emergency event occurs, such as a fall or house fire. Concerned caregivers can head to the senior’s location immediately and be there when medical assistance arrives.

Systems designed with caregivers in mind typically have a companion app or website that lets designated individuals check on the precise location of the senior wearing the device. Some devices include text communications to make it easy to maintain contact between the senior and caregiver.

The Three Best Medical Alert Systems for Caregivers

Medical Guardian

For caregivers of seniors or disabled loved ones, a Medical Guardian medical alert system provides peace of mind and the ability to monitor activity throughout the day. The company has two products that include caregiver features, the Family Guardian and Freedom Guardian plans. The Family Guardian plan, which is the most expensive product, is an at-home cellular-based system costing $79.95 per month, and the Freedom Guardian is a mobile system costing $44.95 per month. Fall detection is available with the Family guardian plan for an additional $10 per month to give extra peace of mind to families. A voice-activated, wall-mounted button is also available as an extra feature for $5 per month.

The companion app and online portal included in both plans let caregivers check up on seniors on a mobile device or home computer. Caregivers are also notified immediately if the senior activates the alarm, so there isn’t any delay in finding out when an emergency has occurred. Mapping lets caregivers track exactly where a senior is at any given moment, and the ability to send SMS messages directly to the wearable device lets family members check up on their relative at any time.

With the Family Guardian plan, caregivers can set up motion sensors in the senior’s home that sends an alert when there’s unexpected inactivity or abnormal movement that could indicate a problem. The Freedom Guardian’s system utilizes a smartwatch-like wearable device that can be used outside the home that features both GPS and Wi-Fi mapping for extremely accurate location detection.

QMedic

QMedic offers some of the most comprehensive monitoring features available in a medical alert system, making it ideal for caregivers who want to track a senior’s overall wellness. Concerned relatives can log into the Caregiver Dashboard to see whether the senior has been wearing the device and also observe patterns in activity and sleep. QMedic has landline, cellular and mobile units available, so you can choose the type of device best suited to your relative’s preferences and lifestyle. Costs range from $30.00 to $45.00 per month, making QMedic an affordable option for seniors and their families.

Compliance tracking is one of the biggest benefits of the QMedic system. With compliance tracking, you can tell whether your relative is taking off the device instead of wearing it. Proper compliance ensures that your relative is protected in the event of an emergency, and knowing about noncompliance can help you figure out how to gently encourage more consistent use.

Bay Alarm Medical

Caregiver tracking and geo-fencing tools make Bay Alarm Medical one of the standout systems for people who need to monitor a senior’s activity. With these features, you can log into the associated app to see where your loved one is on a map and set up alerts that let you know when the senior has left a designated area.

Bay Alarm Medical has home-based and mobile plans available, so you have plenty of options. They also offer an On-the-Road plan for seniors who still drive, which includes a car-mounted device that alerts caregivers and the emergency response center if an accident occurs. Caregiver tracking costs $5.00 per month in addition to the base fee, which ranges from $19.95 to $59.95 per month, depending on the specific plan you choose. Some plans also offer fall detection for an additional $10.00 per month.

Why Caregiver Features Matter in Medical Alert Systems

Seniors are often reluctant to leave the home they have lived in for years to enter assisted living or move in with an adult child, but caregivers may worry about what might happen if a parent or relative gets hurt or needs help while alone in the house. Medical alert systems with caregiver features bridge that gap and let seniors continue to live independently while letting adult children or other relatives keep an eye on them from afar.

Systems with features, such as fall detection, wall mounted buttons and GPS tracking, help ease concerns about seniors who live alone. Specific caregiver apps offer feedback on the activity and location of the senior, and apps that are accessible from mobile devices let relatives easily check on the senior at any time of day or night.

If you’re choosing a medical alert system with caregiver features, pick one with a caregiver interface that’s easy to navigate. You should be able to access information about the senior in your care quickly through a phone or computer and be able to conveniently update contact information or other details in the system.

Costs and Considerations When Choosing a Medical Alert System for Caregivers

Knowing how to choose the right medical alert system for your needs ensures that your senior gets the best protection available. The specific features you may need depend on the activity level of the senior using the system and the level of monitoring you want caregivers to have. Cost is a factor, but the peace of mind you get from being able to see and track your loved one’s activity may be worth the extra expense.

Seniors with limited mobility generally do best with a landline or cellular in-home system that uses a base unit and a lightweight wearable device. More active seniors may prefer a mobile system that has the base unit built into the wearable product for convenient carrying outside the home. There are home-based and mobile systems available with caregiver features, so families aren’t limited to one type if they want to include automatic monitoring and location tracking features.

Comfort is another factor when choosing a medical alert system with caregiver features. A system is only truly effective if the senior actually wears it, so you should choose a model that’s comfortable and also includes all of the monitoring features you need.

Caregivers of seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia may need extra features that help reduce the likelihood of wandering. Systems that use motion detection to determine when a senior leaves the home are a good choice for families concerned about this specific issue.