With more seniors living separately from their loved ones, technology is becoming an essential component of their lives. The internet and cellular connections provide numerous options for seniors to stay safe. This helps them become more connected, secure and informed.

For the many aging adults who would like to remain living at home, travel with greater peace of mind or wish to remain out of a senior care facility for as long as possible, medical alert systems can act as an affordable alternative. Dozens of medical alert companies have worked to meet seniors’ growing demands and keep up with technological advancements. This means seniors have even more devices and system plans to choose from to suit their individual needs, as many of these companies offer multiple plan and device options at varying prices.

To select the best medical alert system to meet their needs, seniors should first consider their lifestyle and the types of features most important to them. Some systems are designed primarily for use within the home and other mobile systems are designed for seniors with more active lifestyles. Many systems come with help buttons that can be wearable via a wristband or pendant or mounted on a wall. Many companies also offer devices with automatic fall detection.

The Importance of a Waterproof Medical Alert Device

The majority of falls occur around slick surfaces and water, such as in a bathroom or when it’s raining. Reliable waterproof medical alert devices are an essential part of any system.

Below, we look at three of the best waterproof medical alert systems. To help you find the one that best aligns with your preferences and needs, we provide an overview of each company’s waterproof devices along with information on pricing and available systems and features.

The 3 Best Medical Alert Systems with Waterproof Devices

BoomerAlert

A Canadian company, BoomerAlert offers a simple, all-in-one plan that provides advanced emergency monitoring center access and fall detection through a completely waterproof, shockproof wearable device that can be worn around the neck or wrist. Seniors can wear the device both at home and on the go throughout North America wherever there’s a cellular connection (the company uses the Rogers cellular network).

With this waterproof device, seniors can safely and securely wear it while taking a bath or shower. Because it can be used outside the home, it also comes with GPS location technology, so if a user falls or is unresponsive, the monitoring center can pinpoint the user’s location. The device sends messages to designated personal contacts when it detects a fall, and it has two-way voice communication that enables wearers to speak directly to operators.

The system also comes with a portable, preconfigured easily installed base station with a battery backup and charger. Additionally, the wearable device can stay charged for up to 36 hours. This comprehensive system costs $79.99 per month.

Life Alert

Having operated in the United States since 1987, Life Alert is one of the longest-standing and largest medical alert companies on the market. It manufactures its own devices and is the only company with device batteries that don’t need to be recharged. It offers three tiered protection systems: a base in-home system for $49 per month, one that adds a bathroom help button for an additional $19 per month and an on-the-go service for an additional $19 per month. All customers must sign a three year contract and pay a one-time startup fee that includes in-home installation.

Each system comes with a wearable fully waterproof and showerproof pendant. The In-the-Bathroom system provides seniors with a waterproof wall-mounted help button designed specifically for shower and bath protection so that seniors always have access to help in this area. While designed with bathroom use in mind, the button can also be placed anywhere in the home. It’s wireless for easy installation.

With the Help On the Go with GPS plan, the pendant has GPS location tracking. Both the In-the-Bathroom button and the pendant have impressively long battery lives of up to 10 years.

Medical Guardian

Medical Guardian offers seniors a variety of affordable plans that can be chosen or customized with add-on features to best suit their individual needs. Of its six available plans, five include fully waterproof devices.

The systems include three in-home plans with options for seniors with and without landlines and two mobile plans for seniors on the go. The Active Guardian plan starts at $45.79 per month and is an all-in-one wearable neck pendant device that has a long 5-day battery life, two-way voice communication and optional fall detection. The lower-priced Mobile Guardian plan also provides protection from anywhere with a cellular service, and it, like each of the in-home plans, has a wearable waterproof help button that can be worn as a neck pendant or wristband.

In addition, seniors can add extra devices such as extra regular or voice-activated wall buttons and lockboxes. The Family Guardian in-home plan comes with activity tracking capabilities and a caregiver app. There’s also a non-waterproof smartwatch-style device plan that provides stylish protection on the go along with activity tracking and voice-to-text SMS messaging.

Waterproof Versus Water-Resistant

When searching for a waterproof medical alert system, it’s important to understand the difference between waterproof and water-resistant. With a water-resistant system, the device can withstand high levels of humidity and a certain amount of water splashing from rain or a water faucet. However, these devices may not be safely worn in the shower or bath or fully exposed to heavy rain.

With a fully waterproof device, seniors don’t need to worry about remembering to take off or put on their wearable help buttons before and after showering or bathing. This makes their devices less prone to water damage and ensures potentially life-saving help is always to hand.

How to Choose the Waterproof Device and System That’s Best for You

Because there are so many reputable medical alert systems today, many of which are tapping into the world’s latest technologies, seniors have numerous waterproof medical alert devices from which to choose. Depending on how simple or extensive of a system you’re looking for, there are a few things to consider when shopping around:

  • Do you need a waterproof device that’s designed primarily for use in the home, or are you active and mobile and need a device that you can wear while out or traveling?
  • Are you concerned about or at a higher risk of falling and looking for a device with automatic fall detection?
  • How important is affordable pricing?
  • How important are additional features to you such as voice activation, caregiver apps or a long battery life?

From our list of the best waterproof systems, BoomerAlert offers the simplest all-in-one plan, especially for Canadians who can afford a higher-priced package in exchange for a fully waterproof mobile system. Medical Guardian offers the lowest base prices by far with rates starting at $27.45 per month for its base in-home plan and gives seniors the option to add premium features for additional security, mobility and connection to caregivers. On the other hand, Life Alert devices don’t rely on seniors remembering to recharge them to work reliably and consistently. Additionally, the company’s bathroom help button is wall-mountable and waterproof so seniors can shower or bathe without having to wear their device.