RescueTouch vs. Bay Alarm Medical

Date Updated: July 28, 2025

Written by:

Rachel Lustbader

Rachel Lustbader is a writer and editor with a background in healthcare and technology. Her work has been published on websites including HealthCare.com, BiteSizeBio.com, BetterHelp.com, Caring.com, and PayingforSeniorCare.com. She studied health science and public health at Boston University.

Both of Rachel’s grandmothers had very positive experiences in senior living communities, and Rachel saw firsthand the impact that kind, committed caregivers and community managers can have on seniors’ and their family members’ lives. With her work at Caring, Rachel hopes to help other families find communities, caregivers, and at-home products that benefit elderly loved ones and make life less stressful for family caregivers

Many seniors face a reduced quality of life and loss of independence after experiencing falls, stroke, heart attack and other injuries. The sooner treatment is received, the better the health outcome. Recognizing this, many companies now provide medical alert systems squarely aimed at improving emergency response times for seniors and other vulnerable people.

An extensive range of feature-rich products and plans is available. Sifting through all of the different equipment, monitoring plans and add-ons and working out the best options for yourself or someone you are caring for can be time-consuming and confusing.

In this guide, we compare the equipment and plans from two companies: Bay Alarm Medical and RescueTouch. These companies have been in operation for many years and have developed products with multiple useful features.

Bay Alarm Medical Review

Bay Alarm is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area. It was founded in 1946 to provide home security services, and in 2007, it added the Bay Alarm Medical division to its company structure.

Bay Alarm Medical provides three separate medical alert systems and plans, and one bundled service. These products offer in-home, on-the-go and in-car medical alert services, and the bundled option allows users to choose a combination of services from the three alert systems.

Pros of Bay Alarm Medical

Monitoring service is available in 170 languages
Free monitoring for a spouse if a second personal button is purchased
On-the-go car tracking and crash detection for seniors who drive
Free vial of life — a record of complete medical information accessible for emergency personnel when attending a callout
Customizable packages available and encouraged
Change or cancel plans at any time
Geofencing available with in-car devices
Positioning for 5G technology implementation

Cons of Bay Alarm Medical

Fall detection is not automatically included in most plans, requiring an extra $10 a month
If several add-ons and plan customization are necessary, monthly costs can be substantially higher than the basic plan

RescueTouch Overview

RescueTouch was founded by Scott Lepper in 2014 to improve medical emergency response times, particularly for seniors and other vulnerable people.

RescueTouch broke away from the monitoring center model with the development of the S.O.S Caller. This device allows a versatile response to medical incidents or emergencies. It can be set to contact family members, friends, neighbors and caregivers. Alternatively, it can be set to a 24/7 contact point in a senior care home or a 911 call center.

Six plans cover basic to advanced services.

Pros of RescueTouch

US-based company developed by emergency medical technician
Select up to five contacts to assist with emergencies or incidents
Professional monitoring provided if desired
Two-way voice connection supported by family text alerts
Lightweight, water-resistant mobile devices available in a range of colors
Unlimited cellular range
Monthly prices from $19 basic plans up to $64 for comprehensive cover
Lifetime price lock-in

Cons of RescueTouch

Fall detection not available in lower-priced plans
No 24/7 operator service for family monitored plans
Device purchase costs from $99 – $178

Pricing Comparison

The lowest-starting points for monthly plans from Bay Medical Alarm and RescueTouch are similar: $19.95 and $19, respectively.

Bay Alarm Medical’s in-home package provides free spousal coverage on purchase of a second personal device, making this an attractive cost option for couples. The cost of the Bay Alarm Medical on-the-go mobile package starts higher than their in-home packages, and there is a one-off purchase cost for the mobile device. The in-car medical alert package starts higher than the mobile packages, but it can be combined with an in-home system to earn a discount of $10 per month for bundling the two services.

All the RescueTouch monthly packages are based around one device with two streams of monitoring: family and professional. Family monitored plans start at a higher monthly price than the basic professionally monitored plan. Extra features such as fall detection, text alerts and GPS tracking are available through the higher-priced plans for both monitoring streams. There is a one-off purchase cost for the device on top of the monthly plans. Discounts are given for prepaying quarterly and annually, with additional discounts available for members of AARP, veterans, first responders and nurses.

Our Pick

Given the different monitoring streams and package options of the two companies, there is not a standout leader. Both companies address essential features such as GPS tracking, fall monitoring and emergency contacts at the press of a button and have similar price points for their basic plans.

There do, however, seem to be medical alert devices and plans that fit the particular mobility levels and lifestyles of some seniors than others. RescueTouch delivers the ability to directly contact a number of friends and family, which may be a more comforting option for seniors with low-risk medical conditions. On the other hand, Bay Alarm Medical provides a unique in-car tracking and crash detection device which is a useful feature for seniors who are still driving.

Careful assessment of the individual’s mobility capabilities and other lifestyle factors can help prospective purchasers decide which plan is the best choice.

Compare More Medical Alert Systems

Click on the links below to read about Medical Alert system comparisons.