RescueTouch vs Medical Guardian

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

Today’s networked world brings an exciting new array of wearable personal equipment that can significantly help people facing physical frailty and a range of health conditions. Relatively unobtrusive, these electronic devices are usually styled as smartwatches, bracelets, necklaces or pendants. These medical alert systems connect to emergency services and monitoring centers when an alert is triggered. Some devices can also be set to notify friends and relatives when help is needed.

Having the right type of device and plan in place helps seniors and others maintain their independent lifestyles. This also provides some degree of comfort to their families who are often worried about what may go wrong with their elderly relatives when they can’t be present.

This guide compares RescueTouch and Medical Guardian medical alert systems. Both companies have a large presence in the medical alert market, are firmly established and have developed markedly different products.

RescueTouch Overview

As an emergency medical technician, Scott Lepper developed a keen understanding of the importance of responding swiftly to life-threatening events. Armed with this knowledge and a passion to improve response times for medical emergencies, Scott founded RescueTouch in 2014.

RescueTouch developed a device with a unique feature. While most other medical alert equipment locks into a 911 call or to a monitoring center, the RescueTouch S.O.S Caller provides a broader range of choices. The device can be set so that the wearer can contact family members, friends, caregivers or neighbors, the front desk of an aged care facility or a 911 call center. The device is easily activated by pressing a large central button on a pendant or bracelet.

There are six plans to choose from, covering basic to advanced services.

Pros of RescueTouch

US-based company developed by emergency medical technician
Choice of up to five contacts for medical incidents and emergencies
Professional monitoring center if desired
Two-way voice connection and family text alerts
Portable, lightweight, water-resistant mobile devices
Unlimited cellular range of devices
Monthly plans ranging from $19 for basic features up to $64 for advanced features
Lifetime price lock-in

Cons of RescueTouch

No 24/7 monitoring in some plans
Fall detection not available in lower-priced plans
Up-front costs to purchase equipment ranging from $99 – $178

Medical Guardian Overview

Founded by Geoff Gross in 2005, Medical Guardian has the distinction of being featured in several of Inc. Magazine’s fastest-growing list of companies between 2013 and 2016.

Currently, Medical Guardian has seven medical alert devices and plans. There are two main product groups: in-home sets with a base station unit connecting to a monitoring center and mobile devices providing additional functionality outside the home.

Freedom Guardian sensors and plans are particularly useful for caregivers looking after seniors with cognitive decline. This plan provides activity monitoring within the home supported by door and window sensors. In the case of people living with dementia becoming confused and wandering away from home, the caregiver is notified of their absence and able to respond quickly.

There are seven plans to choose from, covering basic to advanced services.

Pros of Medical Guardian

US-based company in operation since 2005
Variety of devices and plans providing an excellent range of choice for the seniors market
An option for landline-based monitoring
Sophisticated in-home sensors that aid in tracking movements of people with dementia
Advanced mobile smartwatch style device with GPS and location finder
Devices connect to emergency services with direct two-way communication
Optional reminders and alerts system
No up-front costs for equipment except for the Freedom Guardian plan
24/7 monitoring

Cons of Medical Guardian

Higher entry costs than RescueTouch. Monthly payment plans start at $29.95
Fall detection is not automatically included in most plans, requiring an extra $10 a month

Pricing Comparison

Monthly plans for RescueTouch basic services are lower priced than the Medical Guardian plans. However, Medical Guardian does not require an additional payment for its equipment (excluding the Freedom Guardian product), while the RescueTouch device always requires payment on top of the monthly plans.

RescueTouch provides discounts for prepaying quarterly and annually. Additional discounts are available for members of AARP, veterans, first responders and nurses. While Medical Guardian plans do not provide a discount for prepayment, they do provide a free month of service, free second buttons, lockboxes and shipping.

Further complicating price comparison, four out of six of RescueTouch plans include fall detection, while most of the Medical Guardian plans do not and require an additional monthly payment.

Our Pick

The very different products provided by RescueTouch and Medical Guardian make an even comparison extremely difficult, and there does not appear to be a clear-cut winner in this instance. Rather, there are medical alert devices and plans better suited to the management of some medical conditions than others.

The RescueTouch feature allowing nominated contacts to be drawn from family, friends and caregivers is a winner. Minor falls and injuries can be attended to by family and caregivers in place of an unnecessary call out to emergency services. On the other hand, Medical Guardians combination of activity and location sensors are invaluable for caregivers of people with dementia. Specific plans and devices provide timely assistance when seniors may become confused and lost and must be quickly located.

In summary, lower-risk health conditions that can be managed by a circle of family and friends are perhaps better suited to the RescueTouch products. Those with high-risk medical conditions such as dementia may be better suited to the Medical Guardian products.

Compare More Medical Alert Systems

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