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These simple, stylish, portable bracelets are durable, waterproof, and offer an extensive range when doing everyday activities.
Updated August 6, 2024
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Medical alert systems worn as necklaces can help you reach help in the event of an emergency. All you need to do is press a button on your wearable necklace to summon emergency help. Some systems even let you contact a family member or friend for help first. And because fall detection works most effectively when worn on a device around the neck, anyone who is at risk of falling or has a chronic medical condition should consider such a device.
With at-home systems, the piece of equipment worn as a necklace is a help button. It typically is waterproof and lightweight but does not include two-way talk with a monitoring center agent. It does enable you to roam away from the base unit. Therefore, one feature to investigate is range — the distance that you can travel from the base unit while wearing the necklace. You may also want to take a look at what it would cost for a second member of the household to use the system. Some providers offer this option free or at a low cost.
On the other hand, on-the-go systems worn as necklaces typically include two-way talk with a monitoring center agent, GPS location detection, and optional fall detection. Because more features are included within the device, it will be somewhat heavier than the help button in an at-home system. The weight does vary though, so this might be an important consideration for you. You may also want to keep an eye out for how fall detection is embedded with the device. Some providers offer a separate help button with fall detection; others offer devices with fall detection built in.
Here is a look at the many choices of medical alert necklace systems available.
Bay Alarm Medical offers at-home cellular and landline systems with necklace-style help buttons as well as one wearable on-the-go device. In fact, their on-the-go device, the SOS Mobile, is one of the newest systems to hit the market, so we recommend taking a peek. Whether it is at-home or on-the-go, Bay Alarm is known for their competitive pricing. And you can count on transparency; they do not charge any hidden fees.
With Bay Alarm’s at-home offerings, a wearable help button is available with both their cellular and landline systems. These systems include an above-average range of 1,000 feet between the necklace and the base unit. This means that you can roam as far as three football fields. The starting monthly price of the landline system is $19.95, and the starting price for the cellular system is $29.95. Note that for $39, you can purchase a second help button that can be worn by a spouse or roommate. After paying this initial price, service is free for the second person.
Weighing only 1.3 ounces, Bay Alarm Medical’s SOS Mobile is a lightweight, on-the-go device that can be worn as a necklace. It offers a sleek, contoured design, advanced location detection, your choice of a Verizon or AT&T connection, and options for built-in fall detection or location tracking for caregivers. This advanced system comes with a low starting price of $29.95 per month but requires a $79 equipment fee.
One accessory that some women like is the Bella Charm. The charm clicks to the help button of an at-home system and is intended for wear around the neck. It comes in four different styles and colors and costs $25 for one or $90 for all four.
Read more about it in our hands-on review of Bay Alarm Medical.
| Connectivity | Landline and cellular |
|---|---|
| Fall Detection | $10/month |
| In-home Range | Up to 1,400 feet |
| Battery Backup | Up to 32 hours |
| GPS Option | Yes |
| Money-back Guarantee | 30-day |
Medical Guardian’s at-home medical alert necklace comes as a help button that works in conjunction with a multi-functional base station. The necklace increases range and improves mobility. This button is available with both at-home systems, the MGHome Cellular and MGClassic. The other type of necklace is an on-the-go device that can be worn on a lanyard. This is available with two of the three on-the-go systems: the Mobile 2.0 and Mini Guardian. Monitoring costs start at less than $1 per day. Head to Medical Guardian’s pricing and packages page to learn if they’re the best option for you.
If your goal is to maintain independence both at home and while on the go, then a necklace from Medical Guardian might be a good choice for you. After testing Medical Guardian, we found that they have a variety of options to choose from.
Medical Guardian at-home systems both come with a help button that can be worn as a necklace. With the MGClassic, the help button extends the range that you can roam from the base unit to 1,300 feet, one of the best ranges on the market. This means that older adults can wander to all corners of the house, down the driveway, and to the backyard garden. With the MGHome Cellular, the range is even better 一 1,400 feet. The starting monthly price is $29.95 for the MGClassic and $34.95 for the MGHome Cellular. If you are interested in protection for a spouse or other household member, an additional necklace costs $2.99 per month.
The Mobile Guardian, although an on-the-go system, offers a help button that can be worn as a necklace. The button, light and comfortable to wear, communicates with the 1.7-ounce, mobile device, which can be carried in a pocket or purse. The maximum range is 350 feet, and fall detection is available through this help button. It also includes advanced location tracking and an extended battery life of five days. The starting monthly fee is $39.99 with a $124.95 equipment fee.
The Mini Guardian is lightweight (1.3 ounces), discreet, and comes in three colors. It, too, offers advanced location detection and a five-day battery life. One difference between the two mobile devices is that fall detection is built in, making the Mini a true all-in-one device. The starting monthly price is $39.99, and the equipment fee is $149.95.
| Connectivity | Landline, cellular, and Wi-fi |
|---|---|
| Fall Detection | $10/month |
| In-home Range | Up to 1,400 feet |
| Battery Backup | Up to 32 hours |
| GPS Option | Yes |
| Money-back Guarantee | None |
Lively specializes in medical alert cellphones and other devices for older adults who are on the go. Lively’s Mobile button, which includes a magnetic lanyard, can be worn as a necklace. If you don’t want to wear it around the neck, you can also clip it to your belt or wear it on your wrist. This portable medical alert necklace system is reasonably priced and offers a variety of optional equipment and services for older adults and caregivers alike.
The Lively mobile button is ideal for seniors who are active and on-the-go. It is just under two ounces and connects to one of the most reliable cellular networks in the United States — Verizon Wireless. So, it works almost anywhere in the USA. The device also includes two-way talk, an extended battery life, and optional built-in fall detection. Best of all, Lively’s starting monthly price is an unbeatable $19.99. However, it does require a $49.99 equipment fee and a $35 activation fee.
Lively is also a great option for family caregivers who want to gain insight on their loved one’s movement and activity inside and outside of the home. You can access nurses and doctors on-call, monitor for falls and more with the Lively medical alert portable system.
Read more about this popular alert system in our hands-on Lively analysis.
| Connectivity | Cellular |
|---|---|
| Fall Detection | Included in some plans |
| In-home Range | N/A |
| Battery Backup | Up to 82 hours |
| GPS Option | Yes |
| Money-back Guarantee | 30-day |
LifeStation’s necklace pendant is an affordable and versatile system that provides a choice of at-home or on-the-go-protection, or both.
After testing and reviewing LifeStation, we think that the In Home medical alert system is appropriate for those older adults who don’t often leave home on their own and do not have a landline. The cellular-only system has a range of 600 feet and uses LifeStation’s AT&T cellular connection. The cost starts at $32.95 per month and does not require equipment or activation fees. Spousal protection costs an additional $3.95 per month.
At 1.4 ounces, the Sidekick offers comfort without sacrificing advanced features. It comes with two-way talk, advanced location detection, optional fall detection, and a fast response time from their TMA Five Diamond certified monitoring center. The monthly fee starts at $37.95. LifeStation does not require equipment fees.
LifeStation now also offers LifeStation Luxury, a 2.1 ounce pendant — a brass case with a lapis blue resin stone. While wearing the pendant on its 30-inch chain, no one will even know that you are wearing a medical alert device. However, using Bluetooth, the pendant pairs with a mobile device that you can carry in a purse or pocket and offers advanced location detection, two-way talk, and access to 24/7 emergency services. The range between the pendant and the medical alert device is 200 feet. Take note that the Luxury does not come with the option for fall detection. The starting monthly fee is $43.95.
If you are considering a medical alert necklace system, you might be wondering which pendant to choose. Before buying a system, you should compare the various features available. Comparing the medical alert necklaces will help you choose the right one for your particular needs.
The medical alert necklaces showcased here offer 24/7 Emergency Response. However, not all services are cut from the same cloth. Look for a company that delivers premium service driven by a highly-trained and friendly staff. Do this and you’re almost guaranteed stellar response, around the clock, when you need it most.
Take it off. Put it on. Take it off again... and forget where you placed it! That’s the reality with medical alert necklaces. This is precisely why a water resistant pendant is a must-have. Wear them in the shower, in the kitchen doing dishes, and even out in the garden. A water resistant or waterproof necklace alert is always a smart choice.
Active seniors, listen up. Most pendant alert systems now offer Cellular Monitoring. And the benefits of cellular necklaces are stacked sky-high. You can leave home and enjoy coverage pretty much anywhere. They don’t require a landline or home phone, and they’re typically more reliable than traditional landline hookups. Necklace alerts with cellular monitoring deliver the goods.
150 languages and counting. Spanish, French, Italian, German, Swahili, and the list goes on — that’s the value of Multi-Lingual Support. This medical alert necklace feature is tailor-made for those who don’t speak English. Talk with emergency personnel in your native tongue, and go into the world with confidence. With Multilingual Support, your words will never fail you.
Several medical alert necklaces offer Two-Way Voice, an impressive feature that connects you directly to the monitoring center. That’s right, if you fall or experience a medical emergency, simply press the button and talk with an emergency responder via the built-in microphone and speaker. Pendant alert systems are always evolving, and this feature is a testament to their life-saving potential.
Here’s another great feature of medical alert necklaces. Don’t be too surprised if your spouse gets that flash of envy in their eye that says “I want a stylish, life-saving pendant too!” If this happens, here’s your solution. Spouse Coverage makes it easy and affordable to add a loved one to your existing plan. Get this feature and make emergency monitoring a family affair.
Get on-the-go coverage with a GPS necklace alert. Many companies offer this advanced feature that tracks the pendant wherever it goes. In the event of a fall or emergency, GPS location services accurately pinpoints your exact location. This allows caregivers or emergency responders to find you with ease. GPS necklaces are perfect for active seniors and seniors who are easily disoriented.
