Lively Cell Phones & Medical Alert Systems

Lively Devices and Pricing

Lively is a brand with four distinct products along with lots of extra services and accessories that can be used to customize each one. I will start by pointing out that Lively charges separately for equipment and service (some companies only charge for service). Take a look below at the equipment and monthly fees for their phones and Lively wearables.

Lively Equipment Pricing

I was disappointed to learn that both the Jitterbug Smart4 and Jitterbug Flip2 require a $35 activation fee. It’s probably not a deal breaker but just something to keep in mind as you do your own evaluation.

Lively Alert Systems and Packages

As you can see above, Lively currently sells four medical alert devices. Two of these are phones: the Jitterbug Flip2 and the Jitterbug Smart4. The others, the Lively Wearable2 and Lively Mobile Plus, are wearable devices. I think it’s a decent product lineup, as many brands only offer two or three options. Let’s dig into the details of Lively’s offerings to find out if the service makes sense for you or your loved one.

Lively Mobile Phones for Seniors

The Jitterbug Flip2

The Jitterbug Flip2 is a folding mobile phone made by Samsung. It’s easy to use and has a simple large-print menu and big keypad buttons, leaving room for a red emergency help button at the bottom of the number pad. Added perks, designed especially for older adults, include dialing and texting by voice, an 8MP camera, Brain Games for mental sharpness, and a reading light with a magnifier. The phone has 16 GB of storage, is available in red or gray, and costs $99.99.

Note that the Basic Health and Safety package includes an additional monthly charge for minutes and texts. Unlimited texts and minutes cost $20 per month. If you choose the Preferred or Ultimate package, this fee will be waived.

There’s also an option to pay only for talk and text (and avoid monthly payments for a health and safety package) with the option to upgrade at a later date. Unlimited talk and text costs $39.99 per month.

Best for: The Jitterbug Flip2 is best for seniors who prefer a simple mobile phone with around-the-clock protection.

Jitterbug Smart4

As the bigger brother to the Jitterbug Flip2, the Jitterbug Smart4 is a Samsung Android phone with 16 GB of storage, a 5 ½-inch screen, and a choice of two setups. With the simple layout, apps appear in a list. With the advanced layout, apps show in the traditional way, with icons. (I like this one!) With either layout, a digital 5Star button shows at the bottom of the screen. Note that this button acts as your emergency helpline. Special features include voice dialing/texting, a 13 MP camera, Brain Games, video chat, and mobile internet access. The full price is $149.99, and service starts at $24.99 per month.

Jitterbug Smart4

Unlike the Jitterbug Flip2, the Jitterbug Smart4 requires an additional charge for talk, text, and data regardless of the health and safety plan you choose. Unlimited talk and text is $20 per month, while unlimited talk, text, and data costs $40 per month.

An option to pay only for talk, text, and data is also available with the Lively.

Best For: The Jitterbug Smart4 is best for seniors who want a more advanced mobile phone experience with 24/7 emergency coverage.

Lively Wearable Alert Systems

Lively Wearable 2

Lively Watch

This innovative button can upgrade your current smartphone with fall detection, 5Star emergency service, Urgent Care medical calls, and other Lively benefits. You can wear it around your wrist or neck, and it works within Bluetooth range. Pressing the button will connect you with the response center through your smart phone. Unlike some of the other best medical alert watches, all other functions (including two-way talk) are conducted through the phone, which will be paired to the Lively watch during setup.

I like how the watch is waterproof (approved for swimming) and works for about four months per battery. Also, it doubles as a pedometer with step counts displaying in the app. The full price for this handy device is $49.99. And the monitoring starts at $24.99 per month, contract-free.

Best for: The Lively Wearable2 is best for folks who want advanced emergency alert coverage without investing in a new phone.

Lively App Dashboard

Lively Mobile Plus

While I think other Lively products are more unique, Lively Mobile Plus is similar to all-in-one GPS buttons from other medical alert brands. However, a big advantage is Lively’s average response time of under 19 seconds. In my experience, this is lightning-fast. Also, it offers two-way voice and uses advanced GPS for more precise location.

This device is rain-safe and can clip to your waistband, pocket, or purse. It can also be worn with a lanyard. It holds a charge for up to 80 hours. The full equipment price is $49.99, and 24/7 monitoring starts at $24.99 per month.

Best for: The Lively Mobile Plus is best for seniors who are seeking a convenient alert system with GPS along with an ultra-fast response time.

Lively Services

Special services, like Lively Rides, for instance, help set this brand apart from other cell phone and medical alert providers we’ve tested. Each of Lively’s four products comes with three different health and safety packages — basic, preferred, and ultimate — which include different services and prices.

For example, the basic package for the Lively Wearable2 includes only one service but is offered at the low price of $24.99 per month. The preferred package includes three services and costs $29.99, while the ultimate includes four services and costs $39.99. The nice thing is that you can choose as much or as little as you or your loved one wants or needs. And you can manage everything right in the Lively app.

Lively App

Here’s a roundup of the special services you can expect with Lively.

Lively Service Options

Not all of the services listed above are available across all devices, packages, or plans. As a guide, I created the table below to summarize the availability of services for each Lively device. This should help you narrow down your choices to find an option that works for you or your loved one.

Expert Examined

From Christopher Norman, a Board-Certified Geriatric Nurse Practitioner with the National Council on Aging (NCOA)

“I had a patient with Parkinson’s disease who would fall frequently and was often in the emergency department. Once she moved into a building with supportive assistive personnel and had a medical alert system, her falls were still frequent, but her device was connected directly to a home health aide. This allowed her to get help within minutes and avoid hospital visits that were not needed, which helped with her care. It reinforced my belief that these systems can provide essential, timely assistance.”

Lively Services by Device

Lively Accessories and Costs

If it’s an accessory that you are looking for, Lively has plenty of those — in fact, they offer more accessories, add-ons, and upgrades than any other brand. So accessorize away, but watch out for the price creep that comes with it!

Here’s a helpful pricing chart of Lively accessories available for each of Great Call’s products. As you will probably notice, Lively does not offer accessories with the Lively Wearable2.

Roundup of Lively Accessories

I know — it’s a lot to think about. Four cool products, different service plans, and loads of accessories. I recommend starting out by choosing the product that is the best fit for you. Follow that up by determining what services best fit your needs and choose a corresponding plan. A customer agent can help you with this. Finally, you should pick and choose accessories, balancing overall cost with need.

Lively Current Deal

Save 50 percent: For a limited time Lively Mobile Plus is selling for $24.99 on the company’s website. Another thing to consider is a longstanding Lively deal offered through AARP. If you’re an AARP member, you can save $5 per month on monitoring or cell service. Not bad.

Note that shipping is always free, and other discounts might be active on a rolling basis. See Lively’s website for the latest special promotions, deals, discounts, and savings.

Overall Value of Lively

5Star Urgent Response

Choosing a Lively alert system can be smart if you’re on a budget. If you or your loved one needs cell phone service anyway, then a Lively phone wouldn’t cost you any extra per month. Mind you, Lively’s lowest advertised rate of $24.99 doesn’t cover everything I typically look for in a medical alert system. And don’t forget that both phones require a $35 activation fee.

As for the wearables, Lively offers competitive rates, starting at $24.99 per month. It’s a bit disappointing that the equipment isn’t free, unlike with Bay Alarm Medical and some of my other favorite medical alert systems. But I think Lively wearables are superior to other systems out there in terms of response time; plus they have enhanced GPS.

All in all, you could spend slightly less per month with a home-only alternative from Bay Alarm Medical or a similar provider. But for some of the best plans, packages, and pricing, I have to say that Lively is indeed a “great call.”

Lively Company Background

Lively began in 2005, founded by a southern California couple already known for revolutionizing mobile communications. Arlene Harris developed game-changing code for pagers, and Martin Cooper is considered the father of the cell phone.3

In founding Lively, the couple intended to showcase Harris’ new code, called SOS, for emergency communications. The first Lively phones with this technology hit the market in 2006. Well designed and built by Samsung, they were well received from the start. Within a few years, Lively added services such as Urgent Care for on-demand medical calls and MedCoach for text-based pill reminders.

Today, Best Buy owns the company and maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Lively FAQs