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We ranked the best medical alert system watches based on form, function, and fashion so you can stay safe in style.
Updated August 23, 2024
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The medical alert industry has evolved way past the “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up era.” In addition to adding a critical layer of protection to your loved one’s lives, modern medical alert devices can be discrete and fashionable.
Like the medical alert smart watch.
These life-saving devices masquerade as sporty timepieces that your aging family members will be happy to wear. They’re now offered by some of the biggest names in the medical alert industry, and perfect for folks who live an active lifestyle, who are comfortable with newer technologies, or who simply want something that looks a little more trendy.
We should point out, right here at the start, that these devices aren’t true “smartwatches,” no matter how they might be marketed. They do have some smart technology. For example, most of them let you connect to professional safety monitors 24/7. The Lively Wearable will also let you connect to your Lively phone, so you can use the watch to make calls. In general, though, you can’t surf the web with them. They’re not Apple Watches, after all. Well, except for the last entry on our list … the Apple Watch.
Pro Tip: Want a mobile alert system with fall detection and more reliable alerts? Bundle to enjoy huge savings with Bay Alarm’s Mobile 360° package. See all its life-saving protections in our Bay Alarm review.
What they do provide is the most essential functions of a medical alert device: immediate help if the wearer suffers a medical emergency or accident while alone and location tracking if the wearer becomes disoriented or unable to speak.
In addition, the industry has made great strides recently in incorporating fall detection into these devices. The MGMove, for instance, features fall detection if you’re willing to pay an extra $10 per month for a subscription. We may not be living in the “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” era anymore, but seniors are still susceptible to falling, and a fall can result in serious injuries.
Before we dive into our list of the best medical alert watches, let’s have a quick look at how we test medical alert systems and other interesting facts:
| Watches Tested | 12 |
|---|---|
| Top Feature | GPS Location Tracking |
| Test Duration | 7-10 days |
| Equipment Cost | $49.95+ |
| Monthly cost | $24.99+ |
Now, here are some of the best medical alert systems worn as watches.
Medical Guardian’s MGMove resembles Samsung’s line of Galaxy smart watches. It’s fashionable, with a rounded face that’s 1.25 inches in diameter, and it looks like serious tech even if it’s far more straightforward to use than a Samsung smartwatch. It’s not too bulky, but it’s also not so small that it’s difficult for an older adult to use. And while active seniors will appreciate its sporty look, caregivers will love the many safety features it provides. Fashion doesn’t come cheap though. You’ll pay $199.95 for the MGMove, and that’s before you factor in monthly monitoring fees, but you can read more about that in our full review of the Medical Guardian MGMove.
The MGMove offers the core safety features that you’d expect in a top-of-the-line mobile medical alert device including connectivity with a monitoring center, two way talk, GPS location detection, and caregiver location tracking. The battery life is a little short at just 24 hours, but that’s pretty typical with these devices. Just make sure your loved one charges it every night before they go to bed.
And while this is not a Samsung Galaxy smartwatch, you can enjoy a handful of smartwatch features, like a weather app and step tracker, both included in the $39.95 monthly monitoring fee. In addition, there are a couple of apps designed specifically for adult users. The first of these is the Reminders App, which allows users to set up reminders for medications, medical appointments, and other events. Second on the list is a messaging app. It’s not exactly Messenger, but it does allow for real-time communication with caregivers and immediate family contacts, either through text or voice chat. These apps come in handy for on-the-go adults.
Confession time: we’re getting older. We’re part of Gen X, and while we’re not to the point of retirement for a few years, we can see it coming. We can’t speak for baby boomers, but we like our tech, and we don’t see that changing. Doesn’t matter if we’re retired. We’ll still be playing Ms. PacMan and Super Mario Brothers, MineCraft, and Fortnite. We’ll just have more time to play.
Medical Guardian has us covered. The company’s new MGMove vastly improves on its previous smartwatch offerings. It’s designed to keep seniors safe without sacrificing access to technology.
Pro Tip: While the MGMove isn’t currently on sale, new users can get 50 percent off an MGMini, MGMini Lite, or MGHome Cellular device. The company will also throw in a free month of service and a lock box.
It does cost a bit more in both monitoring and equipment fees than other highly rated watches. However, it offers a few extra features such as caregiver location detection and direct communication with caregivers. For those families who want a smartwatch that offers the best features for both older adults and caregivers, and don’t mind paying a little extra for it, the MGMove is a great choice.
| 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 |
Editor’s Note: Before we get going, we need to point out that the Lively Wearable is no longer available for purchase through the manufacturer’s website. That said, these devices are still available in some retail stores and through third-party distributors. So we’ve decided to keep the Wearable’s information posted here.
The Lively Wearable offers a simple way for seniors to stay safe while on the go. This isn’t the MG Move. It’s simultaneously both less technologically advanced and clunkier. There are lots of moving parts to the system, which runs counter to the whole point of a wearable in the first place. The good news is, it is smart, and it can be worn as a watch.
Basically, it’s an emergency alert button that you can wear as a watch. The smart element has to do with the fact that you can connect the button to a Lively Jitterbug Smart4, or your own smartphone. That turns your phone into a mobile medical alert device. You can use the phone to connect to the monitoring center, or, in an emergency, simply push the button itself.
The Lively Wearable does include a step tracker and the Lively Link App (not the Lively App) provides daily health tips. Caregiver benefits are also available (if you choose the middle or higher tier pricing package explained below) including location detection and real time alerts sent continuously once the wearer has pushed the button. All of these features, though, are only accessible through the app.
You should also be aware that in order to add fall detection to your plan, you’ll need to go back to wearing the button on a lanyard rather than as a smartwatch. You can get fall detection through the Lively Wearable, but as we mentioned earlier, fall detection works best when the device is worn around the neck rather than on the wrist. If fall detection is important to you, then, you might consider going with a device that’s designed to be a lanyard in the first place.
Still, the Lively Wearable looks and feels like a smartwatch rather than a button. It features a sleek, discreet design, and it never requires any charging. The extended battery life lasts a whopping four months, and a replacement battery is included, a reason Lively was named one of our best medical alert devices overall.
On top of these features, the Lively Wearable also includes automatic fall detection — sort of. As we mentioned earlier, fall detection works best when the device is worn around the neck rather than on the wrist. To accommodate this, the Lively Wearable comes with a lanyard to which it can be attached. Of course, it only works as a fall detection device when it’s actually on the lanyard.
You are required to purchase the equipment, which is just $49.95, making it one of the more affordable medical alert watches on the market. To cover monthly monitoring, Lively offers a tiered pricing system. The Basic Package, which covers monthly monitoring only, costs $24.95 per month, a competitive rate for on-the-go systems. The Preferred Package costs $29.95 and covers monthly monitoring, the telehealth service, and the Lively Link App, which provides extra services to caregivers. The Ultimate Package includes everything in the Preferred Package plus fall detection. It costs $39.95 per month. Finally, take note that Lively charges a $35 activation fee.
Learn more about the costs associated with Lively systems on our full Lively medical alert pricing page.
We recommend the Lively Wearable to older adults living an active lifestyle. Its extra health and wellness features are perfect for keeping seniors fit longer. A step tracker and daily health tips ensure your loved ones have no excuse for becoming couch potatoes in retirement. Of course, its central feature is its monitoring. Two-way talk, though, guarantees that no matter where seniors roam – out on a walk or on the town – a caregiver is always as close as touching a button. And while you can’t put a price on this medical protection, Lively offers all of this for a reasonable price. Not many medical alert watches out there are available for as little as $50.
| 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 |
The Apple Watch remains the smartwatch gold standard. That’s true no matter who you are–young or old. As it turns out, though, it offers some special features that make it particularly useful for seniors. And, since it doesn’t have the stigma of being a piece of medical equipment, it’s easy to get even your most stubborn loved ones to wear it. These watches are also compatible with a ton of smart home and security systems, which can help if you’re taking care of an elderly parent at your place.
FYI: See our list of the best security systems that work with Apple for more on how the industry-leading brand can help you stay safe in your home.
Although not designed specifically as a medical alert device, the Apple Watch can be used as one. The emergency SOS Alert feature, for example, allows seniors to connect with the press of a button to family members, caregivers, or emergency responders in case of an emergency. Emergency SOS can also send your current location to emergency responders. In addition, the Apple Watch has a heart monitor and sends both high and low heart rate notifications.
The watch even offers fall detection though users have to enable this feature. If the watch detects a fall followed by no movement, it sends the wearer an alert. If the wearer doesn’t respond, Apple Watch taps their wrist, sounds an alarm, and calls emergency services.
The watch is waterproof, which is a major plus (for more on waterproof devices, read our review of the Best Waterproof Medical Alert Systems) and it can also monitor for blood oxygen levels as well as irregular heartbeats.
Of course, because the Apple Watch is a smartwatch that can be used as a medical alert device, rather than the other way around, it also offers features you’re not going to find with any other devices on this list– the ability to make calls, for instance, to text, and to surf the web. If the senior in your life is tech savvy, you really can’t underestimate the value of those functions.
The Apple Watch is an impressive device, but it’s not perfect, especially if you’re using it as a medical alert system. One of the areas we worry about most is battery life. The Apple Watch’s battery lasts around 18 hours. That makes sense, given how many functions this smartwatch can perform. Frankly, it’s nothing short of amazing that it can last for 18 hours. The standard for medical alert watches, though, is 24 hours, enough time to get a senior through the day. The worst that happens if you’re an average Apple Watch user and the battery goes out? You can’t text your friends. The worst that happens if you’re a senior and your alert system goes out is a serious medical emergency.
FYI: It’s extremely important to note that Apple Watches are not monitored by medical professionals. The wearer won’t have the assistance of a trained associate available, and vital health information will not be immediately available to emergency personnel.
Another drawback is the cost. The most recent version of the Apple Watch — the Ultra — costs $800. Older iterations are available, though, mostly from third-party retailers. If you don’t need the latest and the greatest, you can pick one up for around $200.
While determining if the Apple Watch is a good fit for you, keep in mind that it was not designed as a medical alert system. It is a smartwatch with some medical alert system capabilities. It enables older adults to press an emergency help button, but it does not connect to a 24/7 monitoring center. It includes fall detection, but because it is worn on the wrist, it might not operate the way you expect. You might save on monthly monitoring fees, but you will also pay a hefty price upfront. Still, if you are techy, style conscious or an active senior, the Apple Watch might just be the right fit.
Need an alert system for someone who rarely leaves their home or yard? We’ve tried out plenty of those. Want a device that wears like a smartwatch? We’ve tested those too, as you can see from our list above. Don’t want to fuss with multiple contraptions or new technology? Yep, we’ve seen products for these folks, as well.
Medical alert systems enable older adults to maintain their independence and age safely in place. If this is your first time learning about these devices, you will probably be amazed to see the variety of products for differing tastes and needs. To help you make sense of the variety, our buyer's guide to medical alert systems is a great resource.
FYI: Maybe you’ve heard these systems referred to as Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS). Different name; same around-the-clock protection for seniors.
A medical alert system operates either via landline connection or a cellular connection. Most companies that sell medical alert systems offer one or more of three types of systems: in-home, mobile, and hybrid. Of course, smartwatch alert systems are hybrid; they can be used at home and on-the-go, and they are powered via a cellular signal (no landline required).
The in-home system is especially important for seniors who live alone. This type of system usually includes a base unit that should be placed in a central location in the house. The base unit is like the central nervous system; everything else runs through it. It might feel a little weird at first, but if you end up choosing one of these, you will be talking to a response center associate through this box-like communicator.
The Smart Hub, or base unit, from Aloe Care Health’s At-Home System
Many systems include a help button that you or your loved one will wear around the neck or wrist. Some, but not all, systems also include help buttons that can be placed in different locations around the house, usually in spots that are high risk for falls such as the bottom of the staircase. If you or your loved one is wearing a smartwatch style alert system, you won’t have to worry about reaching a wall-mounted button, as help is right there on your wrist!
We think the mobile systems offer lots of value and peace of mind for seniors who are on the go. They come in various forms. Some are help buttons worn around the neck. Others are smartwatches, as noted, or help buttons that can be attached to a belt. And some are specifically made for cars.
Now, imagine that you are having a medical emergency, perhaps a fall or symptoms of a heart attack. You push a help button either on a button placed in your home or on your smartwatch. You often can communicate directly through this button. If the button does not include two-way talk, you can speak through the base unit.
Wearing the One Call Alert Fall Detection Wristband
A trained response center associate will respond to you, usually in 30 seconds or less, and ask you a few questions to assess the situation. If you are unable to speak, the associate will call 911 and your predetermined contacts. The response center also has your medical history and contact information on file, so they are able to quickly provide EMS important information.
Still not sure if this is something you want or need? Most companies offer a trial period of 30 days. And we definitely recommend having some sort of medical alert coverage as you or your loved one ages.
Medical Alert’s On-the-Go System
Before selecting a medical alert smartwatch system, it is important to know what features are available. Here are some of the most important features of medical alert watches.
Unfortunately, medical emergencies happen without warning, and often in the middle of the night. So having access to emergency responders at the push of a button is absolutely priceless. 24/7 emergency response isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. Look for this essential feature in your alert watch, and don’t even consider a device without it.
Communication is key in times of crisis. If you experience a medical emergency, having a smartwatch with two-way voice makes all the difference. This feature connects you directly with emergency personnel, allowing you to talk and listen via your device or base station. Responders can gather the full story, and then take the best course of action to assist you.
Medical alert watches with cellular monitoring deliver on-the-go coverage. That’s right, visit the grocery store, the driving range, or heck, travel to another state. Cellular monitoring has you covered. Alert watches with this technology use cell towers (just like a cell phone), so you can go forth knowing that help is literally close at-hand. Active seniors love this feature.
Hold a charge for days! Medical alert watches with extended battery life are incredibly popular among active seniors. And for good reason. This feature allows you to go days — sometimes even weeks — without having to charge your smartwatch. Choose extended battery life on your alert watch, and keep moving with one less thing to think about.
Nearly all alert watches offer fall detection as an upgrade. And it’s worth every penny. The moment this feature detects a fall, it sends an automatic alert to the monitoring center. The emergency personnel then jumps into action, contacting a caregiver or first responders, depending on the situation. And to think all of this is built into a sleek and stylish watch.
Another feature for the active senior, GPS comes built-into many medical alert watches. And it’s powerful. Anywhere you go — whether it’s a quick trip to the grocery store, the community center, or hiking nearby trails — GPS will track your alert watch and keep you covered on-the-go. If an emergency occurs, the monitoring center can identify your exact location for a caregiver or first responders.
Medical alert watches combine form and function — and now far-flung adventures! OK, even if you’re not up for adventures, you can still travel anywhere in the U.S. with Nationwide Coverage. This feature comes with most mobile alert smartwatch systems. So long as you choose cellular coverage, you’ll have the freedom to roam as you wish.
Let’s face it, a frustrating setup process ruins all the fun. That’s why medical alert watches offer Easy Setup. And by “easy,” we mean plug-and-play and you’re off to the races... in a matter of minutes. Companies are eliminating any chance of overwhelm. It’s never been easier for a senior to purchase, activate, and begin using a smartwatch alert system.
Accidents and medical emergencies can happen anywhere, anytime, for anyone. So Mobile Monitoring is a must-have smartwatch alert feature — especially if you’re an active senior who leaves home frequently. These alert systems are powered by Wi-Fi or cellular signal, and they are downright reliable. Get on-the-go protection with a Mobile Monitoring alert watch.
