Last Updated on June 6, 2022
LifeFone offers a mobile alert app that enables customers to connect to their medical alert monitoring center. More and more seniors are comfortable with smartphones these days, and looking at it as a critical tool for communications. Whether it is to send an alert for help in a medical emergency, or getting help to ensure personal safety, many seniors and younger people are relying on cell phones to call for help.
To make it even easier and quicker to access help, there are mobile alert apps out there that make it easier to reach emergency help, such as LifeFone’s app. In emergency situations, it is difficult to search for and select a number to call, even the numbers are stored in memory.
While most mobile apps out there offer quick access to 911 or to your emergency contacts, LifeFone’s app is one of the few available in the marketplace today that will connect customers directly to a private monitoring service. The company behind this app, LifeFone, is a well-known medical alert company that has been providing over 30 years of medical alert monitoring service.
Android and iPhone Compatible
The app is available for both Android smartphones and iOS phones (iPhones). There is unlike the 5Star Urgent Response that requires the purchase and use of either a Jitterbug Smart phone or Jitterbug Flip phone to work.
Cost
With 24/7 medical alert monitoring service provided, there is a monthly charge of $7.95. This is a reasonable cost as mobile medical alert monitoring subscriptions are typically $25/ month and above for a mobile GPS system. When the app is installed and activated, customers should see an icon on their phone’s dashboard.
How It Works
When a customer presses on the icon on the phone’s dashboard, the phone will dial out and connect him or her to LifeFone’s 24/7 monitoring service.
In comparison, most similar alert button or SOS button apps require two or more clicks – first to open up the app, followed by a second click to activate the emergency button. This direct dialing feature is really helpful. In emergency situations, even adding one additional button-touch to make an emergency call can be stressful.
Some people worry about the possibility of accidental button presses. The LifeFone app takes care of that by having a built-in 5-second delay, so the customer has the option to cancel the alert before it proceeds.
24/7 Monitoring Service
Once the call goes through, a live monitoring operator will pick up the call and help the app customer. Most similar apps will send out text messages or emails to a contact list, and some will dial out to an emergency contact or 911. There are very few that will connect the customer to a dedicated private monitoring center.
The LifeFone contains three main modes of assistance available: Panic, Concern and Medical. When in Panic mode, the user requires help to be dispatched to them. A trained LifeFone emergency care agent is able to verify the user’s location via GPS. The Medical mode provides help to customers who are experiencing symptoms from medical conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, dizzy spells or more. There is also the Concern mode. This is when you can request the operator to stay on the line with you in the background.
There are two main advantages of having an emergency call answered by a live operator. Firstly, customers know for sure that someone will answer their call and help them. Secondly, this is a private monitoring service so the operators are more flexible with the type of help requests, compared to calling 911 directly. For example, customers can request for the operator to contact their doctor or family member; or they can request for the operator to remain on the line with them if they are in an unsafe situation.
Whether a mobile app that provides live monitoring or not is one of the main features to consider. You can review the top 5 features to consider when choosing a mobile alert app for seniors in our blog post here.
GPS Data
The LifeFone app will also send off the GPS locations data of the phone to their LifeFone’s monitoring center. This can be a faster way for the operator to locate the app customer than having the customer explain it. It is possibly more sophisticated than the 911 location tracking technology used in their customer’s local area. The locations data that 911 operators receive is sometimes based off of older cell phone tower based locations. According to this article, this can make it harder track down the caller in need.
Sharing of GPS Data
If you want to keep track of the locations information of a loved one, you can upgrade to LifeFone’s Family Guard plan for an extra $2 a month. That allows you to keep track of the phone’s GPS locations, for up to 3 family members. If you need to keep track of more locations, you can purchase a larger upgrade. Each person in your family has the option to upgrade to their own panic button and access monitoring help as well.
No Text or Email Alert
This app focuses on pressing a button to issue an alert to the monitoring center by telephone. The alerts are not sent out via text or email.
In comparison, if you choose a medical alert device like the LifeFone VIPx, it comes with complimentary text and email alerts.
Summary
The LifeFone mobile alert app makes it easy for people to issue an emergency alert using their cellphone. It is best recommended for seniors and others who value having easy 1-click access to a professionally trained operator assist in case of emergencies.
The LifeFone mobile alert app is no longer available. For more information about LifeFone, read the full LifeFone Review >>
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