Best Long-Range Medical Alert Systems

Last Updated on September 22, 2023

A long-range medical alert system enables you to receive emergency monitoring coverage even if you live in a larger home or are traveling out of town. Here’s more about the different types of long range systems and why they might be the right fit for you.

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What are Long-Range Medical Alert Systems?

There are two types of long-range medical alert systems:

1. In-Home Medical Alert System (Remote Activation)

In-home medical alert systems are two-piece units with a base and a remote transmitter button (eg. a life alert necklace button). A unit with a “long-range” button will allow you to activate a call signal with the remote transmitter button a generous distance away from the base unit.

For example, you may be able to activate a call in the living room, even though the base unit is upstairs or in another room.  The base unit contains a sensitive speaker and microphone to facilitate two-way communication.

Some in-home medical alert systems have advertised ranges of well over 1000 feet in clear, open spaces without obstacles.  The actual working range in a home will be less due to environmental obstacles like walls.

Based on our testing, the average range performance of a medical alert base unit in a real-life residential setting is 26% of its maximum open-air range. One well-known medical alert system has a tested open-air range of up to 1400 feet, but when we tested it in a residential setting, the maximum range was 300 feet. Beyond that, we had difficulties getting signaling the base unit.

Long range in-home systems will generally provide sufficient coverage for most 2500 square feet homes (learn more).

2. Mobile Medical Alert System (Speaker Within Pendant)

A mobile medical alert system will allow you to roam around a great deal. These small, portable devices can work long distances. You can use them while you are at home or away.

The SOS activation button (ie. help button) is conveniently located on the pint-sized device itself, together with the speaker and microphone. They are different from in-home systems because they do not require you to activate a base unit using a remote control button. There is no separate remote activation range number to speak of.

The range of these systems is only limited by range of the cellular network that they are based on.  Usually, coverage is nationwide through AT&T or Verizon.*  As long as there are strong cellular signals, a device purchased in the US West Coast will be able to work far and wide, stretching all the way to the East Coast.  That could be a distance of 2500 miles away.

Can a mobile device be activated by a separate necklace button?

Some mobile devices can also be activated by a remote transmitter button (example), just like the in-home system described above. While that will produce a limited range metric (eg. up to 350 feet), the mobile device itself will still work wherever it can establish good cellular connections.

* It does not matter which cellular phone provider you are using. These cellular plans are separate from your individual cell phone plan.  They are paid for by the medical alert company, and the service will be included as part of each medical alert system subscription.

Best Long Range Medical Alert Systems

1. LifeFone VIPx
2. Bay Alarm Medical In-Home Medical Alarm System
3. LifeFone At-Home & On-the-Go system
4. Medical Guardian MG Move

1. LifeFone VIPx

Questions? Call toll-free 1-877-352-1292 or visit LifeFone’s Official Website

The LifeFone VIPx is an attractive and mobile long-range option for people looking for a premium medical alert system. It’s small and only requires the user to press a button if he or she suddenly becomes distressed. The device will transfer you to a live LifeFone monitoring operator to assist you.

Based on our testing, these are the main reasons that make it the best long-range medical alert system:

Choice of two top nationwide networks. This product has versatile connectivity and can work with either AT&T or Verizon.* You can pick whichever offers a better range to meet your needs.

Long battery life of up to 10 days. We made sure to test the VIPx’s battery out, and we were able to have the battery charge last over 16 days in our local area (results will vary).  A long-lasting battery can be beneficial when you have to go far.  If you add the caregiver app, the battery life shortens to a maximum of 5 days.

GPS tracking.  The LifeFone VIPx comes with advanced location technology. This allows responders to find you even if you are a long distance from home. In comparison, some devices can only decipher an approximate location.

Finally, with the LifeFone VIPx, you won’t have to obligate yourself to any long-term contracts. There is no upfront equipment fee either. You can use this system for as short of a term as you like and tailor your subscription how you see fit.

 

2. Bay Alarm Medical In-Home Medical Alarm System

Questions? Call toll-free 1-855-397-9964 or visit Bay Alarm Medical’s website

The Bay Alarm Medical in-home medical alarm system is a long-range medical alert system designed to provide peace of mind for seniors and their caregivers. It connects to the base unit using the traditional landline or wirelessly through the cellular network. The emergency buttons are lightweight and waterproof, so one can wear them in the shower.

Based on our experience, these are vital reasons that make this product an excellent long-range system:

Reliable long-range performance. This medical alert system is designed to work as long at up to 1,000 feet of the base unit in a clear line of sight “lab” setting. In our real-life testing, the button range went as far as 250 to 300 feet (feet, not square feet).  This outperformed some of the actual range results from other brand-name systems with higher advertised ranges.

Range testing feature. In general, Bay Alarm’s in-home system offers plenty of range for your loved one to continue doing their favorite activities such as gardening and other outdoor activities without losing the safety of their alert system.

However, every home’s layout and environmental obstacles differ.  To address these differences, the system has a range test feature enabling you to test the reach between the buttons and the base unit in your residence.   Surprisingly, system range is not easily tested with most other competitor products.

Landline compatibility. If your loved one lives somewhere without cell coverage, or if the cellular signal isn’t reliable, a landline base unit is available to make sure they’re connected to emergency services.  Note that you either opt for a non-landline cellular OR landline base unit, not both.

Long-lasting battery. You don’t have to worry about the battery dying in the base unit and leaving your loved one alone in their time of need. It’s connected directly to an in-home power source.  The help button’s battery can last up to 5 years.

We turned their power supply off to test their backup battery. Their landline system was able to stay on its backup battery for another 32 hours and cellular, 25 hours.  Their results outperformed a few brand-name systems. Those competitor systems had been similarly advertised to provide up to 30 hours or more of backup power, but missed that mark severely when tested.

Mobile Option. If your loved one lives a more mobile life and enjoys leaving the home, Bay Alert also offers an SOS Mobile Device.   This wearable alert system is easy to use and can go anywhere with cellular coverage. The Bay Alarm Medical’s SOS Mobile is light and works like the LifeFone VIPx but with a shorter (but still good) battery life.  It will extend the reach of your medical alert coverage.

3. LifeFone At-Home & On-the-Go system

Questions? Call toll-free 1-877-352-1292 or visit LifeFone’s Official Website

The LifeFone At-Home & On-the-Go system is a long-range, affordable medical alert system that offers comprehensive emergency response capabilities. It’s simple to use; the user needs to press the help button in an emergency, and they’ll be connected to LifeFone’s call center.

The system has BOTH a base unit for at-home use and a mobile device for outdoor use. Here are the main reasons why this medical alert system makes an attractive long-range option for seniors:

Works everywhere. The LifeFone At-Home & On-the-Go system uses one of the most reliable cellular networks, AT&T. AT&T connectivity works everywhere, providing reliable access to emergency help no matter where you are.

Good long-range in-home base unit with excellent backup battery life. The base unit has a clear and loud two-way voice capability.  The system equipment range went as far as 300 feet for us when tested, which is very generous for in-home coverage. The advertised clear line-of-sight range is up to 1,400 feet. (All systems will underperform their advertised maximum ranges in real life.)

Separate mobile unit. The system includes a mobile unit the user can use for outdoor activities. It comes with GPS tracking, allowing the LifeFone monitoring center to determine the user’s location in case of an emergency so that responders can find you easily.

Compared to the above options, the LifeFone At-Home and On-the-Go system is like a duo speaker unit combination system, whereas the above are single speaker unit systems.  With two speaker units, you always have a backup system.  For example, when the mobile unit is out-of-reach or drained of power, you can still rely on the in-home base unit to make an emergency call.  The SOS or help button (with no speaker) is also lighter to wear.

The LifeFone At-Home & On-the-Go system has no activation or equipment fees, and you can cancel your subscription anytime.  LifeFone is an experienced medical alert services provider with decades of experience.

 

4. Medical Guardian MG Move

Questions? Call toll-free 1-800-311-6142 or visit visit Medical Guardian’s website

The Medical Guardian MG Move is a stylish option for older individuals who still enjoy a rather active lifestyle.  Some seniors find the button device unattractive, and a watch offers an unobtrusive way to wear a long-range medical alert.  No smartphone is needed in order to use the watch, not even to activate it.

The MG Move watch is designed to work both in and out of the home, in one’s local area and across long distances. This is due to its use of the most reliable cellular coverage in the nation. Below are reasons that make the MG Move a very useful long-range medical alert device:

AT&T coverage. The Medical Guardian MG Move is powered by AT&T wireless. This allows the MG Move to be used practically anywhere, and as long as there is cell coverage, your loved one is seconds away from receiving help.

Attractive appearance.  The MG Move isn’t designed to stand out as a medical device. It blends in as a normal smartwatch that your loved one can wear with confidence. This makes them more likely to wear it, and you can trust that it will be on them when they need it most.

GPS tracking and free companion caregiver app. One of the most attractive features is the MG Move’s GPS tracking. This allows the unit to be tracked regardless of where it’s at with pinpoint precision. So, when help needs to find the wearer, they know exactly where to look.

Bonus features.  Several bonus features such as a scheduling app and social circle app are also included to help boost the MG Move’s functionality as more than just an alert system.

Finally, unlike Life Alert, the Medical Guardian MG Move doesn’t lock users into long-term contracts and commitments. The plans are designed to helpful for customers without sacrificing service quality.

Conclusion

The above systems discussed are among the best long-range medical alert systems for seniors. They provide an easy way to monitor your loved one, especially those who need freedom and independence. Mobile systems like this can be an excellent choice for seniors who love being outdoors. Otherwise, an in-home medical alert system will work just fine for those who are home most of the time.

 
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