Senior Cell Phones with Medical Alert Like Features

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Many seniors who are not ready to wear a medical alert button think that carrying a cell phone is a good alternative. While the use of a cell phone as a replacement for the straight-up medical alert button is open to contention and debate, it is a viable alternative for a good number of seniors. Compared to medical alert buttons, these cell phones allow the flexibility of calling

SOS Alert Button & More On These Cell Phones

This is especially so when we consider enhanced cell phones that are made for seniors and that come with medical alert-like features. The market today offers senior cell phones that come built-in with their own SOS alert button app. This allows elderly users to quickly connect with a professional dispatch operator.

In addition, the Lively Smart (formerly Great Call Jitterbug smart) comes with options that let seniors speak with nurses and doctors. The Lively app can be used to keep family members posted if you press through the emergency alert button.

There are also emergency alert apps that can be downloaded and installed on regular smartphones to make sending out alerts easier on a cell phone. Some of these apps will connect app users to a monitoring center 24/7 and share GPS information with their family and caregivers. Here is a list of possible features to take note of.

Medical Alert Buttons

While there are many reasons to just carry cell phone, it’s worth considering scenarios where our cell phones are out of reach during emergencies. As a cell phone is bulkier and not wearable like a button, we may sometimes not carry it with us everywhere.

Some people gravitate towards a cell phone rather than a medical alert because they no longer use a home phone line, or perhaps they do not want to wear a necklace button.

If those are your reasons, you may have more options than you think.

These days, a lot of medical alert systems work with cellular technology. Gone are the days where Life Alert only works in the home through a landline. You can find both in-home and mobile systems based on Verizon and AT&T wireless networks. No landline is needed.

LifeStation Mobile GPS Pendant and Smartwatch - 2 On-the-Go Options — New Emergency Button Formats: LifeStation Mobile GPS Pendant and Smartwatch

For an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of using a cell phone in place of a medical alert system, check out this article: Can a Cell Phone Replace a Medical Alert System?

Cell Phone for the Elderly with Alert Button

These cell phones have traction with seniors. A number of years ago (2015), the US Senate held a special committee hearing on Aging in Place.

During one session, Aging Committee Chairman Senator Susan Collins (R- Maine) brought out two cell phones that were clearly designed for seniors, complete with special enhanced emergency response and nurseline features. The topic was whether advances in technology could help seniors age independently. You can catch more info on this video:

Besides coming with large buttons and easy-to-understand interfaces, the enhanced features included buttons to reach trained monitoring representatives, to speak with nurses or doctors, and more.

Here is a look at each of these current “medical alert” senior cell phone options.

Lively Smart (formely Great Call Jitterbug Smart)

Simple Menu (easy to maneuver)
Large Numbers Keypad
Voice Typing
Full Qwerty keyboard – good for text messaging or browsing the web.
Urgent Response App – Monitoring help from trained emergency dispatchers.
Lively Link App – Sends alert to family when there is an emergency button press
Urgent Care – Speak with nurses and doctors.
Large touchscreen
Camera
Blue Tooth
GPS enabled
Customized Android Smartphone

Click Here To Get Started

Lively Flip (formerly Great Call Jitterbug Flip)

Easy-to-use menu
Urgent Response button (SOS button), click for monitoring help from trained emergency agents
Urgent Care – Speak with nurses and doctors.
Built-in camera
GPS enabled

Click Here To Get Started

Disclosure: We receive referral commissions for purchases made (details).

Lively (formerly Great Call) also offers a mobile urgent response button product. See full review here >>

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this review, the information is supplied without warranties of any kind. We advise all readers to do careful due diligence before purchasing. Take time to visit the company’s website and speak with their representatives.