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Who Needs a Fall Detection Sensor?
Fall detection sensors are meant for people—usually seniors—who suffer from illness, fatigue, or certain illnesses which make them prone to falls. In some cases, such a device can even mean the difference between life and death, especially for seniors who live alone and would otherwise have no way to call for help in the event of a fall.
Why Get Fall Detection?
Falls are one of the leading causes of injury or death among older adults. A fall can result in bruises, fractures, and head trauma which can drastically affect an elderly person’s mobility and independence—especially if help doesn’t come quickly. Even if the injury isn’t grave, trepidation about a further fall can cause people to cut down their physical activity and their quality of life can suffer.
How Does it Work?
Fall detection devices use state-of-the-art technology to gauge your movements and your body, in order to detect sudden movement that would indicate a fall. Most of these devices will have a window of time—usually around 30 seconds—in which the device will be monitored after a fall. If the device doesn’t move in those 30 seconds, the device will determine that the wearer fell and send for help.
Some devices will also include a “kill switch” of sorts, which will send an announcement when the system detects a fall, giving you the chance to cancel the emergency call, thus cutting down on false alarms. Many devices will also have an operator call the system to speak to the wearer to determine if they fell. If there is no response, help is dispatched.
How Much do Fall Detection Devices Cost?
Fall detection devices typically cost around $40 per month on their own. A better deal is to purchase a comprehensive medical alert system, which usually costs around $35-40 per month and offers fall detection as an added option, usually for around $10 more per month.
Help is Near
The “golden years” are blessed, but they are often marked by illness and a greater vulnerability to injury. A fall detection device is one of the best ways to ensure that your loved one has an extra layer of protection, a security blanket of sorts so that if an accident strikes, help won’t be far away. These devices can also be affordable, so take a few minutes to look around, and find the fall detector you feel comfortable with.
Our Top 3 Picks
- 1
Reasonably-priced medical alert sytems- Best for - Exceptional customer service
- Monthly price - $31.95-$46.95
- Trial period - No
Reasonably-priced medical alert sytemsDescriptionRead Medical Guardian ReviewMedical Guardian has been in business for 16 years and boasts over 300,000 users. Their medical alert systems deliver 24/7 at-home and on-the-go monitoring, while their versatile devices can connect to landlines, WiFi, and cellular networks.
Chris McDermott, an advanced practice registered nurse and certified life care planner at Intercoastal Consulting & Life Care Planning (ICLCP), states that the company's connectivity options give consumers "the best of both worlds, as some other devices [are] limited to a landline or cellular service." He adds, "[this] service also uses Verizon for its cellular network, which can be helpful if one travels somewhere with limited connectivity and has an emergency."
Medical Guardian provides monthly, quarterly, or annual subscription options, and offer add-on services, such as fall detection, at an extra cost. Long-term contracts are not required, and the initial subscription fee includes the price of the equipment.
Why we chose Medical Guardian: Medical Guardian offers features like automatic emergency response, fall detection, and an extended signal range of up to 1,400 feet. In addition, their certified Diamond Monitoring Center is available around the clock and notifies your designated contact in emergency and non-emergency situations—no matter which subscription you choose.
Our experience: We felt that Medical Guardian's product quiz effectively determined which device best suits our needs. After answering three questions, the site recommended we try MGMini Lite, a device perfect for active seniors. However, we didn't like that they asked for our contact details before sharing this recommendation.
Pros & ConsMedical Guardian Pros & Cons
PROS
No contracts or hidden feesOffers automatic emergency response in case of a fallLong-lasting battery life—up to 168 hoursCONS
No free trialsSome services require add-on purchases - 2
Versatile medical alert monitoring solutions- Best for - Quick response times
- Monthly price - $24.95-$64.95
- Trial period - Yes
Versatile medical alert monitoring solutionsDescriptionRead MobileHelp ReviewWith MobileHelp, you can choose between an in-home or on-the-go system, or a bundled package that combines the two. These medical alert systems suit seniors who spend most of their time at home and active older adults who enjoy being out and about.
MobileHelp's devices have several valuable add-on services, such as MD Live and Mobile Vitals, which help seniors take charge of their health and maintain their independence. MDLive, for example, provides telehealthcare services that let you connect with a board-certified doctor through video calls.
John Buchanan, a registered nurse and former EMT at Saint Francis Hospital, remembers responding to an older woman who had fallen and hit her head. She lived alone with a MobileHelp system and only spoke Spanish. Fortunately, the monitoring representative on the base unit was able to interpret. He alerted John's team that the patient had been taking blood thinners, so they took her to the hospital as a precaution. Tests later showed she had internal bleeding. John says, "without an interpreter, we might not have known her history or what medications she was taking."
Why we chose MobileHelp: This provider allows you to try their service for 30 days. When you join, they don't ask you to sign a contract or pay equipment fees (for six of the eight products offered).
Our experience: We like that MobileHelp offers a wide array of add-on services. We also appreciated their quick response times—from 1-15 seconds on average — indicating speedy and attentive service.
Pros & ConsMobileHelp Pros & Cons
PROS
Quick response times (1-15 seconds on average)Free 30-day trial periodAccess to telehealthcare featuresCONS
Charges processing fees for some systemsLost or damaged equipment may incur a fee - 3
Product highlight: Full-spectrum support- Best for - Those with a network of family and caretakers
- Monthly price - $25.95
- Trial period - 30-day money-back guarantee
Product highlight: Full-spectrum supportDescriptionRead LifeStation ReviewLifeStation’s equipment is matched by its live, 24/7 monitoring team, allowing users peace of mind at both ends of any emergency. Operators are certified by the CSAA and have undergone 6 weeks of training to ensure responsiveness. Working out of UL-listed monitoring centers, they are thoroughly equipped to handle emergencies with timeliness, responsibility, and compassion.
As for the equipment itself, LifeStation’s medical alert systems have a field range of up to 500 feet, and standby battery that lasts around 32 hours. The console is equipped with a speaker phone with voice-to-voice communication, as well as waterproof buttons and, no less impressive, an automatic test feature programmed to send weekly check-ins to the monitoring center to ensure the system is functioning properly.
LifeStation offers landline alert systems as well as mobile equipment with GPS and fall detection features, though fall detection costs extra. Each client will have a personalized emergency plan with prioritized emergency contacts built in, and can opt to have additional emails sent to caregivers in the event of an emergency, weekly test, or service issue.
Pros & ConsLifeStation Pros & Cons
PROS
Live CSAA-certified monitoring teamAutomatic service tests every week5,000-foot field rangeCONS
Need to pay more for fall detectionBulky pendant
