LifeFone is a long-standing company that provides various medical alert system models to ensure the safety of the seniors who need them. They allow their customers to choose a plan that best suits their needs and are recognized by doctors, hospitals, and caregivers as well as consumer organizations for their services.
- 30-day Money Back Guarantee
- BBB Rating: A+
- Been in Business for 40+ Years
- Price Will Never Increase Once You’re Subscribed
- Cancel At Any Time & Pay Only for Time Used
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About LifeFone Medical Alert Systems
LifeFone has been in business since 1976. They have been recommended by leading healthcare providers throughout the US for over 35 years and are recognized by the National Council on the Aging, the National Stroke Association, WebMD and the National Institute of Senior Citizens.
The company is a Consumer Affairs accredited medical alert provider. The company has been featured on WCBS TV, were rated a top value by Consumers Digest, and one of their medical alert systems was featured in a New York Daily News column.
Available Products
At-Home with Landline Emergency Response Service
This 24/7 alert system operates via landline and allows you to communicate through your waterproof wristband or pendant whenever you have an emergency. It is offered with an optional fall detection pendant which costs an additional $5 per month.
- Includes base station and customers choice of wristband or pendant
- 480 ft. signal range
- The base station connects to the wall, no battery limit while plugged in. 32-hour battery backup if you lose power
- Connects to landline
- Not cellular enabled
- Not GPS enabled
- Automatic fall detection compatible as an optional feature
At-Home 3G Cellular System
No landline is necessary for this medical alert system. It runs on AT&T’s 3G Cellular network, and the base unit features a highly sensitive microphone as well as adjustable volume for those hard of hearing. The battery in the wristband, pendant and base station are all silently monitored in the call center so that you don’t have to worry about checking for yourself.
- Includes base station and customers choice of wristband or pendant
- 600 ft signal range from the base station
- Base station connects to wall for power, 60-hour battery backup in case of an outage
- Does not connect to landline
- Cellular-enabled
- Not GPS enabled
- No automatic fall detection
At-Home 3G Cellular Fall Detection System
This system is similar to the standard 3G Cellular model except this one features an automatic fall detection pendant to notify the call center if you fall and are unable to press the help button or speak to a representative. An additional, standard fall detection pendant can be added to this model for an additional $10 per month.
- Includes base station and automatic fall detection pendant
- 600 ft signal range from the base station
- Base station connects to the wall for power with up to 30-hours battery backup
- Does not connect to landline
- Cellular-enabled
- Not GPS enabled
- Automatic fall detection enabled
At-Home and On-the-Go GPS System
This system features both a base station as well as a GPS-enabled mobile device system which run on the AT&T wireless network. The mobile device allows you to remain protected whenever you leave home provided you are in an area with an AT&T wireless signal. This duo can expand the range of coverage in your home.
- Includes base station, mobile GPS-enabled device and waterproof pendant
- Up to 600 ft range from base station and up to 350 ft range from mobile unit
- Base station connects to wall for power with up to 30-hours battery backup
- Does not connect to landline
- Cellular-enabled
- GPS enabled
- No automatic fall detection
At-Home and On-the-Go GPS System with Automatic Fall Detection
This system is similar to the At-Home and On-the-Go system, but this unit includes an automatic fall detection pendant which will notify the call center automatically if you fall. An additional, standard fall detection pendant can be added to this model for an additional $10 per month.
- Includes base station, mobile GPS-enabled device and automatic fall detection pendant
- Up to 600 ft range from base station and up to 350 ft range from mobile unit
- Base station connects to wall for power with up to 30-hours battery backup
- Does not connect to landline
- Cellular-enabled
- GPS enabled
- Automatic fall detection enabled
LifeFone Mobile Alert App
The Mobile Alert App made by LifeFone is compatible with both Apple and Android phones which allows you to get help using your own mobile device for a small monthly fee without needing any additional equipment. It features three buttons: Panic, Concern, and Medical which allow you to get various levels of assistance depending on your trouble.
Equipment Options
A few extra options are available:
Hanging Master Lockbox: $39.95
- Allows family, emergency contacts and EMT’s access to your home in case of emergency
- Fits securely around doorknob of entry door
- Choose four digit combination
Wall-mount Master Lock Box: $39.95
- Allows family, emergency contacts and EMT’s access to your home in case of emergency
- Mounts outside near entry door
- Choose four digit combination
Wall-mounted Help Button: $39.95
- Mounts anywhere in home with velcro
- Works exactly like pendant or wristband to notify the emergency response center
- Can be mounted anywhere a fall is likely
Long-range Help Button (Landline Only): $39.95
- Designed to work with At-Home Landline system
- Extends range up to 1500 ft from base unit
- Removable pocket clip and belt clip included
Pricing
| Service | At-Home w/ Landline | At-Home Cellular | At-Home w/ Fall Detection | At-Home & On-The-Go | At-Home & On-The-Go Voice in Pendant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price Per Month (billed annually) | $24.95 | $30.95 | $38.95 | $36.95 | $42.95 |
| Fall Detection | $5.00 | n/a | Included | $10 | $5 |
| Quarterly Per Month Price | $27.95 | $32.95 | $41.95 | $39.95 | $44.95 |
| Month to Month Price | $29.95 | $34.95 | $43.95 | $39.95 | $46.95 |
LifeFone offers three payment options for each of their medical alert systems. These options are Annual, Quarterly, Monthly. Their pricing per month for their annual plans are the cheapest with the quarterly plan being slightly more and the monthly plan costing the most.
- Prices range from $24.95 per month to $49.95 per month
- Equipment is included in the monthly price
- No activation fees
- 100% lifetime warranty
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Contract Information
The medical alert business shines in this area because as a customer, you do not have to sign any long-term contract to use their service. Most prospective customer apprehension is rooted in concern over being tied to a contract that cannot be broken. With their service, you may cancel at any time, which should put most restless minds at ease.
To cancel your service, simply notify the company via phone, e-mail, or physical mail, and return the provided equipment. LifeFone will pro-rate refunds to customers based on months that have been pre-paid, which is a major plus and significantly reduces the risk of trying their service for those on the fence.
It should be noted that customers are required to sign a service agreement. The service agreement is put in place to ensure that as a customer, you understand the terms of service as well as what you are required to pay. They simply refer to this agreement as a responsible business practice.
Personalized Emergency Care Instructions
LifeFone understands that there usually isn’t much time to spare in emergency situations. Because of this, they work with their clients to arrange personalized emergency care instructions. These instructions contain vital information that directs first responders to ensure that no time is wasted when every second counts.
The instructions can be altered over time so that they are always tailored to the needs of the customer in question.
Included in these instructions are:
- Medical history
- Medications
- Allergies
- Physicians
- Family members
- Neighbors
- Preferred hospital
Phone Line Options
To connect to the LifeFone service, users have several options available to them.
For non-cellular customers, a landline is the most reliable option if there is one in the house. However, with the rising popularity of alternative communication methods, many households have decided to opt for cheaper alternatives and have since canceled their landline service.
DSL, cable phone connections, and VoIP services are additional options for subscribers.
If none of the above apply to your home, you may opt to connect via cellular network. The cellular models run on a reliable AT&T network and the consumer is not required to use their existing cellular service or provider to connect their medical alert system.
Monitoring Services
Whenever you push the medical alert button on your pendant, wristband or otherwise, a signal is sent to the base unit in your home which then goes to the monitoring station. Their on-the-go service can notify their monitoring station when you are away from home whenever you press your help button, and if you have an automatic fall detection pendant, the station will be alerted any time your pendant senses that you have fallen.
Personal emergency care instructions which are designated by either you or a loved one are displayed to the LifeFone care agent who is assisting you. Based on these guidelines, they can determine who is contacted for you and who to dispatch to get you the help you need. Friends, family, and/or physicians are then notified depending on your preferences.
Range
Each medical alert system has its own signal range. The company offers a range extender which allows you to stay within range of your base station even if you are outside of your home.
The At-Home Landline system has a range of approximately 480 feet from the base station to your pendant or wristband while the At-Home 3G Cellular will function about 600 ft from its base station.
The On-the-Go GPS system has a range of about 600 feet from the base station and 350 feet from the mobile device. The mobile device is wireless and can be taken with you wherever you go so as long as you have it near you, you will be able to summon help if needed.
The mobile app system will work anywhere you have your phone and available cellular service.
Battery Life
All of the company’s base stations plug into the wall and run through the adapter, and each base station features a battery backup which keeps you protected if your power fails.
The At-Home Landline system has a 32-hour battery backup, and the 3G Cellular station features a 60-hour battery backup. The mobile device lasts approximately 24 hours off the charger and continues to work while it is in the charging cradle.
The help button batteries do not have designated battery life spans but are silently monitored by LifeFone so that they can replace the equipment if the battery runs low or is in danger of running out.
Installation Process
Once you order your medical alert system, it will be shipped directly to you. Once you receive it, the installation process is quite simple. The base unit plugs directly into the wall; the phone cord is plugged into the telephone wall jack (if you are using a landline model), your phone is plugged into the LifeFone unit, the base unit is powered on, and you then press your medical alert button to test the system.
Caregiver Tools
LifeFone offers a few caregiver tools which are extremely useful for those who need to monitor their loved ones. These tools include:
- Check-in services
- Medication reminders
- Location Tracking
There are two components to LifeFone’s check-in services which are activity assurance and daily check-in call service.
Activity assurance works by setting a specific time each day where the home button on the base unit blinks. The subscriber must press the button within 15 minutes to notify the call center that they are alright. If the button is not pressed within that time frame, the call center will receive a notification and will place a call to ensure everything is alright.
If there is no response, the call center will follow your emergency care instructions and notify your emergency contacts.
Activity assurance costs an additional $6 per month.
The daily check-in call service is mostly self-explanatory. You simply choose a time each day and a service rep will call you to ensure that you are alright. The operator can also provide medication reminders.
Adding a daily check-in call to your service costs an additional $19 per month.
Medication reminders can be set for up to four times daily and can include up to ten medications per reminder. These reminders work through the base station. The customer must press the blinking reset button for the reminder to register as “accepted.”
Medication reminder history can be viewed by both the subscriber and caregivers and costs an additional $6 per month.
Finally, the location tracking service utilizes GPS technology and authorizes a loved one or caregiver to access the whereabouts of the subscriber. This service is especially useful if the subscriber is either lost or unable to vocalize their whereabouts.
The location tracking service can be added on for $9 per month.
Customer Service
LifeFone customer service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Their customer care team can help you with any need you may have. For general information, they can be contacted via phone at 1-800-882-2280.
You can update your emergency care instructions via telephone (1-877-330-3658)as well. For billing questions, contact 1-877-330-3664 or [email protected].
Feedback
LifeFone has received a perfect grade of A+ from the Better Business Bureau and have been a BBB accredited business since November of 1998.
There has only been one complaint issued to the BBB regarding the their service in the last three years. The customer was promptly contacted by the president of the business to personally resolve the issue. The subscriber felt that it was an honorable gesture which led to the problem being corrected to their satisfaction.
A few quick searches yielded similarly sparse results in terms of customer complaints. Issues revolved mostly around billing or refunds and were typically addressed by the company in a timely manner to the customers approval.
Our LifeFone Review
Any time a medical alert provider has been in business for as long as LifeFone (since 1976), there’s a good chance they are providing an excellent service to their customers. Their prices are fair; their options are of a wide range, and they strive to keep their customers both safe and protected with their medical alert equipment.