Traditional medical alert systems work through your landline telephone. You connect the base unit to a power socket and phone line, and when you press the help button, it uses your landline to make a call.
It's an effective and time-tested method, but it's also problematic, as Americans are increasingly disregarding their landline telephones and opting instead to use only mobile phones. Landline medical alert systems also have their limitations, as they require you to remain within a few hundred feet of the base unit.
There is another option, though, and it doesn't require a home phone line. Wireless medical alerts have their downsides, but there are a few major positives as well, so we'll address both their pros and cons in this article.
How you Can Use Medical Alert Systems Without a Landline
Mobile medical alert systems work just like their landline counterparts. The difference is that they connect using cellular technology as opposed to a home phone line. The price of this connection is built into the monthly cost of using the unit, so while you don't need to pay for an extra cell phone contract, you can expect to pay more per month to use the device.
For these systems to work, simply make sure the base unit is connected to a power source. You don't need to hook-up your home landline or setup a cellular system, just plug it in, pick up the separate wearable help button, and take it with you wherever you go.
Pros of Using a Medical Alert Without a Home Phone Line
The main benefit of using a cellular system over a landline system is that you can take it anywhere you go. It will cover you throughout the house, the yard, and when you're walking, shopping, or spending time with friends.
These units are usually designed with practicality in mind, with sensitive microphones and loud speakers to ensure you are heard clearly throughout the house.
You don't need to install a home phone line, so if you don't already have one installed, you'll save yourself a few dollars. Owning a home phone line for the sole purpose of using a medical alert system is expensive, and if you can offset this cost, it should save you more than the mobile unit costs.
It's also much easier to set up a mobile unit than a landline system.
Cons of Using a Medical Alert Without a Home Phone Line
The main downside of using a mobile emergency response system is that they tend to be much more expensive, costing anywhere from $10 to $20 more per month. If you're saving money by not purchasing a landline, you might save enough to cover those costs. If you already have a home phone line and will use it regardless, it's a huge additional expense.
Another downside is that you are reliant on the cell phone connection in your area. If the connection is poor and you don't have 4G (which is true for a very small percentage of the US population), it's probably not the best option.