If you have a medical alert system and you live alone, suffer from Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or have severe mobility problems, then you should consider an automatic fall detection device. These devices will detect when you experience a fall and will then connect to loved ones, first responders, or a dedicated monitoring center.
Most companies offer them and typically charge you an extra $5, $10, or $15 to add this feature to a standard medical alert system, but which one offers the best features and the best value for your money?
That’s the main question we will address in this article as we highlight the best automatic fall detection devices on the market right now.
Bay Alarm Medical
Bay Alarm has some of the best medical alert systems on the market, and its GPS system comes with automatic fall detection for $10 extra per month. It's a great system overall and works through 4G to provide location tracking and other helpful features.
With fall detection added, the monthly cost of the GPS unit is only $34.95.
MobileHelp
The MobileHelp Classic with fall detection has a monthly cost of less than $35 and doesn't require a landline. There is no activation fee and MobileHelp is one of the best medical alert companies out there, ensuring you'll always get the best products and services.
The fall detection pendant is small, mobile, and very effective. You will also get a lifetime warranty and there are no long-term contracts to worry about.
Philips Lifeline
At just under $50 per month, the Philips Lifeline alert system with fall detection is the most expensive on this list, but it's also an established and highly respected brand. You will get a fall detection pendant, a top-of-the-line medical alert system, and while there can be an activation fee, it's usually waived through many discounts and promotions.
Philips Lifeline has been in the business for a long time and has produced some game-changing alert devices in that time, so it can always be relied upon.
Medical Guardian
The Classic Guardian with automatic fall detection provides a range of features and offers complete peace of mind for yourself and your loved ones. The monthly cost is a reasonable $39.95 ($29.95 before fall detection) and you can save by purchasing the annual subscription.
There are both cellular and landline options available and if you opt for the monthly subscription you can cancel at any time.
Other Great Fall Detection Devices
The above list is only a snapshot of the many great fall detection devices that are out there. There are many more top manufacturers that sell these devices and provide you with the protection that you need. When looking for these devices, consider all of the following:
Price: You can add fall detection features to most home medical alert systems and expect to pay around $10 per month on average, but the price ranges between $5 and $15, and some are offered free of charge in addition to a premium base unit or emergency response device. Look for the value and not just the price. Make sure you're not getting something for "free," only to be hit with an activation fee.
Quality: How capable is the fall detection feature, how durable is the unit, is it water-resistant, and will it actually record falls when they happen? Technology has come a long way in a very short time span so they definitely have the ability to detect falls when they happen, but the quality can differ greatly from one device to the next.
Range: Medical alert systems with fall detection usually work at least 1,000 feet from the base station, which typically covers your house and yard. Mobile GPS devices work outside of the house and connect to personal emergency response units that can provide emergency assistance wherever you are.
Unit: You add fall detection onto an existing unit, whether it's a mobile GPS system or a landline base unit with a wearable help button. It's important, therefore, to make sure the actual unit suits your needs and is affordable. Don’t buy it because you just want the fall detection feature and be sure to consider these factors as well.
If you're on a budget, you might feel like fall detection is something that you can afford to avoid. After all, if you have a wearable help button and some carefully placed wall-mounted help buttons, you'll be able to call for help whenever you need it, but what happens if the fall incapacitates you? What happens if you break an arm, knock yourself unconscious, or are otherwise rendered incapable of getting up?
If there is a severe risk of falling, a major mobility problem, and/or you live alone, then a fall detection system could be the only thing that saves you and allows you to call for help in your time of need.