How to Choose a Medical Alert Response System

Choosing the right medical alert response system can literally save your life.  There are lots of competing systems out there, and this article will provide you with a few tips for choosing the best system for your personal needs.

Medical alert response companies all require a contract when using their service.  These contracts can vary like night and day, so it is important to do a little research first and be sure of what you are getting for your money, and the kind of services the company is providing.  Of course the first thing you'll want to look at is your monthly fee.  Again these vary, so be sure to shop around in order to get the best possible rate.

But it's not just the monthly fee you want to look at. Some services have additional charges for equipment or installation, for example.  All of these fees must be weighed together in order to assess the real cost of the medical response service.  It's also important to look at the length of the contract.  These days most companies are using a standard one year contract; but be sure to check, as certain firms are now using two, three, or even five year contracts. Be sure to confirm the length of the contract to avoid any nasty surprises in the future.

Most medical alert response systems function with a personal transmitter that sends a signal to a home "base unit."  The base unit then automatically dials the alert response monitoring station.  It is important to ensure that the base unit provided has battery backup.  Most companies use this type exclusively these days, but check to be sure -- you don't want the entire response system to be useless during a power outage.

It's also important to check on the range of your response system transmitter.  If you spend a lot of time out in the yard, for example, you need to ensure that your transmitter will cover this distance with no problem.  Typically medical response systems have a range of approximately 200 feet from the base unit in your home.  However, top-of-the-range systems will have a range of up to 500 feet from the base unit.  If you spend a lot of time outside your home, these are definitely worth the extra money

Another important factor when deciding upon a medical alert response service is the quality of the alert monitoring center.  The monitoring center should be on call 24 hours a day, and use live human operators.  Cheaper alert response systems sometimes use voicemail or an automated response system, but these have many drawbacks.  Insist on a system that uses trained professionals only.  The last thing you want is to put your health in the hands of an automated system which could fail or be subject to a wide range of technical problems.

Finally, consider the quality of the transmitter itself.  Ease of use should be a high priority, and large buttons with a clear backlit display are preferable.  Some transmitters use clear, flashing lights, and these can be useful at night or in times of power outages.

There are many medical alert response systems available, all with different levels of service, and varying terms and conditions.  Be sure to read and understand the fine print before signing a contract with any service.  By following these simple guidelines, you will find a quality medical alert response system that best fits your budget and your needs.