Are Medical Alert Systems Worth the Money?

Imagine falling in your kitchen.

You’re not seriously injured—but you can’t get yourself back up.

Your phone is on the counter.

Nobody is home.

What happens next?

For an older person who lives alone, that’s not an imaginary problem. Falls are common among adults over 65, and a fall can sometimes lead to fractures, hospitalization, disability, and loss of independence.

That’s where a medical alert system can help.

But are they actually worth paying for?

It depends.

What does a medical alert system actually do?

The basic idea is remarkably simple.

You wear a small device, usually as a pendant, bracelet, watch, or other wearable.

If you have an emergency, you press a button. The system connects you with an emergency response service or another designated contact who can help determine what you need.

Some newer systems also offer features such as:

• Fall detection
• GPS location
• Two-way communication
• Cellular connectivity
• Smartwatch-style features

The National Institute on Aging identifies emergency medical alert systems, fall monitors, and GPS tracking devices as options that may help older adults who live alone and become sick, fall, get lost, or need urgent assistance.

The biggest benefit may not be medical

It may be time.

If you’re unable to reach a telephone after a fall, being able to press a button could allow you to summon help.

And that matters because the alternative might be lying on the floor waiting for someone to discover you.

The NIA recommends having a way to call for help if you’re alone after a fall and specifically identifies emergency response systems as one option.

There’s also a psychological benefit.

In one study of more than 600 older adults using personal emergency response systems, about three-quarters said the device gave them an enhanced feeling of security. The most common reason for using one was concern about falling.

That feeling of security shouldn’t be dismissed.

For someone who worries about living alone because of what might happen in an emergency, knowing that help is available may make it easier to remain independent.

But don’t believe every claim

Here’s where things get interesting.

You might expect medical alert systems to reduce emergency-room visits, prevent complications from falls, or reduce fear of falling.

The research doesn’t consistently show that.

For example, a randomized trial involving older adults who had recently fallen found no significant reduction in anxiety, fear of falling, or return visits to the emergency department among those given a personal emergency response system.

Another randomized study found that a medical-alert system was associated with better quality-of-life measures and shorter hospital stays among participants who were hospitalized—but it did not significantly reduce emergency visits or hospital admissions compared with the control group.

So the evidence doesn’t support saying:

“A medical alert system will keep you out of the hospital.”

That’s not what these devices are designed to do.

Their more straightforward purpose is:

Help you get help when you need it.

Who might benefit the most?

The value of a medical alert system is likely to be very different for a healthy, active older adult who is rarely alone than for someone who spends most of the day by themselves.

It may be particularly worth considering if you:

• Live alone
• Have fallen before
• Have balance or mobility problems
• Have a medical condition that could cause sudden problems
• Have recently been hospitalized
• Spend significant periods of time alone
• Worry about what would happen if you couldn't reach your phone

And there’s another important consideration:

Would you actually wear it?

A medical alert device sitting in a drawer isn’t much use.

The NIA points out that these systems need to be set up correctly, worn by the older adult, and maintained with charged or replaced batteries. They also don’t replace regular contact with family, friends, or caregivers.

The technology is getting more interesting

The old image of a medical alert system is a large button hanging around someone’s neck.

Today’s devices can be considerably more sophisticated.

Some combine emergency calling with fall detection, GPS, two-way voice communication, cellular connectivity, and smartwatch-style features.

That can make them useful outside the home as well as inside it.

But there’s an important distinction:

Fall detection isn’t fall prevention.

A device may recognize that you’ve fallen and help summon assistance.

It doesn’t stop the fall from happening.

And fall-detection technology isn’t perfect. There can be false alarms and missed events, which is another reason not to treat the technology as a substitute for sensible fall prevention.

What does it cost?

Medical alert services generally involve an initial equipment or setup cost followed by a monthly service charge. Prices vary considerably depending on the company and features.

There’s also an important financial detail:

Medicare generally doesn’t pay for emergency medical alert systems.

The NIA notes that Medicaid, some private health insurance plans, and some long-term-care insurance policies may provide coverage.

So before signing up, it’s worth checking whether another source will cover some or all of the cost.

The question worth asking

Instead of asking:

“Is a medical alert system worth the money?”

Perhaps the better question is:

“What would happen if I had an emergency while I was alone?”

If the answer is, “I’d probably be okay because someone checks on me regularly and I always have my phone,” a medical alert system may provide little additional value.

If the answer is, “I’m not sure anyone would know something had happened to me for several hours,” the calculation changes.

You aren’t really buying a gadget.

You’re buying a backup plan.

And that may be worth paying for if being able to summon help quickly could make the difference between a manageable emergency and a much more serious situation.

Don’t buy a medical alert system simply because you’re getting older.

Consider one if it solves a problem you actually have.