Red Dot Alerts is a recent offshoot of the popular Ottawa elder care provider Bruyère. The company has put its many years of experience caring for elderly people into developing their medical alert system, building upon their helpline service.
Their system is designed to help seniors maintain their independence and feel safer, both within their homes and beyond, by means of a simple pendant that can be worn around the neck. This pendant contains the eponymous red button, which alerts a 24/7 helpdesk that a user may be in trouble.https://youtu.be/Gcdj7W3tchM
Once pressed, the button links the user to a bilingual operator who can arrange for emergency assistance and provide reassurance. The wireless device uses GPS to geolocate the wearer and contains a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 36 hours.
Key Features
Red Dot offers three services: two at-home services, one with fall detection, that use pendant or bracelet help buttons—and a mobile service with fall detection that uses a pendant help button. They feature:
- 24/7 helpline with bilingual operators
- Simple, neck-worn pendant (with wrist-mounting option)
- Automated fall detection using accelerometers
- GPS-based geolocation with optional automated alert for crossing boundary
- 30-day risk-free guarantee
- Works anywhere in Canada with a mobile service (On-the-Go version only)
- Charges in 90 minutes
- Base unit has 400 m range and secondary help button
- Water-resistant
What We Like
The simple and lightweight design is easy to wear and use, which is important for seniors who may have arthritis or other mobility issues. It charges reasonably quickly (in 90 minutes) and has a detection range of up to 400 metres from the base unit.
The response from the Bruyere operators is immediate, polite, and efficient, and they do not penalize users for false alarms. In fact, they actively recommend testing the system monthly simply by pressing the red button and informing the operator that it is a test. If the wearer is unable to speak, having pressed the alert button, the operator will assume it’s an emergency and send help.
Fall detection is good, with internal accelerometers to detect unusual movement that may indicate a fall. Again, false alarms are to be expected and the helpline is sympathetic to this eventuality.
The device can be worn in the shower and Red Dot Alerts recommend doing so, because this is a common fall site for senior citizens. Alerts can be triggered automatically from the On-the-Go model to caregivers or family members if the wearer suffers a fall or wanders out of a predetermined safe zone, ideal for seniors with dementia.
A recent innovation is Red Dot’s SafeSole insoles with built-in GPS trackers and geo-fencing. These are particularly good for families who worry about elderly relatives who get easily lost or confused, since they will trigger alerts when a wearer ventures beyond predefined limits.
There is a subscription model in place for the service, with no further fees payable. It can be paused or cancelled at any time.
What We Dislike
The alert device does need to be charged daily, which users with memory difficulties might find problematic. The battery will last for 36 hours, but if you forget a daily charge, this will still mean the device stops working within two days.
For the At Home model, since the service works in conjunction with your phone service, you must have a functional landline to connect the base unit. The On-the-Go version works anywhere there is a cellular network, but this is considerably more expensive.
It would be helpful if the pendant featured an LED or similar visual trigger to remind users to recharge. The pendant is described as water-resistant, rather than waterproof, so users might have to remove it at bath time.
Their website could do with updating since some sections still contain placeholder text.
Cost
The At Home version costs $39.99 per month or $49.99 with fall detection. There are no purchase or set-up costs.
The On-the-Go pendant costs $99 for the unit plus $59.99 per month.
Reputation
Parent company Bruyere was founded by two nuns in 1845, so it certainly scores highly in terms of longevity! They have been providing a senior citizens helpline service since 2018 and many users speak highly of their services. One user wrote: “From day one I have been so happy with Red Dot, having the service and being always protected is such a blessing.”
Summary and Recommendation
Red Dot Alerts plans are moderately priced and competitive. For ease of use, simplicity, responsiveness, and experience, Red Dot Alerts score highly. We’d like to see a longer battery life and perhaps a more affordable mobile solution, but in all other respects, Red Dot Alerts’ safety measures for seniors are highly recommended.
Explore More Reviews
There are a number of medical alert systems providers in Canada, each promising to deliver peace of mind, independence and security. However, the quality of equipment, reliability and service delivery differ among them. We’ve researched dozens of companies to find the very best. Our expert reviews will provide you with everything you need to know to find the right system for you. Explore the best medical alert systems according to our editors.
Under the banner Tech For Seniors, WirelessWizard is pleased to share innovations for older adults—with a focus on deferring as much as possible the time when getting older gets in the way of living life independently. Check out all of tech-for-seniors content here.
