A medical alert system provides peace of mind. Those who wear the devices can continue to pursue independent, active lifestyles and remain in their own homes, while caregivers can be reassured that help is a push of a button away. A medical alert system for seniors with fall detection could be a solution to ensure that your loved ones get the help they need—whether they call for help or not. So, when is it time for a medical alert system, and who do they best serve?
When you’re ready to select a medical alert system, head-to-head comparisons can help you decide between many of the options available. Our detailed guide breaks through the jargon to showcase the features that are most important to you or your loved one.
This review covers medical alert systems from two popular providers, TELUS LivingWell Companion and Philips Lifeline. These companies have both been in business for decades, and their basic offerings boast similar functionality. So it’s the feature set and the pricing that prove to be the difference between the two.
TELUS Livingwell Companion Overview
TELUS LivingWell Companion offers responsive, personalized care options that provide seniors the freedom to live independently without fearing an unexpected fall. Just like any other alert system, however, it does have its advantages and areas of strength.
All versions of LivingWell Companion offer basic 24/7 medical alert services to thousands of Canadians, allowing them to live independently without worrying themselves or their loved ones.
When an alert is received, TELUS LivingWell Companion’s trained operators will immediately contact the customer through the pendant using the two-way voice speaker to confirm an emergency. If the customer can’t be reached or an emergency is confirmed, the trained operator first contacts up to three family and/or friends. If family or friends are unavailable or if the situation warrants, a trained operator will then contact emergency services.
For a detailed breakdown of features and costs, check out our full review of TELUS LivingWell Companion.
Philips Lifeline Overview
Like TELUS LivingWell Companion, Philips Lifeline offers peace of mind and allows people to feel a greater sense of security for their loved ones. With a medical alert necklace or wristband, they’ll always have access to help nearby when they need it most. At a relatively affordable price point (although higher relative to its peers), Philips Lifeline offers different levels of service based on needs.
Regardless of the system you choose, at the heart of the Philips Lifeline is a discrete call button, worn as a necklace or bracelet. It connects you or a loved one to help in a case of a fall or an emergency. The button is paired with an in-home Communicator which acts as a speakerphone for two-way voice communication with the company’s Lifeline-owned Response Centre in Canada. For a detailed breakdown of features and costs, check out our full review of Philips Lifeline.
Reputation
Philips Lifeline claims to be the very first provider of medical alert systems and services in North America, and it claims to have served more than 7.5m Americans since 1983. Philips Lifeline is on-call 24/7, and its call centre agents are Canadian-based, multilingual and professionally trained.
TELUS is one of Canada’s premier telecommunications companies and has been around since 1990. The company has a reputation for offering reliable telecom solutions and is one of Canada’s big three telecom giants alongside Bell and Rogers. In other words, you are in good hands with TELUS, and your emergency button will work reliably on the TELUS network.
Pricing
Between the two providers, TELUS LivingWell companion is the better choice for budget-conscious seniors due to its lower total cost of ownership.
Philips Lifeline has five different plans to choose from, ranging from $29.95 a month to $58.95 a month. The company charges device activation fees, shipping and installation fees for most of its devices. However, the GoSafe 2 (Philips’ first all-in-one system) requires a further one-time payment of $99. Currently, Philips doesn’t provide free shipping, but no cancellation fees are charged.
The TELUS LivingWell Companion devices come at relatively pocket-friendly prices compared with similar offerings in the market. We like it because it offers among the lowest monthly price and life-time ownership costs of comparable no-term-contract and no-upfront-fee personal emergency response services in Canada.
Pros:
- Fall Detection Feature (Optional)
- Access To 24/7 Emergency Support
- No Shipping Fees
As of this writing, the basic at-home medical alert system goes for $25/month, $35/month for the at-home fall detection option, and $45/month for the On-the-Go option (which includes built-in GPS)—all on a 1-year term (plus a one-time activation fee of $35). All the available models feature the same core functions, such as an emergency button and rapid response, so it’s really just a matter of determining whether you need fall detection or GPS.
Our Pick
In terms of devices, Philips Lifeline is well made and easy to use. The company isn’t reinventing the wheel with their medical alert systems. What they do provide, however, is exceptional equipment and solid customer service.
All things considered, the TELUS LivingWell Medical Alert System is the better choice of the two. The pros greatly outweigh the cons, and the price is good too, with plans starting at less than $1 a day. If you are looking for a reliable emergency alert system in Canada, then we highly recommend TELUS LivingWell as it is one of the very best options on the market.
Produced by a reputable provider, the TELUS LivingWell Companion series are trusted devices that will keep you or your loved ones safe regardless of where they reside in Canada. Their subscriptions are fairly priced and you’re guaranteed value for your money.
The TELUS LivingWell Companion service helps to support seniors at home or on the go so they can stay focused on the activities they love, while giving them and their caregivers peace of mind knowing that they are connected 24/7 to emergency care.
| The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the providers being reviewed. The providers and WirelessWizard assume no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this site. The information contained in this site is provided on an “as is” basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness and without any warranties of any kind whatsoever, express or implied. |
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