Medical Guardian MGMove Watch Review

Overview

For many people, medical alert systems are an essential way to stay connected to caregivers and medical personnel in the event of an emergency, without giving up independence. And while you may be picturing a bulky “help button” worn around the neck, there are other options. 

Enter Medical Guardian’s MGMove watch, a medical alert device that´s cleverly integrated into an easy-to-wear smartwatch. It combines simple yet functional tech features—a step counter, speech-to-text messaging, calendar reminders, weather forecasts and more—with two easy ways to call for help.

In an emergency, such a device can really make a critical difference. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in four people age 65 and older fall every year, and falling once doubles the chances of it happening again. Some 3 million older adults are treated in emergency rooms for fall injuries annually.

The MGMove watch is designed for these exact scenarios and offers a few bonus features. In this review, we look at the pros and cons and give you all the information you need to decide if the MGMove watch is right for you or a loved one.

Why You Can Trust Our Expert Review

Our experts independently research and recommend products we believe provide value to the lives of our readers. We’ve collectively spent more than 1,700 hours conducting in-depth research on medical alert systems. Our team tested multiple medical alert devices, including Medical Guardian, to better understand features and provide the most accurate feedback and recommendations for our readers. 

To decide on our top picks, here’s what we did:

• Engaged in ongoing independent research
• Consulted with geriatricians and adult caregivers
• Mystery shopped the brands
• Surveyed medical alert system users
• Tested various medical alert systems
• Interviewed experts in the field
• Read hundreds of verified customer reviews from trusted third parties such as Better Business Bureau and Consumer Reports

Why MGMove Is One of Our Top Picks

The MGMove is a good option for any active seniors looking for a sleek medical alert device  but is also a good option for the tech-savvy older adults. Advanced features like reminders and messaging are available for an extra cost. Medical Guardian has an excellent reputation and customer service in particular is highly regarded.

Pros and Cons of the MGMove Watch

MGMove Watch Review

How Does the MGMove Watch Work?

The MGMove watch is designed for simplicity. Features are accessible from the home screen, and you have two options for reporting an emergency. Tap the SOS icon on the home screen or press and hold the physical red SOS button on the side of the watch for five seconds—both options will access help from Medical Guardian’s Monitoring Center, which is based in the U.S. and on call 24/7. An operator from the monitoring center will dispatch emergency services to your exact location and notify family, neighbors, or emergency contacts.

If an operator can’t hear you, they’ll call a designated phone number to check in. If they can’t reach you on that number, emergency services will be dispatched and appropriate contacts will be notified. In a non-emergency situation, operators will offer reassurance while contacting a member of your care team to check in.

False alarm? No problem—you can cancel the alarm in the allotted five-second window.

The MGMove also includes a Test app, which should be pressed monthly to ensure the watch is operating correctly. The app sends an automated recording in lieu of an actual alarm and will indicate whether the test call was successful. Going through this simple process is a good way to remain confident that the watch is working exactly as it should.

Other features, like the step counter and weather reports, are also accessible from the home screen. You can set and track daily step goals and measure your progress with weekly tracking. Local, real-time weather is also available. Battery status is indicated on the home screen as well.

The rubber wristband on the MGMove is adjustable for the perfect fit, and the watch face style is customizable. A “Shake to Wake” preference, which is automatically enabled, can be turned off if you prefer that your watch face is always on. However, using this feature will affect battery life.
The MGMove comes with a magnetic charging station, which is equipped with voice-assist technology and a battery light status. When the watch is connected or removed from the charging cradle, audio announcements share the watch’s current battery level.

How Much Does the MGMove Watch Cost?

The MGMove watch has a purchase price of $199.95. The monthly fee for base features (24/7 access to monitoring center, step tracking, and local weather data) is $39.95. For $5 more per month, you can upgrade to get enhanced features, which include messaging through the MyGuardian customer portal from a Care Circle member to the wearer.

Reminders are another enhanced feature: through the MyGuardian portal, a Care Circle member can initiate an alert or reminder that’s sent to the watch wearer.

The MG Move Watch App and Accessories

The MGMove watch comes with a companion app and desktop portal called MyGuardian. It’s a robust platform designed to connect members of your Care Circle, access customer service, and manage billing. People in your Care Circle can also use the app or portal to schedule reminders or send messages to your MGMove watch.

Customer Service and Satisfaction

Medical Guardian is a well-known medical alert system company with a stellar reputation. According to Best Company, more than 85 percent of the company’s reviews are four or five stars, and customer service is one of the areas in which consumers report the most satisfaction. It’s a sign of Medical Guardian’s responsive staff, which is an important element for any medical alert system company.

Comparing MGMove to Other Brands

What to Consider Before Buying a Medical Alert Watch

Medical alert watches that combine smartwatch features are designed to keep pace with more active seniors. That doesn’t mean they’re right for everyone. When it comes to these devices, “one size never fits all, and too many options can be confusing and even cause harm if a person is paired with a device that’s inappropriate for his/her/their health needs,” according to Christopher J. Norman, a geriatric nurse practitioner.

Keep these considerations in mind as you research your options:

• Your primary motivation for purchasing a medical alert watch
• Your comfort level with smart features and technology

It’s also important to have realistic expectations. “In my experience, the number one reason family members ask about or implement medical alert devices is because there is concern about safety (e.g., falls, accidents, getting lost, etc.,” Norman said. “If safety is the concern, a fancy device is probably not going to be the panacea.”

How We Reviewed the MGMove Watch

You deserve the best products for the best quality of life. As such, we strive to create honest, helpful reviews that are backed by firsthand shopping, testing, and research. Our content is medically reviewed and unbiased to help you choose the right medical alert system for you or your loved one.

From over 1,000 hours of research, we choose 11 of the top brands that we believe are the best medical alert systems. Medical Guardian and its MGMove Smartwatch are part of our top medical alert system picks. We did the following throughout our research process:

• Consulted with geriatricians and adult caregivers
• Mystery shopped the brands
• Surveyed medical alert system users
• Tested various medical alert systems
• Interviewed experts in the field
• Read hundreds of verified customer reviews from trusted third parties, such as Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot

We grade each medical alert company against a 1-10 rating scale and score them according to the following categories:

• Essential features
• Product functionality
• Special features
• Customer service
• Purchasing process

Features and criteria within each of these five categories are assigned point values. The more points a company receives for each criteria, the higher they score in the overall category.
See our full explanation of how we rate medical alert systems for a full breakdown of criteria in each category and our scoring system.