Today’s best medical alert systems include access to an app that provides added connections to family and friends. Standalone medical alert apps function similarly to medical alert systems on a smaller scale. Standalone apps typically have fewer special features, but most provide access to a 24/7 call center or 911.
To be effective, medical alert apps require you to always have your phone on hand. In this way, they vary from mobile medical alert devices worn around your neck or wrist or clipped onto a purse or belt.
If you’ve decided that an extra layer of protection makes sense for you, choosing an app with the right special features can make all the difference.
Key Takeaways
The best medical alert systems include apps that connect you to friends and family
Some standalone medical alert apps function like medical alert systems and can be used to call for help
Other standalone medical alert apps provide you with one-on-one contact with a call center operator if you’re in unnerving situations, such as deserted parking garages or dark, isolated streets
What is a Medical Alert App?
Medical alert apps are designed to protect people who need it. In some instances, an app may be connected to a medical alert system, enabling friends and family to support a loved one’s care.
Some standalone apps aren’t connected to medical alert systems but provide some of the same benefits, such as access to an emergency call center that operates 24/7.
There’s no one right profile of a medical alert app user. Some are older adults who enjoy the benefits of a medical alert system but want more connection to friends and family. Lone workers or those who engage in long, solo commutes, and DIYers who use ladders and power tools, may also benefit from this technology.
LifeFone is a trusted and established medical alert system manufacturer. LifeFone’s Mobile Alert is a standalone app not connected to its medical alert systems.
LifeFone’s Mobile Alert connects users to the same LifeFone call center as its medical alert systems. The center operates 24/7, 365 days a year. The app uses two-way audio so you can speak and listen to the dispatcher on the other end. The dispatcher will have access to your medical profile when you call. You can also create a contact list within the app of users you can call or text.
The app includes three assistance modes:
Panic: If you’re in a threatening situation, the call center dispatcher will use your cell phone coordinates to immediately identify your whereabouts and send emergency help. Based on your profile setup and preferences, the call center dispatcher can also call or text your contacts. If you use the panic button and do not speak to the operator, help will still be dispatched to you.
Concern: LifeFone refers to this as a virtual escort service. If you’re nervous for any reason, such as walking down a dark street alone at night, reach out to the call center and they’ll stay with you until you reach safety. You can also call if you feel nervous or confused and need a soothing voice.
Medical: Reach out to the call center if you’re feeling ill for any reason. Medical emergencies include dizziness, heart attacks, strokes, falls, panic attacks, allergic reactions, and more.
The app is available for download through Google Play and the App Store. After downloading, call LifeFone to activate your app at 1.800.882.2280.
Cost:
$5.95 a month for LifeFone medical alert system customers
Bay Alarm Medical manufactures some of the highest-rated, most economical medical alert systems available. The Bay Alarm Medical Caregiver Tracking app is used in conjunction with their Mobile GPS Medical Alert Device. It’s a good choice for anyone on the go and enjoying life but may benefit from having a second pair of eyes check in on them now and again.
The app uses 4G LTE tracking to give caregivers information in real-time about the mobile unit user’s location. It provides location history information and alerts about battery usage and levels. Also included are temperature and weather alerts for the user’s location.
The app is available for download through Google Play and the App Store.
Cost:
Free for users of Bay Alarm Medical’s 4G LTE Mobile GPS Help Button Device
Philips Lifeline is a well-known and trusted manufacturer of in-home and mobile medical alert systems. Philips Cares is an app that can be used with any Philips Lifeline medical alert system.
Through the app, you can form a care circle of family members, friends, and neighbors. No matter where they are physically, your circle can share information about your health, whereabouts, and well-being through the app. This can help your circle plan your day-to-day care needs about everything from help with meals to medication dispense support. It can also help share updates during a crisis, such as an emergency room visit or hospitalization.
The app can also be used for billing purposes and account management of your medical alert system. Device status updates are included in the app, so your care circle or specific members will be informed about operational issues and maintenance requirements before they affect your service.
The app is available for download through Google Play and the App Store. You can also set it up on your computer through your web browser.
Cost:
Free for users of any Philips Lifeline Medical Alert System
How to Choose the Best Medical Alert App that’s Right for You
If you’re currently using a medical alert system, reach out to them to see if they have an app that you can easily connect to your service. If they don’t have an app, or the app they have doesn’t have the features you’re looking for, you may wish to add a standalone app to your care toolbox.
Medical alert app features and functionality vary. Features to look for when choosing a medical alert app include:
Tracking capability and range
Ease of use
Size of visual displays
Battery drainage level on your phone
Encryption capability of personal data
Does it include a care circle of family and friends?
If a care circle can be created, is it limited in size?
Can your care circle communicate with you, each other, and the emergency call center?
Cost
Automatic fall detection
Medication reminders
Does it inform your care circle of extreme weather events or changes?
Does it record unusual activity?
Does it include billing status and information?
What Are Standalone Medical Alert Apps?
Unlike apps that connect to a medical alert device, standalone medical alert apps operate independently of external devices. They are typically less expensive to use. Standalone medical alert apps are primarily designed as fail-safes in potentially dangerous situations.
Some medical alert apps are provided by their companies to workers with dangerous jobs. These include delivery personnel, roofers, and construction workers. These are sometimes called lone worker apps, worker down apps, or man down apps.
You can also download and use a medical alert app if you have a medical condition or health concerns.
iMedAlert
The iMedAlert app was developed by Divoti USA, a medical alert jewelry and accessories manufacturer.
This app lets you upload medical information about yourself, including your medical history, blood type, and allergies. You can use the app to sound an audible alarm that people nearby can hear, alerting them to your emergency. It can also send an emergency distress call to 911, Divoti’s call center, or a personal contact.
Currently, the developer has not provided information about its privacy practices or data encryption capabilities to Apple, Google, or the public. Users give this app a 2.8 rating at the Apple Store and a 3.4 rating at Google Play.
Ok Alone Man Down App
The Ok Alone Man Down app can be bought in bulk for workers or purchased individually for one person’s use. Plans start at $5 per person each month.
The app alerts your personal contact that you have an emergency, such as a fall or loss of consciousness. The app is calibrated to detect movement or a lack of movement. Lack of movement signals an alert to your contact, which can display your location on a dashboard app and send for help.
The app also allows you to set timers to regularly check in with your contact and verify your safety status.
This app is available for iPhone and Android.
Why Have a Medical Alert App?
A medical alert app is a second set of eyes. If it has the right features to meet your needs, a medical alert app can add a significant layer of protection to your medical alert system. Apps with caregiver tools ease the worries of family members and friends when they can’t be with you. They also help your caregivers visualize your activities on a day-to-day level. This can help alert them to anything strange or “off” about you and your current care.
Anyone can have an emergency at any time. If you don’t need a full medical alert system, a high-quality, standalone app can give you the protection you need in emergencies.
Bottom Line
The best medical alert systems available today include medical alert apps that contain caregiver tools. The best medical alert apps are intuitive to use and easy to download. They have features that keep your friends and family informed about your health and safety status. This adds an extra layer of protection to your care.
Standalone medical alert apps are also available for people who don’t need full medical alert systems. If you choose a high-quality app, it can save your life in an emergency.
Why You Can Trust Our Expert Review
Our experts independently research and recommend products we believe provide value in the lives of our readers. We’ve spent collectively more than 1,700 hours conducting in-depth research on medical alert systems. To make our 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
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes; in fact, there are several. If you’re looking for a standalone medical alert app, see our review for the best one above. You can also scroll through the App Store or Google Play to find medical alert apps. Only download and use an app that has a stated privacy protection policy.
Cell phones can be used to call 911 in an emergency. This is different from using a medical alert app. Medical alert apps have special features that 911 does not. Some medical alert apps don’t require you to speak to get emergency help sent to you. You may also be able to use your app to talk to someone in an emergency.
If you set up the medical ID feature in the health app on your phone, first responders will be able to access your medical information from the lock screen without your password. However, your iPhone requires you to manually get help by calling 911.
If you have a medical alert system, a companion app will usually be free or low-cost. Standalone apps have monthly costs that are often less than $10.
That depends on your medical needs and lifestyle. Medical alert systems give you the freedom of not having to carry around your phone. They are beneficial for people who want to know they have access to emergency help 24/7. Medical alert apps can complement medical alert systems. They also provide standalone emergency access for people who don’t need full systems.
Corey Whelan is a writer, health care professional, and Brooklyn, New York native. She is a reproductive health advocate who has helped countless patients through the trials and triumphs of infertility and adoption over the past 25 years. Corey's passion is sharing her knowledge of health and wellness through her writing, and no topic is off limits. She's mom to two grown children and two rescue dogs who captured her heart.
