Best Monitoring Systems For Elderly In The Home

Medical Guardian is one of the top brands in our best medical alert systems review. The brand’s website is easy to navigate, which makes it easy to purchase a medical alert subscription directly online. Medical Guardian offers landline or cellular network connection at-home systems at affordable monthly prices ($29.95 per month for landline and $37.95 per month for cellular). The Mobile 2.0 and Mini Guardian are mobile systems that connect to the 24/7 monitoring center inside or outside the home. Fall detection is available for an additional $10 per month for all Medical Guardian systems except the MGMove Smartwatch. This is because natural wrist movements can potentially trigger false alarms. 

The mobile device or at-home help button lanyard will connect to the monitoring center if it detects a fall. If there is no response or the user tells the monitoring center agent it’s a medical emergency, the agent dispatches emergency responders to the user’s location. Medical Guardian also offers push- and voice-activated wall buttons that connect to the monitoring center. These wall buttons can be placed in high-risk fall areas like the bathroom or near the bed in case of an emergency. 

See our full Medical Guardian Review.

ADT is also featured in our best medical alert systems review. The well-known security company offers three medical alert system options that connect to a 24/7 monitoring center: Medical Alert Basic (landline connection), Medical Alert Plus (cellular connection), and On-The-Go (wireless mobile system). We like the standard three option compared to some medical alert companies that offer 5–10 packages. First-time shoppers may like the more simple three choices. 

Safe home temperature monitoring is a built-in feature for both the ADT landline and cellular in-home systems. The base station verbally alerts the medical alert user and notifies a monitoring center agent if the home temperature is less than 35 degrees or more than 105 degrees. The agent will dispatch emergency services to the home if they can’t get in touch with the user or primary emergency contact regarding the unsafe temperature. This is an excellent safety feature to help catch stove fires, an overheated oven, or to monitor if the home heating system is working properly in the winter, especially in colder climates. 

ADT medical alert systems do have a few drawbacks. Fall detection is not available for the Medical Alert Basic in-home system, and the connectivity from the help button to the in-home base station is only 300 feet for the Medical Alert Basic and 600 feet for the Medical Alert Plus.  

See our full ADT Review

It seems like anything can be found on Amazon. Now, the marketplace offers home monitoring for older adults via its Echo device. Alexa Together is available for a small monthly fee, though all parties—the user and all caregivers—will need an Amazon account, an Echo device in their homes, and the free smartphone app. While any Echo device will work, it’s best if the loved one needing monitoring has an Echo Show device, which enables video drop-ins for emergencies. 

Alexa Together works by reminding your loved one about upcoming doctor’s appointments or when to take medications. It also keeps caregivers in the loop about their loved one’s activities via the accessible activity feed. But you can also get important notifications. For example, if your loved one falls and asks Alexa for help or if a paired device detects a fall, the app will immediately contact the 24/7 Urgent Response monitoring center and caregivers. Alexa Together can also be paired with Alexa-enabled devices that have sensors that detect when medicine cabinets or front doors are opened, and they can immediately alert caregivers about these activities.

When older adults experience cognitive decline, hazards like bathrooms, stairs, and doorways can become a concern. EnvoyatHome tracks your loved one’s activities using discrete sensors placed around the house and alerts caregivers via the app if their loved one’s behavior is out of character. For example, if your family member uses the bathroom more often than usual, it may signify a urinary tract infection. In addition to providing real-time alerts, envoyatHome also stores the data to detect trends that can indicate a decline in mental or physical health. 

Older adults with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease are prone to wandering and getting lost and disoriented and are at a greater risk for falls and injuries. We appreciate that envoyatHome acts as a door alarm for elderly individuals by notifying caregivers if their loved one attempts to leave the house. 

The system can also detect pacing and behaviors that suggest confusion. EnvoyatHome can also be programmed to monitor compliance with medical orders, such as avoiding stairs, staying hydrated, or taking medication. In an emergency, it allows caregivers to remotely unlock the front door to allow access for first responders.

Baby monitors are a godsend for many new parents, but they can be helpful for caregivers who want to keep their eyes on their adult loved ones. Just like nanny cams, video monitoring systems for elderly individuals in the home can help caregivers monitor how well hired aides or sitters are meeting their loved one’s needs and ensure they are being treated with dignity.

The Reolink E1 Pro security cameras stand out to us because they can be set to record at certain times of the day or 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If needed, you can go back and check if your loved one got up during the night or how they fell when they were home alone. Reolink E1 Pro security cameras can also help you determine whether your loved one may require a higher level of care.

Managing health issues can feel difficult and confusing for many older adults and their families. Medical monitoring services can help streamline health data, improve treatment adherence, and deliver early identification to providers, taking home monitoring for elderly individuals to a whole new level. After reviewing the top medical monitoring services, we recommend Electronic Caregiver’s Pro Health service.

Pro Health provides 24/7 advanced remote patient monitoring with voice technology using connected devices to monitor key vitals and health indicators, such as blood sugar levels, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and heart rate. That data is stored and shared automatically through the Care Circle App and integrated health dashboards. Alerts and actionable data are sent to care teams in real time if readings are concerning. This home health monitor also includes 24/7 emergency response and physician-on-demand services.

One of the most innovative elderly monitoring systems on the market is Addison Care: a modern, 3D-animated, virtual caregiver service that turns a loved one’s residence into a digital smart home devoted to their health. It provides chronic care management, rehabilitation, behavioral health, and care coordination via interactive video monitors set up around your loved one’s house. A virtual caregiver interacts with your loved one and is programmed to recognize users and respond appropriately if they appear sick or unsafe.

Addison Care can be programmed to provide several therapeutic services, including memory stimulation exercises, medication reminders, and rehab for agility and strength. The system also offers 24/7 emergency response home security and vitals monitoring, if needed. Though it may sound like an impossible device to set up and use, Addison Care will send certified professional installers to set up monitors around your home and teach you how to use them. But this service doesn’t come cheap—it costs roughly $13 a day or $400 a month. While that may sound expensive at first, it pales compared to the cost of assisted living or 24-hour skilled nursing care.