LifeFone Review

LifeFone also takes pride in its “caring and compassionate” emergency response specialists who are with you until the issue has been completely resolved. In fact, LifeFone’s monitoring center has received several awards over the years and is considered by many as one of the best in the industry.

The company, however, offers much more than great emergency response specialists including:

• Access to personal profile information
• Travel-friendly programs
• An emergency backup plan

Monitoring Features
The LifeFone monitoring system is similar to most other products in the market today. The moment a senior presses the emergency help button on the pendant or the base station, the system automatically established a two-way communication with the monitoring center. An emergency care specialist will respond within 30 seconds and procure help for you. He is trained to understand your emergency and contact the appropriate authorities.

The agent also has access to your personal profile that provides information about your medications, allergies, preferred hospitals, your primary care physician, and family members. He will consider these details before getting the right help for you. Only a few other medical alert system providers offer such comprehensive approach.

The monitoring center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days of the week. All the agents are trained and certified to handle emergencies. They are caring and compassionate as well and keep you involved and comfortable during the entire process. LifeFone owns it monitoring center. It also has a backup facility in Texas.

Unlike other medical alert system providers, LifeFone offers worldwide monitoring and support. You receive an Emergency Response Card with your name and personal identification number. In case of an emergency during travel, the LifeFone monitoring center will transmit all your vital medical records and health reports to the new doctors and paramedics. This helps prevent misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. You can travel with confidence and enjoy your trip without worrying about medical emergencies.

Other Features
3G Cellular System – LifeFone has partnered with AT&T to provide medical monitoring to seniors who do not have a traditional landline at home. When the user presses the help button, the base station connects to the monitoring center with the help of the AT&T network. You do not need a cell phone subscription.

Fire, Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Protection System – LifeFone is one of the few medical alert system companies that offer fire, smoke and CO monitoring. Many seniors become dizzy and unconscious due to fire or excessive CO levels in the surrounding environment. The LifeFone sensors will automatically detect the emergency and sound an alarm. The monitoring center will also be notified immediately and an emergency care specialist will contact the concerned authorities for you.

Accessories – LifeFone also offers a wide selection of accessories for an additional price. You can opt for a wall-mounted help button, long-range help button, lock box, and surge protector. Many of these accessories are unique to LifeFone. A service representative will answer your questions and help you make a choice.

Equipment
LifeFone’s standard medical alert system comes with a base station that is connected to the traditional land phone line. It consists of a prominent help button. The senior can press the button in case of an emergency and get in touch with the emergency care specialist within seconds. You also receive an additional help button in form of a pendant. You can wear it around your neck or on the wrist. The device is waterproof, stylish and sensitive. You can even wear it in the shower, where most falls and injuries occur. The pendant, however, does not consist of a microphone.
LifeFone can also provide a pendant for your spouse for an additional price. You can also opt for a lock box that will be placed at a strategic location outside your house. It is protected with a password. LifeFone agents can share the information with emergency personnel and help them get into the house with ease. Many subscribers also get a wall button that can be placed in long hallways and other areas of the house.

All the equipment is of the highest quality. The base station has a range of 360 to 480 feet. This is ideal for most small homes and apartments. You can extend the range to 1,000 feet by purchasing additional voice extenders. The base station has a backup battery life of 32 hours which could become important during power outages. The pendant has a battery life of 5 years. The monitoring center will receive a low battery notification and send a replacement immediately. The equipment comes with 100 percent lifetime warranty. LifeFone will replace parts or the entire system for free.
The system is easy to install and use. You will receive a clear set of instructions. The company, however, does not offer professional installation.

The system has also been programmed to check itself once every 30 days by sending a signal to the monitoring center. If the center does not receive the signal within that time frame, an agent will call you to make sure you are healthy and safe. Unlike some other products in the market, you do not have to do the testing and there are no reminders.

However, the help button is not mobile and will not work outside your home. This is a drawback as you are not protected during shopping routines and pleasure walks. There are other medical alert system providers that offer mobile services.

Customer Service and Support
LifeFone offers exceptional customer service. Their service representatives are available to answer your questions 24 hours a day over the phone. You may also email them and expect a response within one day. There is a list of frequently asked questions on the company’s website for your reference. You can also download the Emergency Care instructions through the website. Our experience suggests that the phone is the best way to reach them.

The company has received a thumps up from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with a consistent A+ rating. The Bureau registered only 6 complaints in the last three years. While one consumer had an issue with the billing, remaining 5 clients had problems with the service. All the issues were amicably resolved by their service representatives.

The company also offers a transparent return policy to its consumers with a 30-day money back guarantee on all products.

Pricing, Contract and Value

The standard LifeFone medical alert system will cost you $24.95 each month. You will receive the equipment for free. There are no shipping charges. Unlike other companies in the business, LifeFone does not charge an activation fees. There are no long-term contracts and you do not pay a cancellation fee. However, you receive a quarterly bill.

If you do not have a land phone line, you can go for the 3G Cellular system. It will set you back by $34.95 each month with an annual payment. Quarterly bills translate into $37.95 per month, while month-to-month payments will be $39.95. Plus there is an one-time activation fee of $39.00

The Fire, Smoke and CO detection system costs $42.95 per month. This is equivalent to $515.40 per year. You can also get an additional pendant for your spouse. It costs about $39.95. However, the monitoring is free.