Best Medical Alert System That Calls Family: What Seniors & Caregivers Should Look For
If you're searching for the best medical alert system that calls family, there's an important distinction you should understand before choosing a system.
For starters, we suggest our information packed article titled: Introducing the Medical Alert System for Seniors That Calls/Texts Family and Caregivers First!
Most traditional medical alert systems are designed to connect a senior with a professional monitoring center first.
That can be exactly what you want during a serious medical emergency.
But what if Mom simply needs help getting up?
What if Dad feels dizzy and wants to talk with his daughter?
What if a senior becomes confused while away from home and needs a family member?
Or what if you simply want to call Mom's medical alert pendant to check on her?
For families who want to stay directly involved, there is another approach:
A medical alert system that calls family and caregivers directly.
SafeGuardian's CaregiverCaller™ SOS Senior Help Alert Pendant with Fall Detection + GPS was designed specifically around this family-first approach.
Instead of automatically placing an emergency monitoring center between the senior and their loved ones, CaregiverCaller can directly call the family members, caregivers, friends or other trusted contacts selected by the user.
One Touch. Your Circle of Care Is There.
What Is a Medical Alert System That Calls Family?
A medical alert system that calls family is a wearable senior help device designed to contact designated family members or caregivers when the user presses an SOS button or an alert is triggered.
That's different from the traditional medical alert model.
With many conventional systems, pressing the help button connects the user with a 24/7 monitoring center. An operator speaks with the senior, evaluates the situation and may then contact family, caregivers or emergency services.
With a direct-to-family medical alert system, the people closest to the senior can become the first point of contact.
For many families, that's an important difference.
Not every call for help is a medical emergency.
Sometimes Mom just needs you.
Our Pick: SafeGuardian CaregiverCaller™
For families specifically looking for a medical alert that can call family members and caregivers directly, SafeGuardian CaregiverCaller offers an unusual combination of senior-safety and family-communication features.
CaregiverCaller combines:
-
Direct calling to up to five family members or caregivers
-
Automatic fall detection
-
Adjustable fall-detection sensitivity
-
Real-time GPS location
-
Caregiver text notifications
-
Two-way hands-free voice communication
-
Incoming calls from family to the pendant
-
A unique cellular telephone number
-
Built-in cellular service
-
No landline required
-
No smartphone required for the senior
-
Mobile protection at home and away
The result is more than an emergency button.
CaregiverCaller creates a direct communication link between a senior and their personal Circle of Care.
1. CaregiverCaller Can Call Up to Five Family Members or Caregivers
This is one of CaregiverCaller's most important features.
Press the large SOS button and the device can begin calling the user's pre-programmed contacts.
For example:
Contact #1: Daughter
Contact #2: Son
Contact #3: Caregiver
Contact #4: Nearby neighbor
Contact #5: Another trusted contact or emergency resource
If the first contact doesn't answer, the system can continue through the designated calling sequence.
When someone answers, the senior and caregiver can speak directly through the CaregiverCaller's built-in speakerphone.
There's no smartphone for Mom or Dad to find.
No contact list to navigate.
No telephone number to remember.
Just press one button and call for help.
2. Family Can Call the Medical Alert Pendant
This may be even more useful than many families initially realize.
Every CaregiverCaller has its own cellular telephone number.
That means an authorized family member can call the senior's CaregiverCaller directly and communicate through its hands-free speakerphone.
Imagine you're at work and haven't heard from Mom.
You call her smartphone.
No answer.
You call the house.
No answer.
With CaregiverCaller, you have another option:
Call the device she's wearing.
This transforms a traditional senior alert pendant into a two-way family communication device.
It can be especially helpful for seniors who don't always carry, hear or feel comfortable operating a smartphone.
3. Automatic Fall Detection Can Alert Others Even When the Button Isn't Pressed
One of the biggest concerns with any personal emergency response device is obvious:
What happens if the senior falls and can't press the button?
CaregiverCaller includes automatic fall detection.
When the device detects what appears to be a fall, it can initiate the alert process without requiring the wearer to manually press the SOS button.
The device also provides an opportunity to cancel an accidental fall alert.
No automatic fall-detection technology can detect every fall, so it should never be considered a replacement for appropriate medical care or emergency planning.
But it provides an important additional layer of protection.
4. Adjustable Fall Detection Helps Reduce False Alerts
People move differently.
A highly active 70-year-old may have very different movements than a frail 90-year-old with limited mobility.
That's why CaregiverCaller provides adjustable fall-detection sensitivity.
The sensitivity can be configured to better match the wearer's circumstances.
This helps families balance two competing goals:
Detecting potentially serious falls while helping minimize unnecessary false alarms.
5. GPS Helps Family Locate an Elderly Parent
A medical alert system with GPS can be especially valuable for seniors who remain active outside their homes.
CaregiverCaller includes real-time GPS location technology.
An authorized caregiver can request the device's location and receive location information that can be viewed using Google Maps.
This could be helpful when a senior:
-
Becomes confused or disoriented
-
Gets lost while walking
-
Has difficulty describing their location
-
Experiences an emergency away from home
-
Doesn't arrive where expected
-
Needs assistance while shopping or traveling
Most importantly for families choosing a direct-to-caregiver system, the family can access location information rather than relying exclusively on an emergency monitoring center to do it for them.
6. Caregiver Text Alerts Keep Family Informed
A good senior alert system shouldn't only provide information to the person wearing it.
It should also help the people caring for them.
CaregiverCaller can provide designated contacts with important notifications associated with device activity.
Depending on configuration, this can include information related to SOS events, fall alerts, location and device status.
For an adult child caring for an elderly parent from another home—or another state—that additional visibility can provide valuable peace of mind.
7. No Landline or Senior Smartphone Required
Today's seniors shouldn't have to remain next to a home telephone to remain protected.
CaregiverCaller has its own cellular connectivity.
That means the senior doesn't need:
A traditional home landline.
A personal smartphone to activate the SOS function.
Home Wi-Fi for normal cellular calling operation.
The device travels with the wearer, helping provide protection at home and while away.
8. Why Calling Family First Can Be So Important
Consider a common scenario.
Mom gets out of bed during the night and loses her balance.
She doesn't appear seriously injured, but she's afraid to stand without assistance.
Does she need an ambulance?
Maybe not.
Does she need help?
Absolutely.
With a family-first system, she can press her button and reach the people who know her personally.
Her daughter may determine that she can drive over.
Her son might call a nearby neighbor.
A caregiver may already be minutes away.
And if the situation appears serious, the family can call 911 immediately.
The key difference is choice.
Families can establish a response network appropriate for the senior rather than treating every request for assistance exactly the same way.
CaregiverCaller vs. Traditional Medical Alert Systems
When evaluating the best medical alert system for an elderly parent, it helps to understand that these products can follow different response models.
| Feature | SafeGuardian CaregiverCaller | Traditional Monitored Medical Alert |
|---|---|---|
| Wearable SOS button | ✓ | ✓ |
| Two-way voice | ✓ | Usually |
| Cellular operation | ✓ | Available |
| Automatic fall detection | ✓ | Often available |
| GPS location | ✓ | Available on many mobile systems |
| Calls family/caregivers directly | ✓ | Varies |
| Calls multiple personal contacts | ✓ Up to 5 | Varies |
| Family can call the pendant | ✓ | Varies |
| Caregiver text notifications | ✓ | Varies |
| Family-accessible GPS information | ✓ | Varies |
| Adjustable fall sensitivity | ✓ | Varies |
| Professional monitoring center required as first contact | No | Typically yes |
| Designed specifically around family/caregiver communication | ✓ | Typically secondary to monitoring |
Features vary considerably among brands, models and service plans. Always verify the current features of the specific system you're considering.
How Does CaregiverCaller Compare With Medical Guardian, MobileHelp, Life Alert, LifeStation and Lifeline?
Several of America's best-known medical alert companies use professional monitoring as a central component of their service.
For example, Medical Guardian describes fall alerts going to its monitoring center, where an operator attempts to communicate with the user. MobileHelp offers monitored medical alert systems and automatic fall-detection technology. Life Alert says pressing its help button connects the user to its 24/7 monitoring center or emergency dispatcher. LifeStation describes fall detection connecting users with its 24/7 monitoring center. Lifeline's mobile system connects users with a Trained Care Specialist at its Response Center.
Those can be excellent capabilities for someone specifically seeking professionally monitored emergency response.
CaregiverCaller is designed for a different priority:
Direct family and caregiver involvement.
Instead of asking only:
"Which monitoring center will answer Mom's call?"
CaregiverCaller allows families to ask:
"Why can't Mom's button call us?"
For families who want that capability, the answer is simple.
It can.
Medical Alert System That Calls Family vs. 911-Only Device
There's another important distinction when shopping for a senior help button.
Some devices are designed primarily to call 911.
That provides direct emergency access, but it doesn't necessarily solve the everyday caregiver communication problem.
A senior may need assistance without requiring police, fire or ambulance services.
A family-first medical alert provides another option.
Depending on how the family's response plan is configured, trusted contacts can help evaluate the situation and determine whether emergency services are necessary.
For an obvious or potentially life-threatening emergency, call 911 immediately.
Who Should Consider a Medical Alert That Calls Family?
A direct-to-family medical alert system can be especially attractive for:
-
Seniors living alone
-
Older adults who want to age in place
-
Adult children caring for elderly parents
-
Seniors with nearby family or caregivers
-
Long-distance caregivers who want better visibility
-
Seniors concerned about falls
-
Active seniors who leave home regularly
-
Families concerned about wandering or disorientation
-
Seniors who don't reliably carry smartphones
-
Families who want direct communication instead of relying exclusively on a monitoring center
The best choice ultimately depends on the senior's health, independence, living situation and available caregiver network.
What Should You Look for in a Medical Alert System That Calls Family?
Don't assume every product advertised as a "senior alert" or "caregiver alert" works the same way.
Before buying, ask these questions:
1. Does the SOS button actually CALL family members?
A text notification isn't the same as a two-way telephone conversation.
2. How many contacts can be programmed?
One contact may not be enough if that person is driving, sleeping or unavailable.
3. What happens when the first person doesn't answer?
Look for a system capable of proceeding to additional contacts.
4. Can family call the senior's device?
Incoming communication makes the device considerably more useful for routine wellness checks.
5. Does it have automatic fall detection?
The wearer may not always be capable of manually pressing a button.
6. Does it provide GPS location?
This becomes particularly important once a senior leaves home.
7. Can caregivers access the location information?
There's a difference between GPS that only a monitoring center can access and GPS information available to designated caregivers.
8. Does the senior need a smartphone?
For many older adults, simplicity is one of the most important considerations.
9. Does it work outside the home?
A modern senior alert should ideally provide protection where the senior actually lives their life.
10. Is professional monitoring mandatory?
Decide whether you want a monitoring-center-first system, a family-first system or another response arrangement.
So, What Is the Best Medical Alert System That Calls Family?
There isn't one medical alert system that's best for every senior.
Someone without nearby family or reliable caregivers may be better served by a traditional professionally monitored medical alert system.
But if your primary requirement is:
"When my parent needs help, I want the medical alert button to call our family."
then SafeGuardian CaregiverCaller deserves serious consideration.
It's specifically designed around that idea.
Press the SOS button → Call family and caregivers.
And CaregiverCaller goes further by combining that direct communication with:
Up to five contacts.
Automatic fall detection.
Adjustable fall sensitivity.
GPS location.
Caregiver notifications.
Two-way voice communication.
Incoming calls to the pendant.
Built-in cellular service.
That's why we believe CaregiverCaller represents an important alternative to the traditional medical-alert model.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a medical alert system that calls family instead of a call center?
Yes. SafeGuardian CaregiverCaller is designed to call pre-programmed family members, caregivers and other trusted contacts directly rather than requiring a professional monitoring center to be the first point of contact.
Can a medical alert call multiple family members?
CaregiverCaller can be programmed with up to five contact numbers and can proceed through the calling sequence when contacts are unavailable.
Can a medical alert system call my cell phone?
CaregiverCaller can call designated caregiver or family telephone numbers, including cell phones.
Can I call my parent's medical alert pendant?
With CaregiverCaller, authorized family members and caregivers can call the device's cellular number and communicate through its built-in hands-free speakerphone.
Can family track the GPS location?
CaregiverCaller provides GPS location capabilities that allow authorized caregivers to request device location information.
Does it have automatic fall detection?
Yes. CaregiverCaller includes automatic fall detection as an additional safeguard if the wearer is unable to manually press the SOS button. No fall-detection system can detect every fall.
Does the senior need a smartphone?
No. The wearer doesn't need to operate a smartphone to activate CaregiverCaller's SOS calling function.
Does it work away from home?
Yes. CaregiverCaller uses cellular connectivity and is designed to travel with the wearer rather than being limited to a landline-based home system.
Put Family Back at the Center of Senior Safety
For decades, medical alert systems have been built around the idea of connecting a senior with a monitoring center.
SafeGuardian asked a different question:
What if the senior wants to call the people they already know and trust?
That question led to CaregiverCaller.
For an adult child caring for Mom or Dad, the difference is easy to understand.
You don't simply want to know that someone will answer when your parent needs help.
You want the opportunity to be there for them yourself.
SafeGuardian CaregiverCaller™ — One Touch. Your Circle of Care Is There.
Discover the CaregiverCaller™ today and see why families are choosing a medical alert system designed to call family and caregivers first.
Learn more about CaregiverCallers at www.carecallers.com.