Find the Best Medical Alert Systems in Santa Barbara, CA

Benefits of medical alert systems

Most Santa Barbara seniors have chosen to age in place in the Mesa or the Mission, which are fairly isolated areas. For seniors that live alone, simple tasks like bathing or navigating the stairs can be dangerous. Living independently is potentially difficult for younger Santa Barbara residents, too, as over 5% of the city’s population has ambulatory difficulty from disabilities.

Medical alert systems, which can be worn as pendants or bracelets, ensure that seniors and people with disabilities who live on their own are never really alone.

How do medical alert systems work?

Medical alert systems include wearable trinkets that send for help in the event of a medical emergency. These devices cannot prevent accidents, but they can bring life-saving help to the scene immediately.

In the event of an emergency, monitored medical alert systems connect the user to an employee dispatcher who handles the situation. Meanwhile, unmonitored systems automatically alert either 911 or a predetermined contact. Some devices require connection to a landline, while others can connect to users’ smartphones on the go.

How much do medical alert systems cost?

Medical alert system prices vary with each device, but unmonitored systems cost between $100 and $200. Monitoring packages range between $20 and $90 per month. Additional charges for add on services, like on-the-go devices that use GPS tracking, cost as much as $50 per month.

Are medical alert systems covered by Medicare?

While Medicare does not cover the cost of a medical alert system, certain providers and coverage plans will. For instance, a Medicare Supplement plan can offer a discounted rate on medical alert systems. If you can prove that a medical alert system is necessary for your health, then a Medicare Advantage Plan may offer the device as part of its benefits as well.

Several medical alert system providers offer discounts to AARP members and veterans, too.

Medical alert system features in Santa Barbara

Medical alert systems help users and their families breathe a little easier thanks to services offering:

• Auto-fall detection
• Twelve-second response times
• Instant alerts to family members
• GPS tracking
• Ranges up to 1,300 feet from the system’s base
• Lockboxes that allow emergency personnel to enter the scene
• Battery life up to five years
• Hearing aid and foreign language compatibility

Medical alert installation and maintenance

While some medical alert companies charge set-up fees to install the system, many medical alert providers offer free shipping and activation. Companies also have 30-day free trials where you can try the equipment for free, then decide for yourself if it’s the right fit.

If you or your loved are among the 70,000 seniors that call Santa Barbara home, consider the following devices to simplify independent living.