Aloe Care Health vs. LifeStation

Medical alert systems are devices that are worn by seniors or those with medical conditions that enable them to call for help in the event of an emergency. These devices usually include a base station that is connected to a landline and/or cellular network, as well as a wearable help button that can be used as a pendant or necklace.

These devices can be a lifesaver for seniors who live alone, as well as those with medical conditions that make them susceptible to falls or other accidents. Medical alert systems can provide peace of mind for both the seniors and their loved ones, knowing that help is just a button press away.

There are many different medical alert system companies out there, each with its own unique features and benefits. We will compare two of the most popular companies in the industry: Aloe Care Health and LifeStation.

	Aloe Care Health	LifeStation
Overall Grade	Overall Grade: A	Overall Grade: A-minus
Costs
Monthly Cost Price	$24.99 - $49.99	$32.95 - $49.95
Device Cost	$99.99 - $349.99	$0 - $99.95
Shipping Fee	n/a	$12.5
Cancellation Fee	No fee	No fee
Fall Detection Fee	n/a	n/a
Cellular Fee	n/a	n/a
Spouse Monitoring	$29.99	$0 - $3.95
Features
Connectivity Option	Cellular or Cellular	Cellular or Cellular
Two-way Speaker & Microphone	Yes	Yes
Home-based Back Up Battery Life	4-6 hours	32 hours
On-the-go Battery Life	120 hours	120 hours or 120 hours
Button Range	200 ft or 200 ft	600 ft, 650 ft or 200 ft
Water Resistant	Yes	Yes
GPS Tracking	Yes, some plans	Yes, some plans
Caregiver App	Yes	Yes, some plans
Response Time	30 seconds or 30 seconds	28 seconds
More Details	See All Plans	See All Plans

Aloe Care Health

Pros:

• Reasonable monthly monitoring fees
• Availability of free mobile app - Aloe Care Health App
• 24/7 professional emergency monitoring
• Voice-activated system
• Does not charge for an additional fall detection fee as it's already included in their monthly subscription fee
• Free shipping on all orders plus offers to expedite shipping for an additional cost
• Motion sensors availability with their Total Care plan

Cons:

• One-time device cost shall be paid upon purchasing a plan and it's somewhat more expensive than what other providers charge
• Buttons only have 200ft range from the base station

LifeStation

Pros:

• Offers automatic fall detection feature
• Find My Loved One provides care providers with location-based services.
• Offers device with a beautiful jewelry-like appearance
• No long-term contracts and does not charge a cancellation fee
• 30-day money-back guarantee for new customers
• Low-cost monitoring for spouses and loved ones
• On-the-go devices can last up to days

Cons:

• Plans are considerably more expensive than other providers
• No landline connection for a home-based system
• No caregiver app
• Covers a radius of only 600 to 650ft

Aloe Care Overview

Aloe Care Health is one of the few medical alert companies to provide a voice-activated device. When users are unable to speak or reach their phone to call for help, the device can be activated by saying "emergency" a few times and it will automatically connect you to an emergency response agent who will dispatch assistance to your location.

Aloe Care's plans start at $24.99 up to $49.99 a month, which is average for the industry. They don't require a long-term contract, so you're free to cancel their services at any time. Though like some other medical alert system providers, they do charge a one-time device that you have to pay upfront upon purchasing a plan.

It's also worth mentioning that automatic fall detection is already included in their monthly subscription fee. Other providers charge an additional monthly fee for this feature so it's good to know that Aloe Care is already including it in their base price.

Medical Alert Systems

Mobile Companion

Aloe Care's 4G LTE Mobile Companion is a small device that works on the AT&T LTE network across the country. This includes a wearable fall sensor and two-way voice communication, real-time GPS tracking, and automatic fall detection. This system can be purchased for a monthly cost of $24.99 plus a one-time device cost of $99.99. This device is water-resistant and can last up to 5 days on a single charge.

The Mobile Companion will automatically call for help if you fall and are unable to get up. If necessary, a trained operator will talk to you through the device to assess the situation and dispatch emergency services. By then, the operator will continue to stay on the line with you until emergency responders arrive.

Essentials

The Aloe Care Essentials plan includes a voice-activated, 4G LTE-connected Smart Hub and a wearable Care Button. This home-based system costs $29.99 a month with a one-time device cost of $14 9.99.

The Smart Hub is basically a base station that acts as the brains of the system and is equipped with motion, temperature, and air quality sensors. It uses your cellular network to communicate with the Aloe Care app on your smartphone. This connection allows the Hub to call for help in the event of an emergency, as well as send notifications and updates to the app. It also has a button to trigger an alarm that will notify the monitoring center.

The Care Button, on the other hand, is a wearable device that has a range of 200ft and can also be used to trigger an alarm. When an adult needs assistance, there are two ways to get help - either they say the word "emergency" until the Hub's built-in microphone picks up the word and initiates a call for help or they push the Care Button to immediately call for a response agent.

Essentials Plus

The Essentials Plus plan is priced at $39.99 a month with a one-time fee of $249.99 for the device cost. This plan includes a Smart Hub base that is voice-activated and has built-in motion, temperature, and air quality sensors; a wearable Care Button to call for help up to 200ft range; and a Mobile Companion device with wearable fall detection and AT&T LTE coverage nationwide.

Total Care

Aloe Care's Total Care package includes their Smart Hub base station that's voice-activated and has built-in motion, temperature, and air quality sensors. You also get their wearable Care Button to call for help up to 200ft away as well as their Mobile Companion device with AT&T LTE coverage nationwide. This plan also includes two additional mobile security features: two motion sensors and automatic fall detection.

This plan is the most expensive they offer which costs $49.99 a month with a one-time device cost of $349.99. It includes everything from their Essentials Plus plan but with a few more features.

LifeStation Overview

LifeStation is a medical alert company that has been in the business for over 18 years. They offer both home-based and mobile systems, making them a great choice for those who want reliable protection both at home and on the go. However, all their devices work only through the 4G-LTE cellular network and it can be a major consideration since not all areas in the country have a strong cellular signal.

LifeStation offers standard features that are found in most medical alert systems. Their devices are waterproof and come with GPS location tracking and an automatic fall detection feature that can be really helpful in case of an emergency.

LifeStation has two US-based monitoring centers located in New Jersey and Texas and both are staffed by care specialists who are trained to assist in any emergency situation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. Both of the monitoring centers are UL-listed and CSAA Five Diamond Certified which means that they are held to the highest industry standards.

Medical Alert Systems

At Home Standard

Life Station's At Home Standard plan consists of a base unit that works through the AT&T cellular network and a water-resistant help button that can be worn as a pendant or wristband and can cover a range of 650ft from the base unit. The system has a clear two-way speaker and microphone and a backup battery that can last up to 32 hours in the event of a power outage.

At Home Supreme

At Home Supreme comes with a monthly monitoring fee of $44.95. This system consists of everything in the At Home Standard plan plus a free Lockbox that allows first responders to access your home if you're unable to open the door in an emergency.

The system's monthly subscription plan already includes automatic fall detection. The base unit also comes with a backup battery that can last up to 32 hours, however, it only covers a range of 600ft.

Sidekick Standard

This on-the-go system costs $37.95 a month for monitoring, plus a one-time device cost of $99.95. It comes with a tiny, lightweight pendant with a built-in two-way communication help button that is water resistant and can last up to 5 days after being fully charged. It also has GPS tracking and a caregiver app called Find My Loved One so you can easily find out where your loved ones are if they wander off.

Sidekick Supreme

The Sidekick Supreme from LifeStation costs $49.95 a month for monitoring, plus a one-time device cost of $99.95. This includes everything in the Sidekick Standard plan, plus a fall detection feature that can automatically detect if a fall has occurred and send an alert to the monitoring center.

Sidekick Smart

If you're looking for a more low-key and high-tech medical alert system, Sidekick Smart is an excellent option. You can get this plan for $43.95 a month with a one-time equipment fee of $99.95. This includes a smartwatch that has built-in two-way communication, GPS location tracking, and fall detection capabilities as well as 24/7 access to emergency help.

Sidekick Smart also comes with a pedometer to track step count, a heart rate monitor to push you toward a healthier lifestyle, and a weather forecast feature so you can always be prepared for the day ahead. Plus, the smartwatch is water-resistant and can last up to 5 days on a single charge, so you don't have to worry about it running out of power when you need it most.

LifeStation Luxury

This beautiful pendant is a must-have for fashion-forward seniors who don't want to wear or be seen wearing a typical medical alert device. The pendant is carefully crafted with high-quality materials, including a brass case with rhodium-colored plating, a center-faceted blue resin stone, and a 30" brass chain.

The pendant pairs wirelessly via Bluetooth with LifeStation's Mobile LTE device, which connects to a 24/7 emergency monitoring center. In case of an emergency, the wearer can push the help button on the pendant that will trigger the Mobile LTE device to call for help. This on-the-go system costs $43.95 a month and the pendant has a 1-year life span and a range of 200ft from the device.

Aloe Care charges monthly monitoring fees that range from $24.99 up to $49.99 while LifeStation's systems cost $32.95 up to $49.95 a month. When it comes to one-time equipment fees, Aloe Care charges an additional upfront fee of $99.99 to $349.99 while LifeStation charges $99.95 for the Sidekick Smart plan.

For shipping fees, Aloe Care offers free shipping and charges $40 for expedited shipping while LifeStation charges a flat rate of $13 for the service. Additionally, automatic fall detection is already included on their plans. Aloe Care included it in all of their plans while LifeStation included it only for the At Home and Sidekick Supreme plans.

Finally, the charge for an extra button for spouse monitoring costs a one-time fee of $29.99 with Aloe Care while LifeStation charges an additional monthly fee of $3.95 for the same service.

Overall, Aloe Care is the more affordable option for those who are looking for a medical alert system. However, it is important to keep in mind the features and services each company offers to make sure you get the value for your money.

When it comes to features, Aloe Care and LifeStation offer systems that connect to a cellular network only. This means that the systems will not work on a landline connection and if there is no cellular coverage in your area.

Aloe Care's home-based devices consist of a backup battery that can last 4 to 6 hours in case of power interruption and a range that can cover up to 200ft. Whereas, LifeStation offers home-based systems with a 32-hour backup battery and a range that can cover up to 650ft. Both companies provide a range of coverage that is just half of what other providers offer.

In addition, both companies offer mobile devices that users can take with them while they are away from home. However, in terms of additional features, LifeStation offers a smartwatch with a pedometer for step tracking, a heart rate monitor, and a sensor for weather changes. Moreover, LifeStation also offers a water-resistant jewelry-like button that functions as a mobile device that has a two-way speakerphone, fall detection feature and a lifespan of 1 year.

Monitoring Center

Monitoring centers are the most important part of any medical alert systems. This is because they are the ones responsible for contacting emergency services in the event of an emergency. Both companies have monitoring centers that operate 24/7, including holidays.

Aloe Care's monitoring center is TMA Five Diamond Certified while Life Station's two US-based monitoring centers located in New Jersey and Texas are both UL-listed and CSAA Five Diamond Certified. This means that both companies have undergone a rigid set of standards and procedures to ensure that their monitoring centers are reliable and can provide the best possible service.

In terms of response time, Aloe Care's average is 30 seconds while LifeStation is 28 seconds. Currently, Aloe Care's services are only available in English but they are working on incorporating the Spanish and Mandarin languages into their system. Whereas, LifeStation’s emergency monitoring agents use translation services to support other languages including Spanish, German, and a lot more.

OUR PICK

After a careful comparison of Aloe Care and LifeStation, we have come to the decision that Aloe Care is the better provider. This is because they are more affordable and they offer a wide range of features and services.

What sets Aloe Care Health apart from other providers is they offer a caregiver app where users can contact emergency operators or someone in their Care Circle in an emergency. There's no limit to the number of people you can add to your Care Circle, which makes it easy to keep everyone in the loop. This gives users a sense of security knowing that there are people who will be notified in case of an emergency. Additionally, the automatic fall detection feature is included in all of their plans. This feature costs an extra buck for most companies so it's nice to know that Aloe Care has got you covered.