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  • Alex Marro
    • 2 min read

Pendant Systems vs Telephone Reassurance

If you don't read the entire thing, take away this: we recommend Telephone Reassurance Providers like My Safety Call over Safety Pendants.

 

Introduction

You shouldn't have to worry about checking in on your loved ones if you're busy and they live far away. There are a variety of tools available for you, your loved ones, or even your communities. In this article, you'll get a comparison of two types of systems: Pendants (like Life Alert) and Telephone Reassurance Programs (like My Safety Call).


We'll explore:

  1. How they work

  2. Cost comparison

  3. How to choose


Photo by Hasan Albari from Pexels


 

How they work

Pendant Systems

Pendant systems are typically a necklace with a button worn by the senior. If there is an emergency, seniors press the button to send an alert message to the pendant organization. The most famous system was made popular by Life Alert and developed in 1987.


Pendants have been around for a while, so here are some questions for seniors and caregivers to consider:

  • Will I commit to wearing a pendant all day, all night, and when I shower?

  • Will I periodically check to make sure my pendant isn't broken or out of battery?

  • If I'm not wearing my pendant and there's an emergency, how long would it take before someone checks on me?

  • Will wearing the pendant make me feel old?


Telephone Reassurance Programs

The big difference between telephone reassurance systems and pendants is that telephone reassurance systems are proactive (makes calls) instead of reactive (waits for a button to be pressed). This is good because it doesn't depend on the device being near you or operational (in the pendant case).


Telephone Reassurance Program for Seniors alert emergency contacts no matter what if the safety calls are not answered. Your phone can be out of power, broken, or in another country. It doesn't matter. If you don't answer for any reason, the program will notify your emergency contacts.


The big advantages of Telephone Reassurance Programs over pendant systems are:

  • It's reactive, not proactive. Telephone Reassurance Programs will notify your contacts anytime you don't answer your calls.

  • You don't need to wear a pendant during the day, while you shower, and when you sleep.

  • It doesn't make you feel old.

 

Cost comparison

Pendant Systems

  • Life Alert ($89.85/month + $198 membership fee)

Life Alert, for example, does not share pricing publicly. However, based on this source, Life Alert costs "$69.90 to $89.85 or more depending on which options you choose [and] a one-time membership fee of $198."


Telephone Reassurance Programs

  • My Safety Call ($15/month)

  • Other telephone reassurance programs like RUOK (developed 1987), CARE (developed 1998), and others. Costs range up to $170/senior/mo.

 

How to choose

If you already have a pendant system, it could make sense to stick with it because of convenience. But if you are fed up with wearing it, the price point, and want to prioritize safety, we recommend a Telephone Reassurance Program My Safety Call.




If you need additional help, reach out to contact@mysafetycall.com. We’re experts in Telephone Reassurance Software and would be happy to assist you.


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