LifeStation

Home emergency monitoring makes it safer for seniors to live at home longer, especially if they live alone or don’t have nearby family and friends who can drop by regularly. A personal emergency call service can be a smart supplement to landline or cellular telephone service, because the wearable call button is accessible even when the phone is out of reach.

LifeStation is a New Jersey-based company that offers in-home and mobile personal emergency response equipment and monitoring services. The company focuses on delivering strong customer service, and its monitoring-center staff members are trained to meet the standards of the Central Station Alarm Association’s Five Diamond quality program.

Service Description:

LifeStation offers at-home landline and cellular personal monitoring systems, mobile 911 call buttons, and other safety devices for home emergencies.

Pros:

LifeStation’s at-home monitoring equipment has a range of up to 500 feet, providing coverage indoors and in the yard for many homes. More than one person can be monitored at the same location for a small extra monthly fee. Wearable call buttons are waterproof so they can be worn in the bathroom and while swimming. The mobile 911 call button is designed to fit into a pocket or purse and has batteries designed to last several years without recharging.

LifeStation’s in-house customer care personnel contact emergency responders and people on the client’s request list in the order specified, even if the client is unable to speak during the call. They also stay on the line with the client until help arrives.

Clients can arrange for family members, friends, and caregivers to get email alerts when their call button is activated, whether for an emergency or a regular equipment test. LifeStation has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau since 2013 and has an A+ rating.as of June 2015.

Cons:

Users must choose between a pendant and a bracelet for the wearable call button rather than receiving both.

Fine print:

Cancellation of service requires 30 days’ notice. LifeStation handles repair and replacement of equipment, including battery changes as needed. Customers should save the box their monitoring equipment arrives in to return at the end of the service period. There is no fee for service activation or cancellation.

Cost:

The monthly rate for at-home landline monitoring is $26 if paid annually, $28 if paid quarterly, and $30 if paid monthly. At-home monitoring monthly monitoring for homes without a landline starts at $33. Shipping for the monitoring unit and call-button pendant or bracelet is free.

Optional services are available. Additional users cost $4 per month each. Front door lockboxes for emergency responders are $3 per month. Large, wall-mounted help-call buttons for bathrooms and other rooms cost $2.50 per month and up. Mobile 911 call buttons that work wherever cellular coverage is available cost $10 per month; no additional cellular plan is needed. GPS mobile tracking and fall detection are available for extra fees.

Best for…

Seniors and family members who want a rapid, trained response in case of an emergency and who want the option of having nearby family and friends contacted in addition to emergency responders.