LifeStation's medical alert systems are simple but get the job done. There's no complicated pricing to worry about, and the monthly fees are standard for the industry. There's no landline option, but LifeSation offers unique integrations with Uber and Amazon Alexa devices.
LifeStation Medical Alert Review
We share our testing experiences and dive into the details on LifeStation’s pricing and features.
November 28, 2022
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Pros
TMA Five Diamond certified
Alexa integration
Partnership with Uber Health
Jewelry pendants
Free lease of equipment
Discounted spouse monitoring
Fall detection option
No contract
PAPA Pals program 
Cons
No pro-rated refunds
No landline option
Activation fee for mobile devices
No price lock guarantee LifeStation costs, systems, and policies for 2022
LifeStation’s monitoring service starts at $32.95 per month for an at-home system without automatic fall detection. This price is standard for most cellular medical alert systems, but it's not the most affordable option on the market.
How much does LifeStation cost?
The main LifeStation cost you have to worry about is the monthly monitoring fee, which starts at about $33 to $44 depending on your chosen equipment.
You don't pay any equipment fees—all LifeStation products are provided to you for free, and you send them back to cancel the service. However, you'll need to budget for a $99.95 activation fee if you choose LifeStation's mobile devices.
LifeStation offers just a couple of add-ons that increase the monthly cost:
- Fall detection: about $12/mo.
- Spouse coverage: about $4/mo.
- Wall buttons: about $3/mo.
- Lockbox: about $3/mo.
- PAPA Pals service: about $5/mo.
Shipping costs about $12.50 but is waived if you pay for several months of service in advance.
Compare LifeStation pricing and systems
Product | Starting monthly cost | Fall detection cost | GPS tracking | Battery life | Equipment | Learn more |
| $32.95 | Call for availability |  No
| 32-hour backup battery | • Base unit | View Packages | |
| $37.95 | $12/mo. |  Yes | 5-day battery | • Wearable GPS button | View Packages | |
| $43.95 | Not Available | Yes | 1-day battery | • Medical alert watch | View Packages |
Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
There is no one-size-fits-all
Feeling overwhelmed? Take a step back and learn How to Choose a Medical Alert System before you start shopping. We dig into what makes a medical alert system a good match for you and your family.
LifeStation's refund and return policies
LifeStation requires no long-term contracts, but you're welcome to pay on a quarterly or annual basis if that's easier for you. You can cancel any time.
LifeStation offers a 30-day money-back guarantee with no pro-rated refunds. Expect to pay return shipping. If you're unable to return the equipment or it's damaged, LifeStation may charge an extra fee of around $300.
A closer look at LifeStation products
LifeStation has all the ingredients of a quality medical alert system: professional monitoring, quality equipment, and options for both at-home and active older adults.
We’ve laid out the blueprints of LifeStation’s plans to show you starting costs and what's included with each plan.
1. LifeStation In-Home Medical Alert System
In-home medical alert system
If you stay at home most of the day and don't go out alone, an at-home system may be your best choice.
LifeStation's In-Home package comes with a base station and a wearable help button. The button itself is about the size of a quarter, so it shouldn't be too heavy or irritating.
It comes on a waterproof necklace or wristband and communicates with the base station for up to 600 feet—so wearers can move about the house and yard and still be in range. If you choose a fashion pendant instead, the range drops to about 200 feet. Expect to pay about $10/mo. for the jewelry pendant too.
The base unit has a 32-hour backup battery that kicks in if the power goes out.
2. LifeStation Sidekick Mobile GPS Device
Mobile GPS system
This LifeStation medical alert system is a good fit for active older adults who still drive, run errands, and travel. There’s no base station or extra devices, just one lanyard with a waterproof domino-sized emergency button.
The battery lasts for up to five days too, so you won’t need to charge it as often while you're out and about.
The Sidekick uses LTE cellular signals through AT&T’s 4G network (the same network your smartphone uses when you’re not on Wi-Fi). Automatic fall detection is available for an additional monthly fee.
The Find My Loved One feature also comes with this LifeStation mobile GPS device. It works as a text alert or Amazon Alexa skill. Just ask your Amazon Echo or text the feature to look into your loved one’s location. You’ll find out almost instantly.
3. LifeStation Sidekick Smart Medical Alert Watch
Medical alert watch
The LifeStation Sidekick Smart is a medical alert watch that also doubles as a basic fitness tracker for seniors thanks to its built-in pedometer and heart rate monitor.
Other features include a weather app and location tracking through the Find My Loved One feature. Fall detection isn't available with the Sidekick Smart.
This water-resistant watch should be charged once per day.
Our SideKick Smart testing experience
Image: Alina Bradford, SafeWise
Our tester had some mixed feelings about LifeStation's Sidekick Smart. She liked how bright and crisp the screen is, noting that it should be easy for older adults to read at a glance.
But she wasn't impressed with the size of the watch. "It stands up off my wrist by almost a solid inch. I feel like I'm wearing a ring box on my wrist."
Notable features
LifeStation has a few features that make it extra helpful for caretakers and loved ones of older adults.
- Find My Loved One: This text feature comes with the On-The-Go GPS unit. It’s available as a skill through the Amazon Alexa app. Text it or ask your Amazon Echo to “find my loved one,” and the alert system will locate them through the mobile LTE and GPS features.
- Partnership with Uber: LifeStation’s collaboration with Uber brings independent living into the 21st century. If your loved one no longer drives or you aren’t available to take them, they can call LifeStation to get a ride. (Check out other rideshare options for seniors.)
- PAPA Pals: LifeStation's trained PAPA Pals help with appointments, grocery shopping, system installation, and more. They're not quite in-home caregivers—think of PAPA Pals as LifeStation's concierge service.
LifeStation customer service
LifeStation has two UL-Listed monitoring centers staffed with trained professionals. These redundant monitoring centers serve customers across the US 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If one fails, the other will be up and running, so help is never far away.
The gold standard doesn’t stop there. LifeStation is part of the TMA Five Diamond program. It’s less of an award and more of an initiative program that agrees to random checks, fewer false alarms, and better service.
We're happy to share that LifeStation finally supports online ordering. You may still want to call to talk to a sales rep to ask about discounts or customizable features.
LifeStation vs. the competition
Because LifeStation offers just three products for average monthly fees, it tends to get lost in the shuffle compared to other medical alert companies with much larger catalogs and more enticing policies, like Bay Alarm Medical and Medical Guardian. For example, LifeStation doesn't offer a landline option, caregiver app, or price lock guarantee.
That said, LifeStation is a great option for seniors who don't have a support network of family and friends thanks to its unique PAPA Pals program and Uber integration.
Compare LifeStation to other medical alert systems
Brand | Lowest monthly monitoring | Location tracking for caregivers | Fall detection available | Landline connection available | Learn more | Read review |
| $32.95 | Yes | Yes | No | View Packages | – | |
| $24.95 | Yes | Yes | Yes | View Packages | Read review | |
| $27.95 | Yes | Yes | No | View Packages | Read review | |
| $29.95 | No | Yes | Yes | View Packages | Read review | |
| $29.95 | Yes | Yes | Yes | View Packages | Read review |
Info as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Final word
LifeStation’s prices aren’t the lowest, but these contract-free systems come with helpful add-ons that make it money well spent. And thanks to the company's new online ordering platform, you can easily compare prices without feeling pressured by a sales rep.
LifeStation FAQ
Members of these organizations get a discount on LifeStation's monthly monitoring fee:
- VFW
- AFSCME
- Elks Lodge
- American Legion
Yes. All of LifeStation's wearable alert buttons are water resistant, making them easy to wear in the shower and tub, to the beach, or in the pool.
The At-Home medical alert system has a backup battery that lasts up to 32 hours without power. That's about as good as it gets for medical alert backup batteries.
The LifeStation monitoring station will have your address if you use an At-Home system. If you have the Sidekick or Sidekick Smart, the monitoring center receives your location thanks to GPS, Wi-Fi, cellular location data, and Bluetooth. They’ll stay on the line until emergency responders arrive too.
Learn more about how GPS trackers work.
How we wrote our LifeStation review
Image: Alina Bradford, SafeWise
We started by learning everything we could about this medical alert company—looking through the website and reading LifeStation reviews from customers. We also called the customer support line to speak with a LifeStation care specialist.
We paid the most attention to pricing, equipment, and monitoring details. We then looked at the big picture by comparing LifeStation to the top-rated medical alert systems like Bay Alarm Medical, GetSafe, and Lifeline.
Finally, we tested the LifeStation Sidekick Smart hands-on. We tested its health-monitoring capabilities, waterproof claims, and battery life.
Learn more about how we approach reviews like this from our methodology.
Related articles on SafeWise
Sources
- Medical Alert Advice, “Why is TMA (CSAA) Five Diamond Monitoring Center Important For Medical Alert Monitoring?.” Accessed November 28, 2022.
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