If you’re looking for an affordable medical alert system but are overwhelmed by how many brands and providers there are on the market today, you can always trust a familiar name: the Walgreens Ready Response medical alert system. The Walgreens Ready Response has plans that start at $19.95 per month, with mobile and in-home options.
These devices are highly effective for those who prefer a simple design without all the bells and whistles of other competing medical alert systems.
Walgreens Ready Response Medical Alert System Overview
The Walgreens Ready Response is a medical alert system available exclusively at your local Walgreens. Walgreens currently serves approximately 8 million customers each day, making it America’s largest drugstore chain, and one of the most trusted.
The Walgreens Ready Response medical alert device, although sold by Walgreens, is monitored and managed by Connect America. This organization has been prominent in the medical monitoring service market for over 40 years, and, if an accident were to happen, they would be the agents connecting you to emergency services.
Walgreens Ready Response Review
Best For
- Seniors who live alone
- Seniors who live in smaller homes
- Those who are at a higher risk of falling
- Households in an area covered by AT&T
Not Recommended For
- Households with multiple people who need medical assistance
- Seniors who live in large homes
- Households in an area without AT&T coverage
- Seniors who have caregivers
Walgreens Ready Response Pros and Cons:
Pros
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On-the-Go Mobile battery can last up to five days
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On-the-Go Mobile comes with a nationwide GPS tracking service
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Two-way voice options available
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Simple to use
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No long-term contracts
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No immediate equipment costs
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Affordable monitoring costs
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In-Home help buttons are water-resistant.
Cons
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Can’t be purchased in store (must be ordered online and shipped to you).
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No weekend or evening customer service availability
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Monitoring costs can increase in price from month to month.
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One subscriber per device
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Automatic fall detection has an additional cost.
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Limited range of 600 feet for in-home units
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No risk-free trial offer
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You must commit to three months of service upfront, and you cannot cancel within that time period.
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Monitoring center is not TMA Five-Diamond Certified.
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No caregiver dashboard or app
Walgreens Ready Response Features
Water-Resistant Help Button
All Walgreens Ready Response systems have a water-resistant help button, so you can shower without fear of ruining your device. However, it’s not recommended to submerge the button completely, like in a pool or bathtub, because the buttons are not totally waterproof.
Automatic Fall Detection
If you’re looking for automatic fall detection, the Walgreens Ready Response devices do have that feature. However, it comes with a cost of an additional $10 per month. The On-The-Go device also has a GPS locator to help emergency services and operators pinpoint your exact location in case of an accident.
If you do choose to add the automatic fall detection feature, it does more than just detect falls. Instead of having a blanket standard for what a fall should feel like, the system learns the user’s unique body patterns and activity over time. Because everyone’s movements are different, having a system that can accurately recognize an actual fall will help connect you to emergency services faster.
Custom Emergency Settings
If you’re experiencing a medical emergency that renders you unable to speak to the emergency operator after they pick up, you can set up personal instructions for them to follow based on your account settings. These account settings will determine several things, including if they should call family, caregivers, or 911 first.
Missing Features
The Walgreens Ready Response medical alert system is renowned for how simple and easy it is to use. Because of this, the features it offers are limited in comparison to other personal emergency response systems.
Caregiver Dashboard
Ready Response does not currently offer a caregiver dashboard or smartphone app. Seniors and their caregivers often prefer having a caregiver dashboard with their medical alert system because it keeps them and their families connected 24/7. A caregiver dashboard also includes features like location updates and texting.
Color And Wearability Options
Currently, all Ready Response models come in the color white and can be worn on the wrist or neck. There is a lack of variety for appearance and size, and there are no wall-mounted units offered. Also, Walgreens does not offer a smartwatch option for mobile units—only the heavier On-The-Go pendant.
Models Offered
The Walgreens Ready Response medical alert system comes in three models:
- Cellular Home-Based
- Landline Home-Based
- On-the-Go Mobile
Both home-based models come with a help button that can be worn on your wrist or around your neck. The On-The-Go Mobile model is a larger pendant with a help button, with a two-way speaker system built in. Because of the built-in microphone and speaker, this model is heavier than the at-home pendants and medical alert bracelets.
