My mother has had a Rescue Alert system for many years. She has kept a landline phone because of this system. Company now has cell-based system for $10 more a month. Has anyone had both type of systems from any company? Wondering if cellphone based is as reliable?
Also, we signed with Rescue Alert through a program managed by a local hospital. They have terminated their association, and we will now be billed directly by Rescue Alert. They are behind in taking out automatic payments, and I am not overly impressed with the customer service so far. I do not want to "rock the boat", but I am wondering if another company would be superior in any way? I also wonder if there was any reason hospital terminated their association, but no one is going to go on the record if there was a problem.
Mother now may option of VOIP phone system for the first time, which would be much cheaper than her landline, but I do not want to encourage her to switch if her medical alert button would not be as reliable as landline. However, I have VOIP through OOMA and love it, and am thinking of upgrading to their system that will block many robocalls.
You might want to also check out the reviews here, or just search on "Rescue Alert complaints":
https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=qgOmXaq4CPXg9AOT0YfoDQ&q=Rescue+Alert+complaints&oq=Rescue+Alert+complaints&gs_l=psy-ab.3..33i160l3.774.3804..3957...0.0..0.197.2905.1j20......0....1..gws-wiz.......0j0i131j0i10j0i22i30j0i22i10i30.pYF2avZzv-M&ved=0ahUKEwiqtavr5p7lAhV1MH0KHZPoAd0Q4dUDCAs&uact=5#spf=1571161006528
For my father, after some research and contacting companies, I chose a local security company with a good reputation. Dad got a pendant which did require regular charging, which he took care of. The service was outstanding. I wouldn't even consider any of the competitors.
I'm not familiar with the cell based service, but the questions I would ask are whether or not your mother can operate and receive incoming calls easily, w/o having to go through the normal processes of turning the phone on, accessing, etc. For emergency service, you want something that operates easily and quickly, with the KISS philosophy.
The pendant service I hired did that. It had fall detection, and even called when Dad bent over. It was also persistent, continuing to call well into the wee hours of the morning when Dad fell and I had already taken him to the ER.
I have to use Wifi calling when at the cottage, as I may get a signal, but the call can drop at any time, even if the phone is stationary. Here a land line is $30 per month, not expensive at all imho.