Most landline-based medical alert systems are relatively simple to install. The system typically includes a base station that plugs into a power outlet and connects to your home’s landline phone jack. When you press the help button on a pendant, lanyard, wristband, or wall-mounted button, the signal is sent to the base station, which then contacts the monitoring center.
That makes the location of the base station more important than it might initially seem. If the help button is too far from the base station, or if walls and other construction materials interfere with the signal, the system may not work as intended when you need it.
The best location depends on the size and layout of your home, the construction of the building, and where you spend your time – the published range is only a starting point; actual coverage depends on the house, so testing matters.
Base Station Range
Most landline medical alert systems have a stated range of roughly 800 to 1,200 feet, although the actual range inside a home can be considerably less because of walls, floors and construction materials. For many homes, a system rated for around 1,000 feet provides enough coverage for the entire house and some areas immediately outside it.
Although you may be able to connect the base station to any compatiblce landline jack in your home, don’t choose its location based solely on where the phone jack happens to be. Think about where you need the system to work.
A relatively central location is often the best starting point because it gives the signal a better chance of reaching bedrooms, bathrooms, the kitchen, basement or other frequently used areas. Also consider places you regularly visit outside the house, such as the garage, driveway, patio or mailbox.
The manufacturer’s stated range is a useful guideline, but it isn’t a guarantee of coverage throughout your particular home. Testing the system in the places where you are most likely to need it is the best way to determine whether the placement works.
Home Layout and Construction
The help button needs to communicate with the base station for the system to work properly. The construction and layout of your home can affect that communication.
After installing the base station, test the help button from every room and from the outdoor areas where you regularly spend time. Pay particular attention to bathrooms, bedrooms and other locations where a fall or medical emergency might occur.
Most homes won’t present a significant problem, but certain layouts and construction materials can reduce the effective range. A base station located in a basement, for example, may have difficulty reaching areas above ground level or outside the house. Thick masonry walls, reinforced concrete, metal framing and other dense materials can also interfere with wireless signals.
That’s why the manufacturer’s published range should be viewed as a starting point rather than a promise of coverage. A system that works perfectly in one home may have a shorter effective range in another.
Central Location Inside the House
The base station does more than communicate with your help button and contact the monitoring center. On many systems, it also provides an audible announcement or alarm when the help button is activated. Placing it in a central part of the home can make it easier for other people in the household to hear that an emergency call has been made.
This can be particularly important in a multigenerational household. An older adult might have a separate living area, such as a basement apartment, in-law suite or detached guesthouse. In that situation, placing the base station in the older person’s private living area may not be the best choice if you also want other household members to hear an alarm.
A base station in a central location in the main living area may allow the alarm to be heard more easily throughout the house. However, the help button still needs to remain within the system’s effective range.
If your home has separate buildings or unusually large distances between living areas, look for a system designed to provide adequate coverage rather than assuming a standard landline system will reach everywhere. Most importantly, test the system after installation from the places where the user is most likely to need help.
The right location isn’t necessarily the room with the most convenient phone jack. It is the location that provides reliable communication with the help button while allowing the base station’s alarm to be heard by the people who may need to respond.
Bay Alarm Medical’s Home Medical Alert Systems
Trusted review sources like PC Magazine, the Senior List, and Medical Alert Buyer’s Guide have consistently given our medical alert systems top ratings. Our systems are easy to set up and use and come with a risk-free, 15-day guarantee. Try the system for a month, and return the unit if you’re not completely satisfied for any reason. We’ll refund your charges (minus shipping costs).
Learn more about our service and diverse selection of medical alert systems. Prefer to talk with someone about your options? No problem! Call us at 877-522-9633 to speak to a representative or start an online chat at the Bay Alarm Medical Web site.
About the Author
As Bay Alarm Medical CMO, Alan Wu is deeply involved in the design of our products, from the hardware we use, to service pricing, to the feedback we receive from our customers so we can improve what we offer. He understands the questions and problems seniors may have, from weak cell signal in rural areas, to memory issues that can cause wandering. He works to find solutions to these and find ways our technology can make lives better and longer. Read his full credentials here.
