What Life Alert does

Life Alert Emergency Response, Inc. is a privately held American medical alert system provider founded in 1987 and headquartered in Encino, California. The company designs, distributes, and monitors personal emergency response systems (PERS) targeting seniors aging in place, individuals with chronic medical conditions, veterans and military families, and the adult children/caregivers of these populations. Its product portfolio centers on four connected devices — the Micro Voice Pendant (a waterproof wearable pendant with two-way voice), the Wristband Button, a wall-mounted Help Button (up to 1,000 ft range), and the HELP On-the-Go + GPS (a pocket-sized mobile unit with built-in GPS running on AT&T cellular) — all communicating with an in-home Main Unit base station that routes signals to Life Alert's company-owned, U.S.-based, Five Diamond Certified and UL Listed Emergency Dispatch Centers staffed 24/7 by trained human dispatchers.

The company's underlying technology stack is intentionally low-tech and reliability-focused: two-way voice over a pendant, waterproof hardware that "never requires charging," GSM/cellular connectivity via AT&T for mobile coverage, and proprietary dispatch protocols rather than any consumer-facing software, mobile app, API, or third-party integrations. The business model is a direct-to-consumer subscription: equipment is provided free of charge (no rental or purchase fees), with monthly monitoring fees on annual prepay or multi-year contracts, supported by a Price Lock Guarantee and a veteran discount program. Distribution is exclusively via inside phone sales (1-800-990-0595 / veterans line 1-800-401-0961) and the company website — there are no retail channels, resellers, or app stores.

Life Alert generates revenue entirely from recurring subscription monitoring services and supports millions of U.S. members, claiming more than 800,000 lives saved since 2008 and an operational cadence of "one life saved every 11 minutes." Customer acquisition relies heavily on earned media and the cultural penetration of its registered trademark slogan "Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!" — recognized by USA TODAY as the #1 most memorable ad of the past 25 years — combined with legacy endorsement by former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop (until his passing in 2013). The company has remained founder-controlled/private with no disclosed outside funding rounds, no acquisitions, and no subsidiaries.

Name

Life Alert

Legal name

Life Alert Emergency Response, Inc.

Website

https://lifealert.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Life Alert is a privately held U.S. medical alert system provider founded in 1987, offering subscription-based 24/7 personal emergency response services and connected wearable devices (pendants, wristbands, wall buttons, mobile GPS units) to seniors, veterans, individuals with medical conditions, and their caregivers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Personal Emergency Response Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

akta.pro primary industry

Personal Emergency Response (PERS) & Medical Alert Monitoring (HSAHAAAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wearable Medical Alert Devices (Pendants, Watches, Bands) (HSAHAHAI), Emergency Dispatch, Call Center Monitoring & Response Services (HSAHAHAG), Two-Way Voice Emergency Communication Devices & Services (HSAHAHAF)

Keywords

• Medical alert systems
• Personal emergency response
• Senior monitoring services
• Emergency dispatch services
• Wearable safety devices

Headquarters

HQ city

Encino

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Subscription Monitoring Services: Life Alert generates recurring subscription revenue from monthly monitoring services. Equipment is provided free, with pricing based on protection level selected (in-home, mobile/GPS, or combined). Annual prepayment options are available with first month free promotion. The company offers a Price Lock Guarantee to maintain consistent pricing throughout membership.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Life Alert provides personal emergency response services through a portfolio of wearable and stationary medical alert devices (pendant, wristband, wall-mounted help button, and mobile GPS unit) connected to its company-owned, 24/7 U.S.-based Emergency Dispatch Centers. Customers subscribe to monthly or annual monitoring plans, with hardware provided free of charge and no device recharging required, enabling seniors and individuals with medical conditions to summon emergency help at the press of a button from home or on the go.

Product overview

Life Alert offers a unified medical alert system platform built around wearable emergency devices and a 24/7 U.S.-based emergency dispatch center. The product portfolio centers on four core devices: the Micro Voice Pendant (necklace with two-way voice), the Wristband Button (wrist-worn emergency trigger), the Help Button (wall-mounted unit), and the HELP On-the-Go + GPS (mobile GPS-enabled device). All devices connect to a Main Unit base station for in-home coverage, which in turn connects to Life Alert's company-owned, Five Diamond Certified dispatch centers. The system operates on a subscription model with free equipment, emphasizing no charging required, waterproof design, and round-the-clock monitoring with real human dispatchers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Micro Voice Pendant A wearable necklace pendant featuring two-way voice communication, allowing users (primarily seniors and individuals with medical conditions) to speak directly with Life Alert's emergency dispatchers without needing to reach a phone. Waterproof, lightweight, and never requires charging; included free with Life Alert subscription monitoring.
• Life Alert Wristband Button and Bracelet A waterproof, lightweight wristband/bracelet-worn emergency button that, with a single press, connects the user to Life Alert's U.S.-based 24/7 emergency dispatch center. Designed for seniors and at-risk individuals who prefer wrist-worn wearables.
• Help Button (wall-mounted) A wall-mounted, large red emergency button designed for maximum visibility and ease of use; waterproof and wire-free with up to 1,000 ft range from the Main Unit base station. Allows the user to summon Life Alert dispatchers from a fixed location in the home.
• HELP On-the-Go + GPS A small, pocket-sized wearable mobile emergency device with built-in GPS location tracking and AT&T GSM cellular connectivity, providing nationwide on-the-go protection for users away from home. Waterproof and never needs charging; connects to Life Alert's dispatch center with a single press.
• Main Unit (In-Home Base Station) The central in-home base station that receives signals from Life Alert pendant, wristband, and help-button devices and establishes a two-way voice connection with Life Alert's monitoring center. Provides up to 1,000 ft of range throughout the home and yard; supplied free with a Life Alert subscription.
• 24/7 Emergency Monitoring and Dispatch Service The core subscription service: 24/7 monitoring of Life Alert devices by trained U.S.-based dispatchers at Life Alert's company-owned, Five Diamond Certified and UL Listed Emergency Dispatch Centers. Upon activation, dispatchers assess the situation, send appropriate emergency services, stay on the line until help arrives, and notify designated family members. Sold on annual prepay, monthly, or multi-year subscription terms with veteran discounts available.

Quantifiable outcome

• A life is saved every 11 minutes
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators8 records

Direct peers

• MobileHelp: MobileHelp is a PERS provider focused on mobile GPS-enabled medical alert devices, paired with cellular and in-home base stations, sold on subscription. It directly overlaps Life Alert's On-the-Go + GPS product and competes for the same active-senior segment.
• Alert1: Alert1 is a U.S. PERS subscription provider offering in-home, mobile, and fall-detection medical alert systems on monthly plans. It targets the same senior aging-in-place customer as Life Alert with comparable price points and direct-to-consumer sales.
• Medical Guardian: Medical Guardian is a leading U.S. PERS subscription provider offering in-home, mobile GPS, and smartwatch-style devices on a recurring monitoring model. It competes head-to-head with Life Alert for the same senior aging-in-place customer across phone and web sales channels.
• Philips Lifeline: Philips Lifeline is the original healthcare-affiliated PERS brand, offering in-home and mobile medical alert subscriptions with AutoAlert fall detection. It is the most heritage direct peer to Life Alert, serving the same senior demographic with a comparable subscription and dispatch model.
• LifeFone: LifeFone is a long-tenured U.S. PERS subscription brand offering in-home and on-the-go medical alert monitoring with fall detection and caregiver notifications. Heritage, customer demographic, and direct-to-consumer subscription model all closely parallel Life Alert.
• Bay Alarm Medical: Bay Alarm Medical is a U.S. PERS subscription company offering in-home, mobile GPS, and pendant-based monitoring on monthly/quarterly/annual billing. It is a direct head-to-head competitor to Life Alert on product line, customer profile, and sales-motion similarity.
• Connect America: Connect America is a large PERS and connected-health platform that owns the Philips Lifeline brand among others, offering in-home and mobile medical alert subscriptions. It is a scaled platform peer directly serving Life Alert's category with comparable products and customers.

Others

• Apple: Apple's Apple Watch Series and later models include fall detection and Emergency SOS that can connect to emergency services without a separate subscription. Although not a direct subscription competitor, Apple's installed-base wearables represent an indirect substitute that competes for the same emergency-response use case.

Emerging players

• Aloe Care Health: Aloe Care Health is a tech-enabled PERS platform offering voice-activated in-home hubs, mobile GPS, and a caregiver mobile app. It competes with Life Alert for the modern digitally-engaged caregiver and senior segment that Life Alert's no-app model underserves.

Broad incumbents

• ADT: ADT is the largest U.S. monitored home security and alarm company that has expanded into medical alert / PERS services through its ADT Health offering. It overlaps with Life Alert in monitored emergency services but operates as a much broader security portfolio player.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@LifeAlertOfficial
• Facebookfacebook.com/lifealert
• Instagraminstagram.com/lifealerthelp/?hl=en
• Xx.com/life_alert
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/life-alert

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Life Alert