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Analyst Summary:Medical Guardian | Active Guardian
This is a go anywhere mobile alert with fall detection. It is one of the products we reviewed in our comparative evaluation of mobile medical alerts. This is a rebranded version of the Belle+ made by wholesaler Freeus. It has a couple of noteworthy features, in addition to those typical for products in this class.
This is a rebranded version of the Belle+ made by wholesaler Freeus. It has a couple of noteworthy features, in addition to those typical for products in this class.
it includes both GPS location technology and WiFi location technology, which might make it more accurate in knowing where you are at all times (we have not tested this);
it claims a battery life of 5 days, which is very good for this class of products.
This page is archival and is no longer being updated. Medical Guardian no longer sells this exact model.
In our testing below, we also show images of a prior generation of the product, which was the one we tested originally.
Hands-on Testing
We acquired this product (the Freeus Belle+, rebranded as the Active Guardian*) and evaluated it over several weeks, as we have done with many of the competing products.
We tested this product at the same time as the Lively Mobile. Both products have similar features. Both performed well.
Left: Lively Mobile; Right: Freeus Belle+ (rebranded as Active Guardian)
Here are the key findings.
In our tests, battery life was roughly 4.5 days. This is noticeably longer than most other products with similar characteristics, which usually have battery life of around 1.5 days. This may well make a difference, depending on your lifestyle, and would be the primary reason to choose this specific product over similar competing products.
Location capability seemed quite similar to the Lively Mobile, and quite similar to the other mobile medical alerts we have tested. In other words, the product mostly knew where we were to within a house or two, and almost always to within a block. We thought that the fact it had WiFi locating capability might make it superior, but there was no sign of this in our tests.
The Active Guardian / Belle + is a bit larger than the Lively Mobile. You can see the picture below. It is also a bit heavier (2.4 oz vs 1.4oz). It did not feel especially big and clumsy, but the difference in size and weight was somewhat noticeable.
In daily useage the product has several small lights that flash periodically. So does the Lively Mobile, but the Lively lights are a little less obtrusive. Both products make it pretty clear you are wearing a “medical alert”.
This product is easy to charge. You just drop it into a simple charger.
The marketing literature describes the product as “highly water resistant” and says you can wear it in the bath or shower.
*The Freeus Belle+ product we acquired was bought on Amazon, and was sold by a company called LifeStation (rebranded as the LifeStation Premium Mobile). The actual device is the same as is sold by Medical Guardian as the Active Guardian. But the monitoring service was provided by LifeStation.
We found LifeStation quite difficult to deal with. For example, to activate the product we needed to make multiple calls to the customer servce center. These calls were never answered. Instead we had to leave messages and then wait to be called back. So, we don’t recommend buying the product from LifeStation, and if you like the sound of this Freeus Belle+ product, we recommend buying the Active Guardian from Medical Guardian.
Medical Guardian’s response center has already been tested in a number of our other reviews and is good, although with slower response times than GreatCall.
Where to buy it or learn more*: (this takes you away from our website)
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*Disclosure: The research and opinions in this article are those of the author, and may or may not reflect the official views of Tech-enhanced Life.
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In some cases, when we evaluate products and services, we ask the vendor to loan us the products we review (so we don’t need to buy them). Beyond the above, Tech-enhanced Life has no financial interest in any products or services discussed here, and this article is not sponsored by the vendor or any third party. See How we Fund our Work.
Does the Medical Guardian-Active Guardian have a wrist device, or only the pendant? I am researching for my sister, and she prefers a wrist activation device. She fits the some care persona (D), and is cognitively fine.
Also, how long does this device take to charge? While it's charging, it would likely be out of her reach, if a caretaker does the charging.
Hi Bev: The pendant is as
Hi Bev: The pendant is as illustrated in the photo above. You could probably attach it to your wrist, but I dont think that would work well, and the fall detection algorithm would likely not work in that mode. If you want a wrist model you would be better off with one of the other products we recommend.
Re charging time, that is a good question. I dont remember exactly. However for most of these types of product they seem to charge in 2-3 hours, and that would be my guess.
To be certain about these questions, I would double check with the company.
What is the cost of theActive What is the cost of theActive Guardian?
hi, is there any pendant that hi, is there any pendant that doesn’t have flashing lights? is there any service that does a daily wellness check? thx
Does the Medical Guardian
Does the Medical Guardian-Active Guardian have a wrist device, or only the pendant? I am researching for my sister, and she prefers a wrist activation device. She fits the some care persona (D), and is cognitively fine.
Also, how long does this device take to charge? While it's charging, it would likely be out of her reach, if a caretaker does the charging.
Hi Bev: The pendant is as
Hi Bev: The pendant is as illustrated in the photo above. You could probably attach it to your wrist, but I dont think that would work well, and the fall detection algorithm would likely not work in that mode. If you want a wrist model you would be better off with one of the other products we recommend.
Re charging time, that is a good question. I dont remember exactly. However for most of these types of product they seem to charge in 2-3 hours, and that would be my guess.
To be certain about these questions, I would double check with the company.
What is the cost of theActive
What is the cost of theActive Guardian?
hi, is there any pendant that
hi, is there any pendant that doesn’t have flashing lights?
is there any service that does a daily wellness check?
thx