GreatCall Review

GreatCall is a unique option for medical alert devices. The company has two phone options called the Jitterbug, which is great for adults and seniors who want a more simple approach to a phone with texting and calling services, but they also have two medical alert devices with a few options for coverage. The company differs from others in that they don’t require a landline or cellular service, but work anywhere there is Verizon cell signals. There is no requirement for a Verizon subscription, making it easy to use. 

The wearables GreatCall offers are sleek and comfortable. Since they don’t use a base unit and are not tied to a landline, users are free to ‘move about the cabin’ if you will. These devices work at home and on the go, but even more so than some other options out there. 

The neat thing about GreatCall is that they have some nifty features such as virtual doctor visits, and an app for caregivers or loved ones, and of course, fall detection. If you’re particularly active, or trying to be, the Lively Wearable 2 counts steps to keep users on track.

We Love! 

• Great prices with easy to understand features
• Sleek design for wearables that don’t look clunky
• No base unit or landline required
• No contracts or cancellation fees – month to month service
• Water resistant

We Don’t Love… 

• GreatCall doesn’t refund anything after 30 days without a fight
• Verizon service must be available in your area
• Batteries need to be charged every day

Pricing and Costs

Both the Lively Mobile Plus and the Lively Wearable2 (watch or pendant option) cost $49.99 for the equipment. While some other companies have no cost, this is a great price for those who do, especially since no base unit is required so there is no returning of equipment should the services no longer be needed. 

All plans offer Urgent Response – Connecting to a highly-trained agent who is ready and able to help in all situations 24/7.

Urgent Care is available with the Preferred and Ultimate Plans – You can speak to a live nurse or doctor without an appointment with the Urgent Care option. Common prescriptions can also be available through these phone calls. This feature is unique to GreatCall and is not a feature we’ve found in any other medical device company. This feature alone makes GreatCall a really great option in our book, as it allows users access to non-emergent advice lines that may not be available through other avenues. 

GreatCall Link is an app available to caregivers or friends and family members that keeps them informed about the health and safety of the users. GreatCall is unique in this feature as well. While other companies offer notifications and texts, GreatCall has an app that shares information that may be needed when it is needed most. The look and feel is a little bit different for GreatCall than with simple text or push notifications that other companies offer. 

Fall Detection is only available with the Ultimate Plan. While most other medical device companies add on $8 or $10 a month for this service, this is only available with GreatCall via the Ultimate plan, but at $39.99 a month, it’s a pretty good deal for everything included.

Equipment Details

Lively Mobile Plus

The Lively Mobile Plus is an easy to carry or wear mobile device with a standard button and two way communication. We like that the Lively Mobile Plus has a great speaker that is loud enough for good and clear communication. This device is waterproof so can be used in the bath or shower, and even in the pool. The device offers a couple different ways to wear it. You can either clip it into a little holster and wear on your belt, or wear it around your neck with a lanyard. Of course, it could slip into a purse or a bag easily as well. 

The Lanyard is $14.99 and the belt clip is $9.99. Something to note is that the AC Charger is $19.99. For an additional $19.99, you can also convert it into a wristband device and wear it on your wrist, though we thought this was a little clunky.

The plans for the Lively Mobile Plus are the same as GreatCall other’s wearable but something to note is that Fall Detection is only available with the Ultimate Plan.

The Lively Wearable2

The Lively Wearable2 is a sleek watch that works with your smartphone. Simply press the button to connect to your phone and get help wherever you need it. The Wearable2 is water resistant, has a step tracker, gives daily health tips, and does not need to be charged daily. In fact the battery will last about four months. 

The Lively Wearable2 connects to your phone and calls for help via an app. The phone will automatically call out on speakerphone so the user can both hear and speak to the agent on the line. What’s great about this feature is that you can use it for both emergencies and non emergencies. This is how you can contact family, get roadside assistance, or connect to an advice nurse or doctor. The only caveat to this is that we don’t always have our phones with us. Some of us (looking at you, dear husband) might play an audio book in the shower and therefore will have our phones with us, but most of us (am I right in this assumption?) leave it outside of the bathroom. It would be a simple change of habit to take the phone into the bathroom during a shower or bath, and the Wearable2 could be used in case of a fall or emergency. 

You don’t have to wear the Lively Wearable2 as a watch. You can opt to add on a lanyard if that’s more comfortable, but we like that the watch feature is pretty cool looking and definitely doesn’t look like an unsightly medical device.

Customer Service and Support

GreatCall has an easy to call 800 number but they don’t have chat support. Their cancellation policies are pretty lenient compared to other companies but they won’t retroactively refund the remainder of the month. Once you’ve paid for the month, you’ve paid for the month. Considering their price and their easy cancellation policy with no fees, I felt this wasn’t much of an issue, though that could bother some people. 

Cancelling and returning equipment can require a restocking fee, which they won’t refund. It seems most negative reviews are surrounding cancellations and refunds, as well as some technical support issues surrounding their Jitterbug phone.

Bottom Line

The GreatCall wearable devices for medical alert seem to work well and do what they advertise they do. We like the easy to understand monthly fees and what is and isn’t included in each plan. The two options for wearables make it easy to choose what would work for you and how they would work in your lifestyle. The Lively Mobile Plus works well as a mobile device for fall detection, calling for help, and two way communication. The cost of it ($49.99) and the range of monthly fees are reasonable and easy to set up. 

The Lively Wearable2 works well for someone who is nearby their phone often and doesn’t mind taking their phone with them everywhere. If you leave it at home or drop it, the Wearable2 wouldn’t be able to connect and wouldn’t be useful. This is definitely for a more tech savvy user, or at least one who keeps their phone nearby or when needed. This could be used nicely for a frequent traveler – perhaps a user who doesn’t need emergency services due to a fall, but wants to have a little extra help when they go out and about for a walk, playing golf, shopping, etc. I see this being used by someone who likes to go out and take hikes and travel a little. This could even be used by a user who might not expect a fall, but does go hiking or out walking often. If they were to trip and fall, or get injured and their phone not be nearby, the Lively Wearable2 could be a good option to connect to their phone and get help. 

The costs for the plans are good and the equipment cost is more than fair. Overall, GreatCall seems to be an easy way to set up an emergency alert system that is good in price and in features. Most of all, I love that you don’t need to be based at home, near a base unit, or be tied to a landline. These mobile devices offer a lot more mobility than a traditional medical alert device and are definitely great for users who aren’t confined to the home.

FAQs – Here are the questions I had

Can you call out using the Wearable2?

You can through the app. Press the button on the Wearable2 and you can connect to the app to call out. It wasn’t clear if the company charges for phone calls that go through this app, so keep that in mind if you set it up. 

What phones is the Lively Wearable2 compatible with?

To see if GreatCall’s Lively Wearable 2 is compatible with your smartphone, go to greatcall.com/check to see. From there you can tell if your phone will work with it. I found this a little off putting, since my research was done from a desktop, but a quick check from my iPhone found that it worked just fine. I grabbed my husband’s Android to check there as well and both worked just fine. Since that covers a pretty large majority of compatible phone options, I didn’t check with any others. (Note that I have AT&T coverage. It’s not necessary to have Verizon even though that is what GreatCall uses for its service.)

The Final Say

Overall, I really like GreatCall and their two options. They make it easy and affordable to have a month to month service with a really well priced mobile device. I’m not sold on the idea that the Wearable2 would solve all of your problems, and if my mom needed something just for a little extra, maybe I’d consider that, but if your mom (or loved one you’re looking into this for) doesn’t make sure their phone is with them at all times, this might not be the option for you. That being said, I did really like their Lively Mobile Plus and it’s features. You really can’t beat an equipment cost of $49.99 and a monthly service fee of $24.99 – $39.99. If you only need urgent assistance, $25 a month plus $50 for equipment is pretty good! At $40 a month, the extra features they offer are really neat. No other company that I’ve researched has the option to speak to an advice nurse. For that alone, I’d consider this option for sure. There is no phone required and it’s a really easy way to keep someone feeling safe. 

My only hesitance with the Lively Mobile Plus is that you have to keep it with you. Mom would probably be pretty good about that, but if she left it on the table to go into the kitchen, there isn’t a voice activation feature or an extra button that we could put on the wall if she were to fall. I’m not too worried about that right now as she’s very mobile still and just needs a bit of reassurance, but if that was a real concern for us, I might consider a medical device company with extra wall buttons and add ons. I’d be dealing with needing a landline in some of those cases, which is why I like GreatCall, but I won’t have to deal with that for a while now. 

All in all, I like this company and what they offer. It’s an easy to use and affordable option for the mobile user without all the complications.

Extra

I did take a look at the Jitterbug Smart2 and the Lively Flip. I love, love, love this idea! The phones keep it simple for users who just want something basic, but I thought it would be really neat for kids, too! Smartphones can get a little bit out of control with apps that hide apps and parental controls need to be super savvy. But I thought the Jitterbug and the Flip were a great option for the parent who wants their kids to really have a simple way to do what phones do: communicate. I don’t have to worry about downloading apps, or constantly monitoring their use (though I am constantly monitoring their use.) But overall, these two options looked ‘smartphone’ enough for my 13 year old, and my 9 year old was surprisingly fine with the flip phone. Occasionally, I need them to call me when they need a ride home and I found these to be easy options. My only caveat is there is no family plan for any of GreatCall’s services and as such it was $50 a month for two kids. I think we could do better there but for one child, I would have loved to have kept the Jitterbug Smart2 as an easy option for him.