Lively Review

Whether it is socializing through bridge club, golf, and luncheons, or venturing as far as the backyard garden, we know that getting out of the house and staying active is important to many older adults. Lively recognizes this and has designed all four of their medical alert devices with these on-the-go older adults in mind.

While these devices are mobile, they can be used in the home as well. However, unlike most at-home or hybrid systems, the Lively products do not involve a base unit that gets plugged into a central location in the home or wall buttons that are scattered throughout the home. Rather, Lively consists of a single, streamlined device which we think you’ll really like.

We spent several days living with the Lively Wearable2, a contemporary-looking watch that paired with our smartphone. With 81 percent of individuals between the ages of 61 and 69 using smartphones, and 62 percent of seniors 70 and older using them, it seems logical to offer a mobile system that utilizes smartphone

Wearing Lively

We were curious about the fact that it had a single button, and this single button could perform just a single function, albeit the most important one — connecting with Lively’s 5Star Urgent Response Service. Other watches that we’ve tested offer multiple functions, including displaying the time.

The system does offer several other features, but they are accessed through your smartphone rather than the device itself (pretty neat, actually). But we found ourselves wondering if the Lively Wearable2 was an efficient system or a device missing valuable functions.

Over the next few days we would sort this all out as we tested the functionality and response time of our Lively Wearable2. So keep reading for our full review.

Lively Wearable2 Pros and Cons

Getting Started With the Lively Wearable2

Tilly, our goldendoodle, barks frantically at around the same time every afternoon, alerting us that the mail has arrived. On this particular day, we picked up our bills and whatnot that had dropped through our mail slot as Tilly found the treat left behind by the mail carrier. Behind the front door, we also found our medical alert system.

Lively Box

Inside the small box, we found a few small, black items: the emergency help button, the watchband that encases it, an optional lanyard, and a replacement battery. All seemed relatively simple so far.

We pulled out one final item — the Quick-Start Guide. The size of an index card, the guide communicated simplicity and ease of use.

Lively – Starting Guide

The first thing we read as we opened the guide was a red box marked with the headline “IMPORTANT.” It directed us to contact Lively’s “friendly activation specialists” before doing anything else. We would agree, our specialist, Cindy, was very friendly!

Cindy provided directions to download Lively’s app, called Lively App, which works in conjunction with the Lively Wearable2. We liked the way Lively handled setup. Rather than overwhelming customers with written information concerning downloading the app, they kept the quick guide simple and manageable.

Keep in mind that some older adults may need assistance with downloading this app, so we would recommend that a caregiver or family member be available to assist at this particular stage of the process.

With that said, the voice-activated system does ease you through the steps, which include answering “yes” to enabling the system to access your location and adding the 5Star Urgent Response Service to your list of contacts. The final command asks you to allow the Lively App to use Bluetooth to pair the app to your smartphone.

After following through with this relatively short process, we were ready for our first test call.

What to Know About Calling for Emergency Help

The Lively Wearable2 works a bit differently than some other systems we have tried. Read on as we provide you with the big picture.

Our first test of the system went smoothly. Wearing the device as a
wristwatch, we pressed the single black button in its center. We noticed the two tiny indicator lights blinked green. An Urgent Response Service agent quickly connected with us. We simply told him we were testing the system, and that was about it. The response time for this first call was 17 seconds. Wow! In the medical alert world, that’s fast.

Here’s a short video we made that shows you exactly what to expect with Lively’s response time:

In ensuing days we would test the system several more times, each time resulting in a response time under 19 seconds. Once, an agent even picked up 14 seconds after we had pressed the button, which breaks our own personal response time testing record. A notable response time tops the lists of Lively’s benefits.

What we realized was different about this initial test call was that we spoke to the associate not through a two-way talk on the device itself but through the phone. There were no issues with this call, but it got us thinking: in order to even initiate a call to the response center, we needed to be in close proximity to the phone, the Quick-Start Guide told us. However, the Quick-Start Guide did not tell us how close we needed to be. Sounded like we needed to do some more testing.

Smartphone + Mobile Device = Lively Alert2

Since your smartphone is needed in close proximity when pressing the help button, you may be wondering why the watch is needed at all. We sure did.

Lively Watch

And we have a few observations to share. Neither the Lively website nor the Quick-Start Guide indicates what the range of the device should be to your cell phone. This is important information, so we called customer service to ask. We learned that the range is 150 feet — almost the width of a football field or about three times as long as a semitrailer.

To see if we could convert this number to our home space to make sense of it, we decided to consider the following fictional scenario:

One morning “Maria” dresses for the day in her bedroom. She begins to feel faint and nauseous. Maria has left her smartphone in the kitchen next to the coffeemaker, but she is wearing the Lively Alert2 on her wrist, so she presses the help button. The watch is within range of Maria’s phone. She is unable to speak to a Response Center associate, but Lively receives the help call and sends emergency services to her home.

Has the system worked effectively? If Maria has developed a serious medical situation, yes, she receives the help she needs. If Maria’s symptoms subside and she wishes to cancel the emergency call, she will be unable to do so without her phone available.

When away from home, Maria is likely to take her phone with her. Perhaps she keeps it in her purse or places it next to her in the car. The absence of two-way talk on the device itself may be less of an issue while on the go because the phone is likely within arm’s reach. Unless you are someone who frequently forgets to bring your phone with you!

The importance of having two-way talk on a wearable, especially for the home environment, may be something you need to weigh with other unique features that the system offers. Let’s talk about some of those features next.

The Lively App

While the watch itself features the single function of contacting the Response Center, the app with which it is paired contains several more.

This includes features for preventive health care, such as a step tracker and daily health tips. (E.g., “Our tip today: increase fiber intake by eating beans [legumes], whole-grain products, fruits, and vegetables.”)

Lively App Dashboard

We mentioned in our introduction that Lively’s add-ons are services rather than “things” or products. Take a closer look at these valuable features.

Lively Link

This is a free app for caregivers and other family members. It sends you emergency alerts, provides location detection to caregivers, communicates the device’s status, including whether the device is on or left at home. It also indicates when the battery is low and informs caregivers about activity information such as if appointments are being kept or if there has been a change in activity.

Urgent Care

We rarely see this feature. Through this service, which is included with Lively Alert2’s monthly charge, you can speak to a registered nurse or doctor anytime, without an appointment. You can also get prescriptions and refills. An insurance plan or co-pay are not necessary. Although we have not witnessed this service in action, it could be of great benefit to older adults. However — and this is important — this service is only available with the Preferred and Ultimate packages (explained in detail below).

Lively App

We love medical alert systems that include helpful features for caregivers. For a look at another system that does a great job of this, read our review of Aloe Care Health.

How Important Is Fall Detection?

Fall detection is another feature offered through the Lively Alert2 (Ultimate package only).

Falls among older adults are more common than many realize and can result in injury or even death. In less severe cases, slips and falls can still become a barrier to a person’s independence. Particularly dangerous is “the long lie,” a situation in which a person is unable to get up or call for help, resulting in the person lying on the ground for hours. The longer a person lies on the ground, the greater the complications to physical and emotional health that can occur. One study found that 30 percent of the incidences of older adults falling result in “long lies.”3

Because of the danger of falls, we believe that fall detection is something that older adults should include with their medical alert systems. With most systems, this feature is an add-on, usually costing between $5 and $10 per month. Similarly, Lively offers it only through the Ultimate package, which is $10 more expensive than the mid-range Preferred package.

Fall detection is somewhat complicated with the Lively Wearable2 because of the device’s very nature. Many older adults choose a mobile alert device that can be worn on the wrist because they are less stigmatizing. As one health expert put it, the medical alert as a watch is a medical alert “makeover.” These devices are designed to look similar to Apple’s Smartwatch, and as such, convey an image of an individual who is tech-savvy, contemporary, and stylish. In short, medical alert “watches” do not look like medical devices.

However, the dilemma is that fall detection cannot be used on the Lively Wearable2 when it is worn on the wrist. In fact, fall detection becomes disabled. Lively is not alone in offering fall detection only with a lanyard. Most medical alert companies agree that fall detection is less effective on the wrist than it is when worn on a lanyard.

Lively Necklace

It is the reason that this watch-based system includes a lanyard (pictured above). The question then becomes: will you or your loved one actually wear the lanyard? Further, in order for fall detection to work effectively, it needs to be turned on all of the time. Obviously, no one can predict if or when they are going to fall. Yet, why purchase a watch if it needs to be worn as a lanyard for full protection?

Of course, every person and family needs to consider daily habits and what will work best for their situation.

We do recommend, if you or your loved one is at high-risk of falling, that you consider Lively’s all-in-one device, the Lively Mobile Plus, which includes fall detection and two-way talk.

Or for a similar system, check out our review of Lifeline. Both their at-home and mobile systems offer fall detection. And here is another of our resources that you can refer to as you shop for a device with fall detection: Best Medical Alerts with Fall Detection.

Non-Rechargeable or Rechargeable Battery — Which Is Better?

Another difference in Lively’s approach is with batteries. While most medical alert companies supply a rechargeable battery, Lively provides its Wearable Alert2 with a non-rechargeable battery pre-installed in the watch as well as includes one replacement battery.

Lively – Extra Watch Battery

Because this device will be used frequently, and in some cases, a person’s life may even depend on it, working batteries are a big deal. So which type of battery makes more sense?

Let’s start with cost. The batteries that Lively supplies (CR2450) last up to four months, so between the two batteries, you will get up to eight months of battery power before needing to buy a replacement yourself. We did a quick check on Amazon to find the cost of a replacement — $3.25 for a single battery or $8.95 for a 20-pack. Seems reasonable!

On the other hand, replacing batteries can be a hassle. Our junk drawer is full of them — but we can never find the one we need RIGHT NOW.

You may prefer a product that has a rechargeable battery so that you don’t need to bother with going out and buying a new one when the old one dies (or digging desperately through your junk drawer). So this is something to consider.

The other thing we will warn you about is what should be an easy task — removing and replacing the lid to the battery case — was somewhat challenging for us. We’ve seen better designs. This task will definitely be challenging for someone with arthritis or fine motor difficulties, so we recommend that a caregiver or family member assist. The good news is that Lively Link, the company’s free caregivers app, will send low-battery level notifications to family members/caregivers who are signed up with the app.

Lively Battery Case

On the other hand, the downside of the rechargeable battery is, well… remembering to recharge it. The rechargeable batteries that we’ve seen last anywhere from a single day (most common) to seven days or in a few cases up to 30 days. Often these systems supply an at-home wearable help button so that you will not go unprotected while the battery is charging.

If it doesn’t bother you to use multiple devices and you prefer a rechargeable battery, we recommend that you read our review of Medical Guardian. Though it will require remembering to charge the device (and remembering to wear the device after charging!), Medical Guardian provides a high-functioning mobile device both at home and while away.

In the end, it all comes down to personal preference.

Lively Pricing: Twelve Packages in All

That’s right, when you do the math, you will come up with 12 different Lively packages to choose from.

But before we get in too deep with the packages, let’s compare the Lively Wearable2 to Lively’s three other mobile products: Jitterbug Smart3, Jitterbug Flip2, and Lively Mobile Plus. With four unique On-the-Go devices, you are probably wondering how they differ from one another. Well, for one thing, the up-front cost for the equipment fee varies. In addition, each one offers different features. And notice we said “offers.” The type of package that you choose also determines the features that the device comes with. (More on that coming up.) We’ve laid it all out for you in our Lively pricing guide.

Lively Medical Alert On-the-Go Devices

If you want to do even more comparisons on prices and features, read our industry-wide comparative guide, Best Medical Alert Systems.

Now, let’s break it down even further. Lively offers three packages (Basic, Preferred, and Ultimate) for each of its products. Note that although the packages have the same names, they offer different features and prices. For example, the Lively Wearable2 Ultimate package includes fall detection, but the Jitterbug Flip2 Ultimate package does not. Today, we are going to stick with The Lively Wearable2 so that you can compare the three packages.

The Lively Wearable2 Health and Safety Packages

The monthly fees are not bad and definitely comparable to other mobile medical alert system prices.

One final note about cost — Lively does not charge any additional activation or shipping fees when you order the Lively Wearable2. Some of Lively’s other products/packages do require extra fees.

You can use Lively as a watch or necklace

Final Thoughts: Drawing Conclusions With Lively

We found several reasons to love the Lively Wearable2, including its affordability.

And did we mention that the response time is under 19 seconds? (Our average time was actually 17 seconds.) This stellar time makes it one of the industry leaders for fast and reliable emergency monitoring.

We would be remiss if we did not mention the importance of the caregiver capabilities that Lively provides. The Lively Link app is a bonus — we especially like the location detection for caregivers.

Speaking of caregiving, we recognize that just talking to aging loved ones about medical alert devices can be the first hurdle to jump. Some older adults have personal reasons for resisting medical alert devices. If you are a caregiver, picking a good time to talk about using a medical alert device is important. For example, discussing it immediately after an injury or accident, when emotions are running high, is probably not the best time.4

Picking a device that is the right fit is also important. Some older adults may be sensitive to what they perceive as a stigma; they don’t want to wear something that announces that they are vulnerable or ill. In these situations, a slick-looking watch like Lively’s may be just the ticket.

Yet no system is perfect, and the Lively Wearable2 has a few shortcomings. As we see it, the lack of two-way talk on the device itself could be problematic as in the case of “Maria.” We also think that for those who are at a high risk of falling, this particular Lively device might not be the best fit due to its fall detection limitations (again, it does offer fall detection, but only when worn around the neck).

Finally, we would be wary of choosing this system for an older adult who has little experience with a smartphone. It does require a comfort level with the phone prior to adding a compatible medical alert device.

But for many others, the LivelyWearable2 could provide a great layer of safety and security, enabling older adults to live independently longer. At the end of the day, we’re really liking Lively’s watch for seniors.

Frequently Asked Questions