Philips Lifeline, GoSafe: Review

The Basics
Product name: GoSafe
Manufacturer / Distributor: Philips Lifeline
Compilation: Sept. 2015. Updated Q4 2018.
Where You Can Buy It / Learn More*
This page contains our Philips Lifeline | GoSafe review.
Analyst Summary: Philips Lifeline | GoSafe
"Go anywhere" PERS product. Philips Lifeline is a leader in the medical alert system space, with a large number of users. Includes fall detection, 2 way voice through pendant, and waterproof. Also, has an extra base unit for the home, ensuring good coverage even if cell coverage at home is not great everywhere.
This product uses the AT&T network for communication when the pendant is out and about.
Pre testing comments
On paper this looks like the most full featured product for the "go anywhere" scenario, and the company is a market leader in this space, so this product was on our test list.
Update: Q4 2018
This product was one of our top recommendations when we acquired it and did an extensive comparative evaluation of this and several other "go anywhere" medical alerts. See the comparative evaluation at the link below.
The Go Safe is still the top of the line product in the Philips Lifeline product line, and we believe the review below remains current.
Go Safe 2
Since we acquired the Go Safe, the company has added the Go Safe 2 to its product line. See our GoSafe 2 review here.
As best we can tell the GoSafe 2 is the same as the Go Safe except without the home communicator. This means it works equally well when you are out and about. However there were some nice extra features that came with there being a home communicator, that you can read about below.
The Go Safe 2 is less expensive than the Go Safe, so you need to decide whether the saving is worth the reduced feature set.
To keep things in perspective, the home communicator provides a degree of extra "perfection" in the ability to call for help at all times. However the primary competitors to the Go Safe work very much like the Go Safe 2, and lack the extra features of the home communicator.
Hands-on Testing
Acquiring it. Day 1.
Website is clear and rather elegant looking. Looks very serious and professional, as one might expect from a large, blue chip company like Philips. Says "Monthly service starts at $55 and requires an additional $149 to purchase the pendant. This is seeming more expensive than the other products we are testing.
This product is not easy to buy. You can't buy it online it seems but are told to call Philips Lifeline. Hate that. But we did it. When we first enquired, there was a 7 week backlog to get this product.
Update: Q4 2018.
In Q4 2018, the website says delivery is in 2-5 days. And it seems you can buy it easily online via the Philips Lifeline website.
Where to buy it or learn more*: (this takes you away from our website)
* Disclosure: If you use these links when you buy products we write about, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases as an Amazon Associate or other affiliate program participant. This does not affect the price you pay. See How we Fund our Work.
Product Line & Company: Philips Lifeline
About this Research
This product review is part of an extensive series of medical alert system reviews of over 50 products, including hands-on evaluation and real-world testing of the most promising ones, in real-world situations.
These reviews and analyses are part of our Research Project designed to help older adults and their families Choose the Right Medical Alert System for YOU — the result of which is our Medical Alert Systems: Selection Guide.
We have tried hard to make this research as independent and objective as possible. It has not been funded or sponsored by any of the vendors of these products, and includes no advertising or "sponsored content". The team that conducted this research has strong scientific, clinical, and aging services backgrounds. You can read more about the team that did this research at the links above.
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Last Updated: April 30, 2020.
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Comments
from Ann Kohl (unverified) at August 24, 2020
You talk about the penant. Does this one also come with the new light wrist bands?