Smart Caregiver vs Lunderg Early Alert System
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Smart Caregiver Bed Exit Monitoring System and Lunderg Early Alert System are the most popular bed-exit alarms on the market. The one by Smart Caregiver has been out there for quite a while now. It gets the job done— keeps the elderly from wandering at night. It does what it’s designed to do. But Lunderg has made great strides in pre-alert smart technology. Its new bed-exit alarm is smarter, sleeker, and lasts longer. I have compared both products on a few key factors — Smart Caregiver vs Lunderg Early Alert System
What is a Bed-exit alarm?
A bed-exit alarm is a safety device for someone at a high risk of falling. It comes with a weight sensing pad and a wireless pager. The care recipient— usually an elderly person— lays onto the pad putting his/her body weight on the pad. When they get up, a signal is sent to the alarm to alert the caregiver. The caregiver can then come and get them before any accident or mishap.
Who is this for?
A bed-exit alarm keeps an elderly person safe from injuries resulting from slipping or tripping on the floor. It is not safe for a person at high risk of falling to stand up or walk on their feet. This device is for caregivers who want to be alerted the moment the care recipient gets up on their feet. It can also be used in a nursing home or hospital setting.
Before we begin the comparison, here’s how I’d score the two products on a few key factors:
Smart Caregiver vs Lunderg Early Alert System — Which is the best bed-exit alarm?
Both products in many ways are quite similar in the way they function. Both come with a cordless bed sensor pad, and a wireless monitor (aka pager). The purpose of this post is to compare both products on some key aspects.
Jump directly to:
1. Ease of Use
Both products are easy to use for caregivers and family members of the care recipient. Smart Caregiver does not provide a printed product catalog. You can download the depth manual on their website.
On the other hand, Lunderg provides a printed instruction manual where everything is clearly and simply explained.
With a touch of a button, the sensor wirelessly connects with the monitor in both products. Once you switch on the transmitter (located on the right-hand side of the pad), you must switch on the monitor. It’s that simple!
Furthermore, there are no wires or cords involved in either of the products. You are good to go once the pairing of the sensor and monitor is done. The monitor will alert you when the care recipient tries to exit the bed.
As I said earlier both products are user-friendly. It is difficult to pick a clear winner here.
Winner: Tie
2. Ease of Assembly
Both products come with AA batteries for the monitor, you simply have to insert them in the correct order. Lunderg provides a pocket clamp, which needs to be screwed onto the monitor. They provide a small screwdriver with the package, which can be used to secure the clamp in place.
Smart Caregiver does not provide a pocket clamp. You simply need to insert the batteries and press the battery cover against the monitor to shut it close. No screwdriver is needed.
Lunderg’s monitor comes with a wall mount bracket. You can attach the bracket to the wall with the adhesive tape (included in the package), or drill a hole with a power drill.
Lastly, Smart Caregiver does not provide the accessories needed to secure the pad to the bed, hence you have to reposition the pad before use. The pad from Lunderg can be attached to the bed with the help of bands provided by the company.
The Lunderg early alert system offers more accessories, and assembling everything together may take some time. I think both products are easy-to-assemble, but Smart Caregiver has a slight edge over its counterpart.
Winner: Smart Caregiver
3. Reliability
When it comes to reliability, Lunderg early alert system outperforms the Smart Caregiver bed exit monitoring system. How? It alerts the caregiver before the care recipient exits the bed. The early alert zones located at the sides of the pad can sense any attempts made to exit the bed. Such is not the case with the Smart Caregiver bed exit monitoring system. It notifies the caregiver a few seconds after the care recipient has left the bed.
Winner: Lunderg
4. Product Size
The bed sensor pads provided by both manufacturers have the same width (10-inches), but the one by Lunderg is 3-inches longer (33-inches). The Lunderg bed sensor pad is more compact. It is equipped with a transmitter pocket. On the other hand, the bed sensor pad by Smart Caregiver does not have such a pocket— the transmitter dangles out of the pad.
As you can see from the image above, the Smart Caregiver monitor is significantly larger than the one by Lunderg. Most caregivers will prefer a smaller, more compact monitor which they can keep in their pocket. The Smart Caregiver monitor is too large for a shirt or trouser pocket. We have a clear winner.
Winner: Lunderg
5. Portability
Both Smart Caregiver and Ludberg monitors are fully portable. The one by Smart Caregiver has a range of 300 feet, whereas the Lunderg monitor can be used within a diameter of 400 feet.
Both monitors are designed to be used in a multi-floor home. You will get notified even if you are in your garage while your loved one is resting in his/her room. The Lunderg system has a wider range (100 feet more) than its counterpart, but the difference is not significantly large. I will call it a tie.
Winner: Tie
6. Average Life Span
Both products have a 1-year manufacturer warranty. But the Smart Caregiver bed exit monitoring system falls massively short when it comes to the average life span. It lasts anywhere between 45 days to 12 months. You can always replace the AA batteries used by the monitor, they are quite affordable. But replacing the bed pad can be expensive. The bed pad by Lunderg has a lifespan of 15 months. Clearly, Lunderg wins this battle.
Winner: Lunderg
7. Affordability
Smart Caregiver bed exit monitoring system is priced at $129.95, whereas the Lunderg early alert system will cost you $119.95. Okay, so there is a 10 dollar difference here but what about replacement pads?
A Smart Caregiver replacement pad (without the monitor) will cost you $69.95, whereas Lunderg offers a replacement pad for $74.95. There’s not much variance when it comes to additional expenses. I will call this one a tie.
Winner: Tie
I’m done. Here’s my final verdict
Smart Caregiver bed exit monitoring system does have a few advantages over the Lunderg early alert system. It is easy to assemble and the bed sensor pad is replaceable.
But overall, the one from Lunderg has an upper hand. It is highly responsive, comes with a small-sized easy-to-carry monitor, has a wider range, has a longer average life span, and is a fantastic bargain.
Smart Caregiver vs Lunderg early alert system, which one should I pick? I would go for the Lunderg early alert system all day long. It blows away the competition.
