Life alert-type equipment can be very helpful but may or may not be considered a medical expense for tax purposes, depending on the functionality of the device. If the device can diagnose a medical crisis, then it may be allowable.
Medical expenses are the costs of diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, and for the purpose of affecting any part or function of the body. These expenses include payments for legal medical services rendered by physicians, surgeons, dentists, and other medical practitioners. They include the costs of equipment, supplies, and diagnostic devices needed for these purposes. Medical care expenses must be primarily to alleviate or prevent a physical or mental disability or illness. They don't include expenses that are merely beneficial to general health. They also don't include costs for personal expenses such as housekeeping help even if recommended by a doctor.
You can include in medical expenses the cost of devices only if used in diagnosing and treating illness and disease. Example. You have diabetes and use a blood sugar test kit to monitor your blood sugar level. You can include the cost of the blood sugar test kit in your medical expenses.
See IRS Publication 502 for more information.
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