8 Best Fall Detection Devices of 2023: Our Experts Tested and Reviewed

You can be up to 1,400 feet away (about four football fields) from the base unit (a small device that links to the company’s monitoring center and connects to your fall detection necklace or bracelet), and the device will still register a fall and automatically contact the monitoring center.

Medical Guardian also has a competitive combination of features, performance, and value that makes it one of the best fall detection devices on the market. It ties with LifeFone for the most connection types on this list (landline, AT&T, and Verizon cellular), its on-the-go devices have a high five-day battery life, and the brand has an overall fast response time of one to 25 seconds based on our testing. This may be why a majority (43%) of our survey respondents use Medical Guardian for their medical alert system—the second most popular system is Bay Alarm Medical (26%).

Each Medical Guardian device had easy step-by-step setup instructions that involved us charging the device and placing a test call. We were able to complete the process with no issues. When we tested the Medical Guardian fall detection option, it successfully detected simulated falls from a standing position. But be aware: No fall detection will detect 100% of falls.

FROM OUR TESTER

I tested fall detection twice with the Mini Guardian: with a drop test and falling from a seated position. The device detected a fall during the drop test but not when I “fell” from the seated position.

Automatic fall detection isn’t included in the monitoring plans, but you can add it for $10 per month. Also, fall detection isn’t an option for all Medical Guardian devices—the MGMove smartwatch is the only product without a fall detection option. Other companies on this list offer fall detection as an optional add-on for all their devices.

Check out our Medical Guardian versus Medical Alert and Life Alert versus Medical Guardian articles to compare these popular brands. Or, take a deeper dive with our Life Alert review.

Customer service and payment options

We had an excellent experience with Medical Guardian customer service. A representative helped us set up our MyGuardian app account and answered all our questions during our call.

Communication methods: Phone, email, or chat

Phone: Call 800-480-1357 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET

Email: mggcustomercare@medicalguardian.com

Chat: Chat availability on their website is the same as phone availability

Payment options: Check, credit card, or check by phone

Bay Alarm Medical is one of the oldest and most trusted names in medical alert systems for older adults. It was founded in 1946 and has reputable products and high customer reviews. Among the medical alert systems with fall detection we tested, Bay Alarm has the highest BBB rating (4.3 out of 5 stars) with 138 reviews.

But it’s the long battery life in the company’s fall detection necklace that makes Bay Alarm Medical stand out. The company states the batteries in wall buttons and necklaces should last five years, and the battery in the at-home fall detection device lasts up to two years. Compare that with the next-longest fall detection battery life on this list, Lifeline, with a one-year maximum.

ADT has a starting fee of $29.99 (the average starting fee of all the companies on this list is $32), you can save up to $48 annually by choosing an annual plan ($312 per year versus $360 per year). ADT has an average response time of 45 seconds or more.

ADT does not have medical alert watches but offers three medical alert systems: Medical Alert Basic System, Medical Alert Plus System, and On-the-Go System. The only system that doesn’t have the optional fall detection add-on is the Medical Alert Basic System.

Setting up our ADT medical alert systems was fairly simple. After plugging in our at-home base station and charging the mobile system, we called ADT to confirm our account, test our connection to the monitoring center, and verify fall detection was activated.

For the Medical Alert Plus System and On-the-Go System, the fall detection costs $11 per month, and the battery lasts 18 hours. Though this feature isn’t guaranteed to detect all falls, when we tested ADT fall detection by dropping it in both a sitting and standing position, within 10 seconds, the device gave a voice prompt, “Fall detected. Press and hold button to cancel.”

FROM OUR TESTER

I was impressed the fall detection necklace passed both the drop test and when I “fell” from a seated position. Each time fall detection was activated, the device said, “Fall detected. Please press and hold button to cancel.”

When I pressed the button to cancel calling the monitoring center, the device confirmed by saying, “Alarm canceled.” When I didn’t press the button within 20 seconds during another test, it said, “Fall detected. Contacting emergency response center.” I like the clear verbal cues so you can quickly cancel a call to the monitoring center during a false alarm.

To learn more, check out our ADT medical alert review. If you are concerned about how to pay for your device, we have more information on medical alert systems cost.

Customer service and payment options

We used the online chat and phone options when speaking with ADT customer service representatives. The customer service phone number was very accessible: it was in large print on a sticker on the at-home base station. When we had a connection issue with one of our systems, we called customer service, and the representative figured out our issue quickly and efficiently.

Communication methods: Phone or chat

Phone: 800-238-2727 (sales and customer support)

Chat: Website chat support is available Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET, Fridays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET, and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET

Payment options: Credit card

The LifeFone medical alert system includes many features for those who are comfortable with technology. You can think of LifeFone as both a medical alert system with fall detection and an all-in-one home monitoring system. It includes several extra features not available from other companies on this list.

The LifeFone medical alert system includes many features for those who are comfortable with technology. You can think of LifeFone as both a medical alert system with fall detection and an all-in-one home monitoring system. It includes several extra features not available from other companies on this list.

LifeFone works as an all-in-one home monitoring system, with the following features included in all of its devices:

• Fire, smoke, and carbon monoxide sensor
• Medication reminder (reminders are added through the app)
• Personal lockbox
• Activity tracking system

There are also additional features that come with extra costs. Caregivers or users can schedule a daily test ($6 per month) for the system that can be turned off with the push of a button. If there’s no response, the call center will contact you.

You can also schedule a daily check-in call ($19 per month), and a call center operator will call your phone just to make sure everything’s okay. In addition, there’s a caregiver app (free) to help you stay connected with loved ones. These types of extra features are valuable to medical alert system users, according to our survey: 40% of respondents said the biggest challenge with their medical alert system is it doesn’t have enough special features.

LifeFone medical alert systems have a two-step setup process: Plug in (at-home base station) or charge the device (mobile systems and smartwatch), then contact the monitoring center and tell them you’re testing the device. We liked this straightforward setup.

The company’s devices have a long battery life, a range of 1,300 feet, and low-cost automatic fall detection. Although monthly monitoring starts at $25 a month, fall detection is $5, or about half of what other companies charge. We found that the average response time for LifeFone was 1–25 seconds.

One drawback with LifeFone is, like Medical Alert, fall detection is a separate necklace. That means you’ll have to wear two devices (your normal medical alert device and the extra fall detection necklace). But it may be worth it given the extra features.

FROM OUR TESTER

When I tested the At-Home & On-the-Go VIP Active®, a customer service representative gave me specific fall detection test instructions:

1. Take the necklace off
2. Toss it in the air
3. Catch in hand
4. Throw it in the air again
5. Catch in hand
6. Shake the device
7. Keep the device still for 30 seconds

Since these steps didn’t simulate a falling motion, I wasn’t surprised when fall detection didn’t work during this test. The representative suggested a second testing method: swing the device by the lanyard four times, then toss it on a hard surface (I used a table), and wait 30 seconds. Immediately, fall detection was activated and the device contacted the monitoring center.

Customer service and payment options

The LifeFone customer service phone number was listed throughout our user guide and activation instructions, so we never had to search for the number when we had questions while setting up our medical alert systems. The representatives were knowledgeable and able to answer our questions during our calls. Only one instance involved multiple calls to resolve an issue—we didn’t receive an email code right away to set up the caregiver app.

Communication methods: Phone or email

Phone: Call 800-331-9198 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET and Saturday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET

Email: info@lifefone.com

Payment options: Credit card, debit card, or online bill pay

The UnaliWear Kanega Watch is one of the only medical alert systems with fall detection designed for your wrist. This specific fall detection technology, called RealFall, actively learns your movements to help improve accuracy and reduce false falls.

“We are constantly updating our algorithm with real fall data,” said Richard Hirsch, chief marketing officer of UnaliWear. See the section, “How does fall detection work?” to learn more about wrist-based vs. necklace fall detection.

FROM OUR TESTER

UnaliWear RealFall technology is based on actual falls and uses AI (artificial intelligence) to learn what is and is not a fall for each user over time. Because of this, it was challenging to test fall detection during my trial period accurately. The Kanega Watch detected two of my six test “falls.”

Fall detection is automatically included with the Kanega Watch and not charged as an extra monthly fee. The black, water-resistant watch is available in three accent colors: black, champagne gold, and rose gold, and connects to a 24/7 monitoring center via Wi-Fi and Verizon cellular service.

This dual connection keeps your watch connected to the monitoring center at all times, so if you have poor reception or lose connectivity, your watch will still be able to connect with the monitoring center. There are three ways to contact the monitoring center: You can press the button on the side of the watch face, trigger fall detection, or use your voice.

You can also use voice commands to ask for the time and date, but voice-to-text messaging features are not available.

The Kanega Watch includes four rechargeable batteries—two to place in your watchband while the other two charge. That way, you can swap the low batteries with fully charged batteries without taking off your watch to charge it.

When testing the Kanega Watch during our medical alert system testing summit, we liked how simple it was to insert and remove the batteries. There are no screws or small latches to open since the batteries attach to the watchband, which may be helpful if you experience arthritis, dexterity issues, or reduced vision.

Setting up our Kanega Watch did involve a lengthy call with customer service—it was not a “plug-and-play” process. Some users may like this step-by-step setup guided by a customer service representative, while others may rather do everything themselves through an online portal. During testing, we found that the average response time for the Kanega Watch was 45 seconds or more.

Unfortunately, the $69.95 starting monthly price is nearly $30 more than other medical alert systems in this review. There is also a one-time $299 equipment fee. By choosing an annual subscription, you can reduce your monthly fee ($59.95) and equipment fee ($199), but you’ll have to pay for the 12-month subscription upfront.

This reduced monthly fee is still higher than Medical Guardian smartwatch monthly fees, but unlike the Kanega Watch, the MGMove doesn’t support fall detection. The Bay Alarm Medical SOS Smartwatch is a more affordable smartwatch that also offers fall detection, but it lacks other features found in the Kanega Watch, like voice commands and medication reminders.

Customer service and payment options

Since the Kanega Smartwatch doesn’t have an app or online portal, UnaliWear encourages users to contact the company over the phone for any maintenance issues or changes that need to be made to their accounts. We asked a few quick questions using the online chat, but most of our interactions were over the phone.

Communication methods: Phone, email, or chat

Phone: Call 888-343-1513 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT. They are also available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT on Saturday and Sunday.

Email: community@unaliwear.com

Chat: Chat availability on their website is the same as phone availability

Payment options: Credit card, Diners Club, or JCB

Unlike other medical alert systems on our list that only offer fall detection with certain systems, Medical Alert lets you add fall detection to all of its plans. You can even get automatic fall detection with the on-the-go GPS medical alert system button.

The service is $20 a month in addition to your monitoring fee. But if you pay for an annual subscription, the cost drops to $18.30 a month for monitoring and $9.20 for fall detection. In other words, you get emergency monitoring with automatic fall detection for just $27.50 a month. If price is a priority for you, check out our full medical alert system cost comparisons for more information.

The downside: Fall detection comes in a separate necklace with the company’s on-the-go product (the at-home system uses a stationary base unit and a fall detection necklace). This means for on-the-go devices you’ll have to carry both a medical alert button and a smaller fall detection necklace. The medical alert button is a small, handheld device with a help button and two-way speaker. It’s about the size of a deck of cards.

The fall detection necklace is smaller and about the size of a half dollar coin. The medical alert button can stay in your pocket or purse, while you should wear the fall detection necklace around your neck for accuracy. Although using two devices is not ideal, if you’re watching your budget it may be worth it in exchange for the low monitoring fees.

FROM OUR TESTER

I followed the fall detection testing instructions in the user manual. Even after dropping the necklace multiple times from shoulder height onto my carpeted floor, fall detection wouldn’t activate. Fall detection finally worked when I held the device high above my head before dropping it.

I liked that the user manual had illustrations showing users the correct way to wear the fall detection necklace versus the incorrect way to wear it.

At first, we couldn’t correctly pair the fall detection necklace with the at-home system because the user guide instructions were out of order. Besides this issue, the rest of the setup process was straightforward. We found the average response time for Medical Alert was 15–25 seconds.

Customer service and payment options

Our experience with Medical Alert customer service varied. The representative who helped us purchase our medical alert system was friendly and helpful. They even gave us their direct extension if we had any other questions. A different customer service representative called us to clarify something with our account, but we were busy and unable to take the call. We told the representative this and asked if they could call us back later, but they immediately hung up on us.

Communication methods: Phone or email

Phone: Call 800-800-2537 every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET

Email: customerrelations@medicalalert.com

Payment options: Credit card or debit card

Lifeline developed AutoAlert fall detection technology for its Lifeline medical alert system. Fall detection is included in the HomeSafe AutoAlert and On the Go systems with no extra fee.

AutoAlert combines three fall detection technologies. First, the device can tell how quickly a person falls, which is the same as most other fall detection systems. Second, Lifeline added a barometer to pick up on any tiny differences in air pressure. The barometer is fine-tuned enough to sense differences in air pressure at various distances from the floor.

Finally, Lifeline uses a formula to double-check the sensor for accuracy. This helps AutoAlert detect falls other systems sometimes miss. It also helps cut down on the number of false alarms or missed falls, when the user actually does fall but the device fails to recognize it. The company claims its technology detects 95% of falls, but remember no fall detection is 100% accurate.²

We like the simple installation process for the Lifeline at-home and mobile systems. Both include a quick start guide and a user guide that walk you through properly plugging in or charging your medical alert system and placing a test call to the monitoring center. During testing, we found there is a 30-second waiting period between the time the necklace detected a fall and contacted the monitoring center. If the wearer stands up within 30 seconds, the call will be canceled.

Customer service and payment options

We had an excellent experience with Lifeline customer service when mystery shopping the brand. Our representative was friendly and knowledgeable and answered all of our questions without pressuring us to buy a medical alert system. We also liked that our representative shared that their family member is a Lifeline user. They drew from their experience when answering our questions, which was a lovely personal touch.

Communication methods: Phone, online form, or chat

Phone: Call 855-332-7799 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.

Online form: Use this contact form

Chat: Chat availability on their website is the same as phone availability. Payment options: Credit card, debit card, or check (with an additional fee)

The HandsFree Health WellBe Emergency Alert system is featured in the WellBe Medical Alert Watch Round. The mobile emergency alert device is accompanied by a monthly subscription that comes with several advanced features to keep you or your loved ones safe when on the go.

The T-Mobile 4G cellular technology includes GPS to send emergency services directly to your location, two-way communication to speak with the U.S.-based monitoring center right through the watch, and the WellBe Virtual Assistance app to stay connected to your health care information and WellBe. Additionally, this advanced medical alert watch is water resistant, has a built-in pedometer to track your steps, and a heart rate monitor to regularly reference.

You can activate fall detection for an additional monthly fee. WellBe fall detection technology was designed to detect only hard falls in order to limit the amount of false alarms and to improve the overall user experience. Once a hard fall triggers the detection system, your device will automatically initiate a call to connect you with emergency services. But because the device does not always detect 100% of falls, the user should get into the habit of pushing the device’s help button if an emergency occurs.

FROM OUR TESTER

There were no fall detection testing instructions in the user guide. I tested multiple falls from a standing or seated position, but the WellBe Medical Alert Watch didn’t detect them since they are considered “slow falls.” The watch detected all five drop test “falls” since this better simulates a hard fall.

Customer service and payment options

If you have questions as a first-time customer, it’s difficult to reach HandsFree Health customer support. The website doesn’t offer an online chat feature, but it does have built-in question-and-answer software to help you locate the answers you need.

Communication methods: Online form

Online form: Fill out the contact form prompt on the support page

Payment options: Credit card, Diners Club, or JCB