Medical Alert Systems With Fall Detection: Key Takeaways
- Medical alert systems with fall detection are worth considering if you or someone you care for lives alone or is at a high risk of falling.
- Most companies charge about $10 per month to add fall detection to a medical alert device.
- Fall detection works by sensing when the user has fallen and automatically contacting the medical alert company’s monitoring center for help.
We chose Medical Guardian as our top pick due to its affordability, amount of features, great performance, and impressive overall value.
More than one-fourth of Americans who are 65 and older experience a fall each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).¹ And whether it’s with or without injury, falls can carry a heavy quality of life impact. The best fall detection devices, such as Medical Guardian, Bay Alarm Medical, and others mentioned in this guide, can provide extra security for older adults who are at a high risk of falling.
Medical alert systems with fall detection use technology that senses when you fall and sends an immediate alert to get you help. Although you’ll have to pay $5–$10 more per month to add this feature to most medical alert systems, fall detection can give you and your loved ones added peace of mind and help you age in place longer.
Our Reviews Team researched and tested the best medical alert systems with fall detection to help you find the best device for your needs. See what companies made our list of the best fall detection devices.
Our Reviews Team spent more than 2,500 hours conducting in-depth research on medical alert systems. During our process, we:
- Researched and tested each system independently
- Consulted with licensed professional caregivers and doctors who specialize in older adult care
- Mystery shopped six medical alert system brands
- Surveyed medical alert system users
- Read hundreds of verified customer reviews from trusted third parties, such as Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot
Read more about our medical alert systems review methodology.
Table 1 The best fall detection devices, as of July 2023
Brand |
Starting monthly fee |
Range from base unit (at-home systems) |
Connection type |
Battery life (on-the-go systems) |
Fall detection cost |
Average response time (seconds) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$29.95 |
1,300–1,400 feet |
Landline, AT&T cellular |
5 days |
$10 per month |
1–25 |
|
$24.95 |
1,000 feet |
Landline, AT&T or Verizon cellular |
6–18 hours (smartwatch) |
$10 per month |
1–25 |
|
$24.95 |
1,300 feet |
Landline, AT&T or Verizon cellular |
30 days |
$5 per month for most systems |
1–25 |
|
$29.99 |
300–600 feet |
Landline, AT&T cellular |
40 hours |
$11 per month |
45+ |
|
$29.95 |
800 feet |
Landline, AT&T cellular |
5 days |
Included in price |
30 |
|
$19.95 |
800 feet |
Landline, AT&T cellular |
5 days |
$10 per month |
15–25 |
|
$69.95 |
N/A |
Verizon cellular, Wi-Fi |
24 hours |
Included |
45+ |
|
$159.95 |
N/A |
T-Mobile |
24 hours |
$10 per month |
N/A |
Best Fall Detection Devices
What is fall detection?
Fall detection (also called automatic fall detection) uses sensors such as accelerometers, which detect motion, to identify when you fall and then send an alert to the medical alert company’s monitoring center that you need help.
Nearly every company includes a disclaimer on its website stating no device is 100% accurate, so many fall detection devices include a help button as well in case the device doesn’t record your fall.
How does fall detection work?
Fall detection uses a wearable device (typically a necklace) to detect when the wearer falls and automatically sends help. While some medical alert smartwatches, including the UnaliWear Kanega Watch and Apple Watch, support fall detection, research from 2021 [3] Javier González-Cañete, Francisco and Casilari, Eduardo. A Feasibility Study of the Use of Smartwatches in Wearable Fall Detection Systems. Sensors. March 23, 2021. Found on the internet at https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/21/6/2254. and 2023 [4] Lee, Yongkuk, et al. Experimental Study: Deep Learning-Based Fall Monitoring among Older Adults with Skin-Wearable Electronics. Sensors. March 2023. Found on the internet at https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/23/8/3983. shows fall detection worn around your neck is more accurate than fall detection worn around your wrist.
Experts generally agree the best way to wear a fall detection device is as a necklace high on your chest and on top of your sternum for accuracy.
Fall detection technology typically includes an accelerometer and other advanced sensors such as barometers to sense slight changes in speed, angle of descent, and air pressure to detect a fall, according to this 2021 systematic review. [5] Warrington, et al. Are Wearable Devices Effective for Preventing and Detecting Falls: an Umbrella Review. Found on the internet at https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-021-12169-7. The devices take the data from those sensors and plug the information into an algorithm to determine whether a fall actually occurred. If the device confirms a fall did occur, it contacts the company’s monitoring center to send help.
To learn more about ambient sensors and monitoring centers, read about how medical alert systems work.
How accurate is fall detection?
Be aware that false positives can occur (when the device mistakenly detects a fall that hasn’t happened) if you drop your device or the device falls off a table.
This 2020 research survey found an average accuracy rate of 93% for fall detection devices, but numbers vary. [6] Ramachandran, Anita and Karuppiah, Anupama. A Survey on Recent Advances in Wearable Fall Detection Systems. BioMed Research International. May 30, 2019. Found on the internet at https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2020/2167160. This 2017 study [7] Aziz, et al. Validation of Accuracy of SVM-Based Fall Detection System Using Real-World Fall and Non-Fall Datasets. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5498034. found an average accuracy rate of 80%, and this 2018 review of 22 different studies [8] Broadley, et al. Methods for the Real-World Evaluation of Fall Detection Technology: A Scoping Review. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6068511. found that, in order to arrive at a standard accuracy rate of fall detection systems, more real-world research is needed. Generally, researchers agree it’s not 100% accurate, but very close.
In the event of a false positive with your fall detection device, the company will reach out and verify whether you need assistance. Companies also encourage you to test your fall detection device monthly to ensure it’s still working. For step-by-step instructions on how to test a fall detection device (also known as a “drop test”), see this guidance from Medical Guardian.
Why is fall detection important?
All medical alert systems have a button for you to press in the event of a fall or other emergency. But if you fall, you may be unable to press the button yourself. That’s why fall detection is so important.
After all, falling is a common experience for older adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Facts About Falls. Found on the internet at https://www.cdc.gov/falls/facts.html. “Impairments in vision, hearing, and balance can make an older person more vulnerable to falls than others,” said Liron Sinvani, MD, director of the hospitalist service at Northwell Health and associate professor of medicine at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell in the New York City area. “Those who have conditions such as osteoarthritis or dizziness or take multiple medications also have a greater risk of falling.”
Fall detection devices can prevent negative consequences, like dehydration, hypothermia, and pressure sores if someone falls and is lying on the ground for a long time.
Having a medical alert system that can sense a fall and contact emergency personnel will help you to quickly get the help you need. It’s a popular feature among medical alert customers. In our survey, automatic fall detection was the most popular special feature our respondents wanted in a medical alert system. To gauge your risk of falling and get tips on how to prevent falls, use NCOA’s Falls Free CheckUp tool. And for guidance on how caregivers can discuss falls prevention, use NCOA’s Falls Prevention Conversation Guide for Caregivers.
Best medical alert systems with fall detection: bottom line
Combined with a medical alert system, fall detection can provide an important second layer of protection. You will have peace of mind knowing help is on the way even if you don’t push the help button.
If you’re looking for the best fall detection devices, we recommend Medical Guardian for its long device range, Bay Alarm Medical for the best devices and longest battery life, and LifeFone for the best extra features.
Consider ADT Health if you’d like a simple device with no extra fees. We recommend the Lifeline fall detection necklace for the highest accuracy, Medical Alert for the lowest price, and UnaliWear Kanega Watch if you’re interested in a smartwatch with fall detection.
We do not recommend Life Alert since it doesn’t offer fall detection, in addition to other major drawbacks, like a three-year contract, high fees, and pushy sales tactics.
Going with any of these companies can give you more confidence to go out on your own and do the things you enjoy. It also can assure your friends and loved ones that you have access to help when they can’t be there.
Frequently asked questions
Have questions about this review? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Facts About Falls. Found on the internet at https://www.cdc.gov/falls/facts.html.
- Lifeline. Automatic Fall Detection. Found on the internet at https://www.lifeline.philips.com/medical-alert-systems/fall-detection.html.
- Javier González-Cañete, Francisco and Casilari, Eduardo. A Feasibility Study of the Use of Smartwatches in Wearable Fall Detection Systems. Sensors. March 23, 2021. Found on the internet at https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/21/6/2254.
- Lee, Yongkuk, et al. Experimental Study: Deep Learning-Based Fall Monitoring among Older Adults with Skin-Wearable Electronics. Sensors. March 2023. Found on the internet at https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/23/8/3983.
- Warrington, et al. Are Wearable Devices Effective for Preventing and Detecting Falls: an Umbrella Review. Found on the internet at https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-021-12169-7.
- Ramachandran, Anita and Karuppiah, Anupama. A Survey on Recent Advances in Wearable Fall Detection Systems. BioMed Research International. May 30, 2019. Found on the internet at https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2020/2167160.
- Aziz, et al. Validation of accuracy of SVM-based fall detection system using real-world fall and non-fall datasets. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5498034.
- Broadley, et al. Methods for the Real-World Evaluation of Fall Detection Technology: A Scoping Review. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6068511.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Older Adult Falls Data. Found on the internet at https://www.cdc.gov/falls/data/index.html.