The Best Fall Detection Devices

Automatic fall detection is a feature found in all of our best medical alert systems. This tech calls for help if you fall so you can get help right away. Falls are the number one cause of injuries for Americans over 65, so it's good to be prepared.¹

We like the Apple Watch as a fall detection device because it's so versatile. You can connect to Lively's professional monitors during an emergency for about $25 a month or pay no monthly fee and connect to loved ones and local 911 operators instead. Plus, Apple Watches do so much more than detect falls, so their value is hard to beat. 

We used to rank the Apple Watch lower on our list of best fall detection devices because it wasn't professionally monitored. We're singing a different tune now that Apple has partnered with Lively (formerly GreatCall). You can connect to most Lively services—including Urgent Response—through the Apple Watch and iPhone app. Read our Lively review to learn more about its prices and services.

You can still use the Apple Watch as a fall detection device without paying an extra monthly fee. Fill out a profile on the Health app and give permission for it to be shared with emergency responders. That's pretty much what happens with professional monitoring too, but without the risk of false alarm fees.

In addition to calling 911, the Apple Watch can alert your emergency contacts. You'll have about a 30-second window to cancel the calls.

The watch also vibrates on your wrist to let you know something's up. Don't ignore that vibration: if the watch calls 911 and nothing's wrong, you might get hit with a false alarm fine. 

We recommend the Apple Watch Series 4 since it's often the most affordable model on the market, but any Apple Watch released after Series 4—including the Apple Watch SE—has built-in fall detection. Don't forget to turn on fall detection mode in settings.

Learn more about how the Apple Watch can promote safe aging in our reviews of the best fitness trackers and wearable devices for seniors or in our full Apple Watch review.

The Mobile System by Medical Alert comes with a secondary panic pendant. While it doesn't include automatic fall detection, this panic button can be worn around the house while the mobile unit charges. Press the button if you need help, and monitors will check in on you through the mobile unit's speaker.

Medical Alert also stands out for its customer service. We talked to a dozen medical alert companies about their fall detection technology, and Medical Alert's representative was the most knowledgeable and friendly by far.

Medical Alert's equipment lineup is relatively limited compared to the competition, and you'll end up paying nearly $58 per month for fall detection if you choose the month-to-month plan. You'll shave a few dollars off the monthly cost if you can pay semi-annually or annually. 

Learn more in our full Medical Alert review.

A lot of medical alert systems offer fall detection only as an extra emergency pendant, which means you may have to wear multiple devices throughout the day. With LifeLine, you need only one emergency device to cover medical needs and falls.

It’s water resistant for showering and bathing, comes with a free battery replacement, and has a 600-foot range from the communicator base.

Lifeline systems seem pricier than the competition, but in reality, they're in the same ballpark as the other medical alert companies on our list. Lifeline just happens to give straightforward fall detection pricing.

Other companies give a monthly price without fall detection, which makes them seem cheaper at first glance. Once you add in those extra fall detection fees, Lifeline doesn't seem so bad. Plus, AARP members get up to 15% off Lifeline systems.

But we've noticed that Lifeline adds extra fees (like one for self-installation) to the checkout process. Expect to pay at least $70 for activation, shipping, and installation. 

With over 40 years in the business, Lifeline recognizes how important fall detection is for its customers (literally lifesaving).

That’s why most of its equipment comes with this feature already built in. An all-in-one fall alert system like this means less to remember and more time to enjoy your day.

We also appreciate that Lifeline is candid about its automatic fall detection technology and testing process. The team seems dedicated to continuous improvement.

Read our in-depth review of Lifeline to get the full scoop on this medical alert system, its pricing, packages, and other features.

Aloe Care Health recommends placing the fall detection sensor in the bathroom since older people often slip in or around the tub, but in theory, you could put it anywhere in the home.

As part of the Essentials Plus package, you’ll have the Smart Hub, accessories, and a mobile device that can be worn on the wrist or as a necklace.,

All of it is monitored for $39.99 per month with no extra fall detection fees tacked on, but you'll also have to part with about $250 upfront just to get the equipment.

We also like that caregivers are kept in the loop in real time. Through the Aloe Care app, they'll know exactly when a fall was detected and get a play-by-play of your conversation with the professional monitoring center.

Learn more about this innovative tech in our full Aloe Care Health review.

We love many things about Bay Alarm Medical, but this is another brand that basically earns a participation trophy when it comes to fall detection.

Yes, you can get in-home and on-the-go fall protection added to your Bay Alarm package, but it'll just be an accelerometer. ​Expect to pay at least $40 per month for fall detection through Bay Alarm Medical.

Read our full Bay Alarm Medical review to learn more. 

MyNotifi isn't professionally monitored, so there are no monthly fees to pay. That also means your loved ones get notifications directly to their smartphones when they need help. Think of MyNotifi as a direct link to your children, grandchildren, neighbors, or any other emergency contacts you have.

There are some definite perks to a professionally monitored medical alert system, but the monthly cost can be a barrier. MyNotifi is a decent alternative, and it's one of the few fall detection devices that you can clip onto your belt or tuck into your pocket.

If you have an Android phone, you'll be happy to hear that the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 includes fall detection. But, unlike the Apple Watch, the Galaxy only relies on one sensor. It also calls emergency contacts only, not 911.

Designed as a medical alert watch for seniors, the Kanega Watch has some impressive technology—including automatic fall detection. But its monthly price reaches nearly $70. It might be worth it if the Kanega turns out to be everything you've ever wanted in a watch. But for us, that price is an industry outlier.

Whether you’ve got a fall detector or not, there are things you can do to prevent falling in and out of the house.

• Secure rugs with nonslip carpet pads.
• Install grab bars in bathtubs and showers.
• Affix nonslip decals to slippery surfaces.
• Add motion-activated night lights to halls and stairways.
• Keep traffic paths free of clutter.
• Make sure handrails are secure.
• Wear shoes, slippers, or socks with nonslip grips on the bottom.
• Keep up on landscaping and other outside maintenance like fallen leaves and snow removal.

• Wear sturdy shoes with good traction that fit well.
• Take your time. You’re more likely to trip or stumble if you’re in a hurry.
• Be aware of your surroundings. Avoid walking and talking on the phone at the same time, and look out for cracks in sidewalks and other uneven surfaces.
• Take care at curbs. Stop for a second and make sure you have a good sense of a curb’s height before stepping up or down.
• Use handrails, a cane, or other mobility support to keep your movement steady and stable.
• Leave your porch light on to make sure you get to the door safely when you get home.

If you’re considering a medical alert system with fall detection, check out the Apple Watch with Lively Urgent Response. You'll get a cutting-edge smartwatch with fall detection services at a much lower cost than the competition.

Whatever medical alert system you decide on, remember that fall detection is an important and lifesaving feature. Adults over 65 suffer the greatest number of fatal falls, which are the second leading cause of accidental or unintentional injury deaths in the world.²

A feature like automatic fall detection can’t protect you from every crack in the sidewalk or slippery tile floor, but it can connect you to help in minutes when you need it most.

We began our search for the best fall detection devices by learning how fall detection technology works. We learned that all wearable fall detection devices contain something called a tri-axial accelerometer, which is just a fancy name for something that senses changes in speed and distance along three lines: forward or backward, side to side, and up and down. For the purposes of fall detection, the tri-axial accelerometers are programmed to only go off when a rapid downward movement occurs. 

But there are two flaws in relying only on tri-axial accelerometers for fall detection: Not every fall happens rapidly, and many people fall at an angle rather than crumpling straight down. Combining other sensors to a tri-axial accelerometer improves the accuracy of a fall detection device. 

We learned that a gyroscope is the most common secondary sensor in a fall detection device. Its job is to detect angular falls. Other sensors sometimes seen in fall detection devices include magnetometers (which sense changes in Earth’s magnetic pull) or barometric pressure sensors, which can help identify when someone is lying down versus standing up. In other words, they’re useful in detecting slow falls that could be missed by a tri-axial accelerometer or a gyroscope.

Armed with this information, we looked for fall detection devices with multiple sensors. 

Another key piece of information we uncovered is that fall detection devices work best when worn around the neck and resting on the breastbone. This reduces the likelihood of false alarms caused by the device swinging around too much, which can happen when the lanyard is too long or the device is worn around the wrist. 

That said, some companies have released fall detection watches that combine AI learning with fall detection tech to learn your typical movements and reduce false alarms over time. We chose to look at both watches and traditional pendants when compiling our list of the best fall detection devices.

Finally, there are non-wearable fall detection options that use radio frequencies, cameras, or motion sensors to detect whether someone has fallen in a high-risk area like a bathroom. However, examples of these products are few and far between. Many still seem to be in the experimental phase. We chose to focus on wearable fall detection devices because they promote the wearer’s freedom.

We carefully considered overall utility, ease of use, appearance, and price when evaluating the best fall detection devices. 

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1. CDC, “About Older Adult Fall Prevention,” January 17, 2024. Accessed May 22, 2024.
2. World Health Organization, “Falls,” April 2021. Accessed May 22, 2024.