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UnaliWear’s Kanega Watch is the only medical alert smartwatch with built-in fall detection that connects to a 24/7 emergency monitoring center.
The monitoring fee is $69.95 per month, with a one-time set-up fee of $299.
Older adults who are housebound or need frequent supervision may not be a good fit for the Kanega Watch, as it doesn’t include GPS tracking or other communication tools for caregivers.
There’s no setup required; the watch is ready to wear right out of the box.
Mobile medical alert systems are compact and lightweight compared to earlier models (some barely weigh more than two AA batteries). Many popular brands, like Bay Alarm Medical and Medical Guardian, have even added a smart watch to their medical alert system lineup.
These discreet watches connect the wearer to a 24/7 monitoring center during an emergency via voice command or a button. For many, wearing a medical alert watch lessens the stigma often felt when wearing an obvious lanyard or clip-on button. Unfortunately, most medical alert smartwatches don’t offer fall detection—a crucial safety feature since falls were the cause of more than 34,000 deaths in 2019 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“It’s fairly straightforward: a good fall detection system may help save lives,” Jenny Sanford, an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and Caregiving Coach in New York City explained.
The Kanega Watch by UnaliWear is the only medical alert system watch with fall detection that connects to a 24/7 emergency monitoring center.
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Verizon cellular network, and GPS
Coverage range: Throughout the U.S.
Bluetooth compatible: Yes
Fall detection: Yes, and it’s included in the monthly cost
Warranty: 30-day money-back guarantee trial period and one-year warranty
Top features
Artificial intelligence (AI) fall detection technology learns your movements, continuously reducing false fall alerts
Multiple rechargeable batteries allow you to wear the watch at all times—even when it’s charging
The watch connects to both Wi-Fi and cellular service—if one goes out or has poor reception, the other one kicks in
Kanega Watch Pros and Cons
Pros
30-day money-back guarantee
The Monitoring Association (TMA) Five Diamond Certified monitoring center
White-on-black screen is easy to read, especially for users with low vision, macular degeneration, or glaucoma
Medication reminders available
Cons
Monthly monitoring fee ($69.95) and one-time set-up fee ($299) are more expensive than most mobile medical alert systems
Caregiver tracking and monitoring tools not available
UnaliWear Kanega Watch Overview
UnaliWear’s founder, Jean Anne Booth, was motivated by her aging mom to create an attractive medical alert system that her mom would actually want to wear. She ran every design and feature by her mom so that the Kanega Watch would be as wearer-friendly and helpful as possible in the real world. The Kanega Watch is a simple, discreet watch that connects to a 24/7 emergency monitoring center without looking like a bulky personal emergency response system.
Richard Hirsch, Chief Marketing Officer of UnaliWear, explained to us that the Kanega Watch is connected to the Cloud, so the company is able to accurately report how often users are wearing their watches for constant protection. According to Hirsch, “Almost 90% of our wearers are wearing their watch every day…a vast majority of those people are never taking their watch off.”
The Kanega Watch is a sleek, black watch with accent colors available in black, champagne gold, and rose gold. You can contact the 24/7, U.S.-based monitoring center from your watch using three different methods: voice command, a button, or if the fall detection is triggered.
UnaliWear encourages users to contact the monitoring center for both big and small issues. From major medical emergencies to accidentally getting locked outside of your home, monitoring center agents are ready to help. The agent will either dispatch emergency services to your location, reach out to your personal emergency contact list, or do both, depending on the situation.
The Kanega Watch is best for active older adults or those with an increased chance of falling due to a medical issue. If your loved one is homebound or needs more intensive supervision, a standard at-home medical alert system may be more fitting.
The Kanega Watch is best for active older adults or those with an increased chance of falling due to a medical issue. If your loved one is homebound or needs more intensive supervision, a standard at-home medical alert system may be more fitting.
Older adults with Alzheimer’s or dementia who are prone to wandering may not be the best fit for the Kanega Watch since it doesn’t have GPS monitoring or tracking tools for caregivers. While the watch does have GPS capabilities, your location can only be seen when you contact the monitoring center for emergency dispatch services.
Features of the Kanega Watch
Fall Detection
Automatic fall detection is one of the Kanega Watch’s most impressive features. The only other device to offer fall detection that can be worn on the wrist is the Apple Watch. However, unlike the Apple Watch, the Kanega Watch connects to an emergency monitoring center when fall detection is activated—not 911.
Most medical alert smartwatches and wrist pendants don’t include automatic fall detection due to false alarms caused by day-to-day arm and body movements. So why would the Kanega Watch be any different? The watch uses AI technology to actively learn what is—and isn’t—a fall for each wearer.
According to Hirsch, UnaliWear’s fall detection device’s algorithm is unique from other medical alert systems that use set, static algorithms to detect falls. “Because our device is connected to the Cloud, we are constantly updating our algorithm with real fall data,” he explained.
If the watch suspects a movement is a fall, it will ask for confirmation by posting the words “Is this a fall?” on the watch screen, and then you’ll be able to confirm or deny. The watch stores this information to improve fall detection and to help it learn your unique movements. The watch will automatically connect to the monitoring center if you don’t respond to the fall detection prompt. An agent will try to speak to you through the watch, but if you’re unresponsive, they’ll dispatch emergency services to your location.
Voice Control
The Kanega Watch uses voice control instead of a standard smartwatch touchscreen. Like Alexa, Siri, and other voice-activated devices, the Kanega Watch also has a name: Fred Astaire. You’ll activate voice command by saying “Fred Astaire”, followed by one of the four voice commands:
Get help
Call the operator
What day is it?
What time is it?
The Kanega Watch’s voice control and simple black-and-white screen are two key design features that make it easier for older adults to use it.
Wi-Fi and Cellular Connectivity
The Kanega Watch can connect to both Wi-Fi and cellular service for complete coverage. If one goes out or has poor reception, then the other one kicks in to keep the watch connected to the monitoring center at all times.
Some medical alert systems only use cellular connectivity, which means that if your home has poor cell service, you’re not getting full protection.
Quick-Swap, Rechargeable Batteries
Most wearable medical alert systems are taken off at night to charge or are too uncomfortable to sleep in, but the Kanega Watch is designed to be worn at all times so there’s no lapse in protection. The watch comes with a battery charger and four rechargeable batteries. When the two batteries powering the watch need to be charged, you just switch them with the two charged batteries.
You’ll get a message on your watch screen to alert you when it’s time to change the batteries. The batteries snap in and out of place on the band and don’t require any tools to change them out.
No Setup Required
Each Kanega Watch includes a “white glove” onboarding experience. We confirmed with a live chat agent that your Wi-Fi and emergency contacts are already programmed into the watch when you receive it. All you have to do is charge the batteries and put them in, and your watch is ready to wear.
How Much Does the Kanega Watch Cost?
The Kanega Watch has a one-time set-up fee and a monthly monitoring fee:
Monthly monitoring fee: $69.95
One-time set-up fee: $299
The equipment and monthly monitoring fees for the Kanega Watch are more expensive than those of other popular medical alert watch brands, like Medical Guardian, Bay Alarm Medical, and Lively, which have equipment fees that range from $49–$199.95 and monthly monitoring fees that fall between $24.99–$39.99. While these brands´ prices may be lower compared to the cost of the Kanega Watch, Medical Guardian, Bay Alarm Medical, and Lively don’t offer fall detection.
You’ll receive a full refund if you return your watch within the 30-day free trial period, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. We confirmed with a live chat agent that you’ll receive a prorated refund when you return your watch after the trial period. You’re also protected by being “locked in” to your original monthly rate—if the monthly monitoring fee goes up, you’ll still pay the same rate you did when you first purchased your watch.
Discounts Available
UnaliWear offers a free month of service for every 12 months if you qualify for one of the following discounts:
Two people with a Kanega Watch living in the same household
Active duty military, veterans, and their family members
AARP members
There’s also a referral program that rewards both the referred customer and the current customer with a free month of service.
Like all medical alert systems, the Kanega Watch isn’t covered by Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). If you have Medicare Part C, the cost of your watch may be fully or partially covered. Check with your plan provider to make sure you know exactly what is—and isn´t—covered.
UnaliWear’s Kanega Watch Reviews From Customers
UnaliWear on Better Business Bureau
UnaliWear has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), with a high customer rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars. Many positive reviews cite how easy UnaliWear´s watch is to use, and also praise the company’s excellent customer service. You can even speak with a customer about their firsthand experience with the Kanega Watch from UnaliWear. The company’s online form has an option to indicate if you’d like to be contacted by a current customer. There was only one single-star review (seen below) for the Kanega Watch on the Better Business Bureau´s website. The company responded and apologized that the customer had so many issues, and even issued a full refund.
Bottom Line
The Kanega Watch by UnaliWear is the only medical alert watch with automatic fall detection that connects to a 24/7 emergency monitoring center. The fall detection technology is constantly updated with real fall data that allows it to learn your movement patterns to help prevent fewer false alarms.
We like the watch’s simple black and white screen, medication reminders, and quick-swap rechargeable batteries. However, the Kanega Watch may not be the best fit for older adults who need more supervision or are more likely to wander since there are no active GPS tracking or caregiver tools.
Why You Can Trust Our Review
You deserve the best products for a better quality of life. As such, we strive to create honest, helpful reviews. Our experts independently research and recommend products we believe provide value in the lives of our readers.
We’ve spent collectively more than 1,700 hours conducting in-depth research on medical alert systems. Our content is medically reviewed and unbiased to help you choose the right medical alert system for you or your loved one.
We did the following when researching the Kanega Watch and other medical alert systems:
Engaged in ongoing independent research
Consulted with geriatricians and adult caregivers
Mystery shopped the brands
Surveyed medical alert system users
Interviewed experts in the field
Read verified customer reviews from trusted third parties, such as Better Business Bureau and Consumer Reports
Frequently Asked Questions
UnaliWear’s Kanega Watch has voice activation and a call button you can use to contact the company´s five-star emergency response center. If you fall and cannot m
The watch can be purchased on an annual plan for $149, plus the cost of operation ($59.95 a month). A quarterly plan is available as well, with the watch costing $249, plus $69.95 a month for operational fees.
The founder and CEO of UnaliWear is Jean Anne Booth.
Yes. UnaliWear is a U.S.-based company with an A+ Better Business Bureau rating.
The company has been in operation for eight years, as of 2022.
The Kanega Watch (which contains the help button) is water resistant but not waterproof. You can wear it in the shower, but not in a situation when it would be totally immersed in water for any length of time, such as when you are swimming.
The Kanega Watch, UnaliWear´s one medical device, is ready to go when you open up the box. It will automatically connect to your home Wi-Fi, and then switch to Verizon cellular service when you’re outside. You can contact the company to walk you through any glitches should you experience them.
The watch comes with a one-year warranty. It also has a 30-day, money-back guarantee.
You don’t need a landline or cell phone to use the watch. It is a standalone device with built-in Wi-Fi and LTE technology.
Contact UnaliWear’s customer support team at 1-888-343-1513 to cancel your service.
Emily Breaux has written for multiple audiences in healthcare, higher education, tech, and more, combining her writing experience with her background in education. She currently specializes in medical alert systems content.
