Almost 30% of older adults fall each year – many of them falling multiple times a year – which adds up to roughly 36 million falls annually in the U.S. And while more fall-prevention tools and technology are available now than at any time in the past, falls are still rising at by 1.5% each year.
As a caregiver, knowing immediately when a fall happens can make all the difference—and sometimes mean the difference between life and death. There are plenty of options for fall-detection devices on the market today, of course, but many older adults prefer not to broadcast the fact that they’re wearing a device at all. And that stigma and reluctance often puts them at further risk.
One new fall-detection device is hoping to change that conversation.
The Kanega Watch offers discretion and functionality
Device manufacturer UnaliWear developed the fall-detecting Kanega Watch to give seniors a sleek and discrete option, compared to the plethora of clunky, stigmatizing devices on the market. Similar in design to many athletic-style watches, the Kanega offers the functionality of a traditional watch but also comes standard with built-in fall detection, voice-activated assistance and medication reminders, among other features.
The Kanega Watch offers fall detection and access to emergency response agents 24/7/365, and detects falls three different ways: a button on the watch, voice activation and the fall detection technology itself.
When users are connected with emergency services, the company’s call center has all their information at hand and can assist based on current or past health conditions. And with two removable/rechargeable batteries and a built-in battery, users never have to take the watch off to charge it, offering constant protection and access to help.
Other features include:
- Machine learning that gets to know the wearer’s movements, reducing false alerts and alarms
- Water resistance, allowing seniors to wear the watch while bathing, doing dishes, exercising, etc.
- Wi-Fi and cell coverage
- GPS tracking
- Medication reminders
The watch requires no set-up and is ready to wear right out of the box, and there’s also no app to install or technology to learn.
Kanega customer reviews
While the majority of wearers absolutely love this watch, many of them caution against thinking of this as a smartwatch. While the Kanega is light on smartwatch functions (showing only the date and time), it makes up for it with its machine learning and automatic fall-detection capabilities.
Positive reviews most often tout:
- Responsiveness, professionalism, helpfulness and compassion from the emergency service agents
- Modern design and discrete nature of the devices
- Removable batteries so wearers never have to take it off
Any negative reviews, which were in the vast minority, included complaints of pricey subscription plans and high up-front costs, a bulky design (as compared to other smartwatches), and the lack of a caregiver tracking app. (Instead, caregivers are called when a fall occurs.)
How much does the Kanega Watch cost?
The watch is offered via two service plans, paid either annually or quarterly. For the annual plan, the activation fee to start using the watch is $199, and then users pay $59.95 each month for ongoing service. With the quarterly option, users pay an initial fee of $299 and then $69.95 each month thereafter.
The company also offers a price-lock guarantee and promises no price increases, ever.
Either plan comes with a 30-day, money-back guarantee. For returns made after the 30-day mark, a pro-rated service amount is refunded.
If your senior doesn’t like (or refuses) to wear a traditional fall-detection device, the Kanega Watch offers a smart and safe solution that gives them the dignity and independence they deserve. To learn more about this watch and the story behind its development, visit UnaliWear.com.
