For active seniors who want a discreet medical alert device, a smartwatch is a great solution. Our favorite is the Apple Watch with professional monitoring from Lively. It has automatic fall detection and is more affordable than you might think.
If you're not an Apple fan or you’re looking for extra features, we’ve curated a list of other medical alert watches worth considering.
10 Best medical alert watches
- : Best overall
- : Easiest to put on
- : Budget pick
- : Best caregiver access
- : Best for Verizon customers
- : Best for voice commands
- : Luxury pick
- : Best for seniors who wander
- : Honorable mention
- : Honorable mention
Compare the best medical alert watches
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Product
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Best for
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Up-front price
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Lowest monthly price
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Contract required
|
Caregiver access
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Learn More
|
Read review
|
 |
Best overall | $135.00 | $24.99/mo. |
 No |
 No |
View on Amazon | Read Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Easiest to put on | $199.95 | $39.95/mo. |
No |
Yes |
View on Medical Guardian | Read Review |
 |
Best for budgets | Free lease | $19.95/mo. |
1-year |
Yes |
View on BlueStar Senior Tech | Read review |
 |
Best caregiver access | $189.99 | $10.00/mo. |
No |
Yes |
View on Amazon | Read review |
 |
Best for Verizon customers | $149.99 | $10.00/mo. |
2-year |
Yes |
View on Verizon | Read review |
*Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
1. Apple Watch with Lively: Best overall
*Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
We previously hesitated to recommend the Apple Watch as a medical alert device because it wasn't professionally monitored. That all changed when Apple teamed up with Lively. Now you can use all of the health monitoring and social apps during your day-to-day life and get fast, personalized help when an emergency strikes. Plus, it's pretty affordable despite being a name-brand watch.
We recommend getting at least the Apple Watch Series 4 since this is the first iteration to include fall detection.
Emergency button Automatic fall detection Professional monitoring No monthly fee option Step and fitness tracker Extra apps available
Optional cell plan costs extra Detailed setup No caregiver interface No trial periodNot for caregivers
The only thing lacking in the Apple Watch is caregiver access, so your loved ones won't be able to see your GPS location or get alerts when you enter or leave specific areas. For the privacy-minded among us, that's actually a good thing.
But if it's safer for your loved ones to know where you are and whether you actually went to your doctor appointment, then another watch might work better.
There is one workaround: you can set up the Apple Watch to share its location with emergency contacts when the SOS button is used.
Lots of setup required
Image: SafeWise
Get ready to dot your i's and cross your t's to make sure the Apple Watch works right during an emergency—especially when it comes to fall detection.
We also highly recommend signing up for a cellular plan so that the watch can make phone calls. Otherwise it's useless without an iPhone nearby.
Check out our full Apple Watch review for more information about the settings you need to turn on for the best performance. We also explain how you can use the Apple Watch as a medical alert device with no monthly fees.
2. Medical Guardian MGMove: Easiest to put on
We were immediately impressed by the MGMove's soft wristband. It’s super comfy to wear and easy to put on or adjust with one hand or limited dexterity thanks to a special clasp. Its emergency button is monitored by one of our favorite medical alert companies: Medical Guardian.
One-handed clasp Voice to text Step counter Uses AT&T & Verizon networks Caregiver portal Five Diamond-certified monitoring center 14-day trial
Expensive No fall detection Some apps cost extraSo close to perfection
The MGMove has way more going on than a clasp that didn't make me get into an awkward arm-wrestling match with myself.
There's a caregiver portal that lets loved ones see where you are and whether you've been active yet that day—which is actually an excellent layer of protection, since something's definitely wrong if you've taken 0 steps.
There are medication and appointment reminders and text messaging options. Since the watch face is too small for a keyboard, you just talk to the watch and it turns your words into texts—a nice touch for people with arthritic fingers.
Plus, Medical Guardian's monitoring center is Five Diamond certified, and their products are consistently some of the best we've ever reviewed.
Their experience and track record makes them trustworthy but also means you'll feel the difference in your wallet. The MGMove is expensive right off the bat, and some of the perks we mentioned—like reminders—cost extra each month. Expect a bill close to $50 a month on top of the nearly $200 required to get the watch.
And there's no fall detection in the MGMove. That definitely knocked it out of the running for the best medical alert watch.
Nonetheless, we like this one. Learn more in our full Medical Guardian review.
3. BellPal: Best for budgets
No one will ever know that the sophisticated BellPal watch is actually a medical alert device. It features “smart” fall detection, meaning the sensors learn your typical movements and reduce false alarms over time.
Stylish, classic watch face Smart fall detection GPS tracking Caregiver app SOS button can alert family or professionals
Battery must be replaced by jeweler Watch must remain within 164 ft. of smartphone 1-year contract requiredThe watch itself is available with a free lease, and the BellPal’s monthly subscriptions cost less than most competitors'. For around $20 per month, the SOS button will phone friends and family. Professional monitoring costs about $25 per month.
The BellPal has a couple flaws. It has no integrated two-way talk, so pressing the SOS button starts a call on your smartphone. Carrying around a smartphone and wearing this watch isn’t practical for people with memory loss.
Second, the manufacturers recommend getting the battery replaced by a jeweler every four to six months. You’ll need to really stay on top of your to-do list for this to be a practical solution.
Finally, you have to commit to a 1-year contract.
4. Angel Watch Series R - Assist: Best caregiver access
*Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
In addition to its kids smartwatch, Angel Watch offers a watch for seniors. Called the Angel Watch Series R - Assist, this watch acts like a mini cell phone but includes some useful health tracking and medical alert features.
Fall detection GPS tracking Caregiver app SOS button Video, voice, and text Tons of health tracking
Not professionally monitoredAngel Watch Series R - Assist goes above and beyond
Here's a quick run-down of features in the Angel Watch Series R - Assist:
- Automatic fall detection
- Sedentary alerts
- Medication reminders
- Body temperature monitoring
- Heart rate monitoring
- Blood pressure monitoring
- Blood glucose monitoring
- Sleep quality monitoring
- Fitness tracking (steps taken, distance covered, calories burned)
- GPS tracking
- Video calling
Not professionally monitored
Although it's packed with features, this isn't a professionally monitored watch. Instead, it pairs with a caregiver app for family-assisted monitoring. We recommend professional monitoring but admit that it's difficult to find the Angel Watch Series R - Assist's features in a professionally-monitored medical alert watch.
Wearers can press the SOS button for three seconds if they need help. The watch will try to reach all designated emergency contacts until someone picks up. You can add 911 as an emergency contact.
Learn more in our full Angel Watch review.
5. Verizon Care Smartwatch: Best for Verizon customers
The amount of features in the Verizon Care Smartwatch took us by surprise. It's not professionally monitored, but it's a nifty little medical alert watch that's actually pretty affordable.
You can buy it for around $150 up-front or spread the cost out on your Verizon bill over the next 36 months. A 24-month cellular contract is required too, and that costs about $10/mo.
Voice and text SOS button Caregiver app Up to 60-hr. battery life
2-year contract No fall detectionThe Verizon Care Smartwatch watch is like the Verizon GizmoWatch 2 but for older adults. It lets you add 10 trusted contacts who you can call or text anytime, making it easier to check on the grandkids. But since the screen is too small for a keyboard, you can send only preloaded text messages from the Care Smartwatch.
Users can also share their location with contacts or call a caregiver for help during an emergency by pressing the SOS button. There’s no fall detection, but you can also set reminders for medications and appointments.
The Verizon Care Smartwatch also sends caregivers low battery alerts and inactivity alerts.
6. WellBe HandsFree Smartwatch: Best for voice commands
The WellBe HandsFree Smartwatch monitors your heart rate, counts your steps, delivers medication reminders, and reaches a full charge in just one hour. It also pairs with a cool health-centric smart speaker—if you’re into that. Our main complaint is that it lacks automatic fall detection.
The HandsFree Smartwatch is phone-free, too, thanks to its built-in 4G LTE. You can speak to the watch like any smart assistant and learn about the weather forecast or nearby health facilities.
All of the independence-promoting smart features in the HandsFree make it perfect for the young-at-heart who like to stay on top of the latest tech. It costs around $30 per month and comes with a companion app for thorough health tracking. You can also allow a caregiver to receive alerts for missed medications or appointments.
7. Kanega Watch: Luxury pick
The Kanega Watch is a unique medical alert smartwatch with voice activation. Just say, “Fred Astaire, get help,” to start a call with the monitoring center. (Fred Astaire is the Kanega Watch’s alter ego, like Alexa or Siri.) It also features GPS tracking, smart fall detection, and medication reminders.
We also like that the Kanega Watch can be worn continuously. One set of batteries stays in the watch while the other set charges. But the batteries must be swapped out daily, so it’s not ideal for folks who have trouble remembering their routine.
UnaliWear, the maker of the Kanega Watch, charges around $60 to $70 per month to monitor this device. If you choose monthly versus annual payments, you'll pay a $149 device activation fee.
And, whatever you do, don't drop or lose the Kanega Watch. UnaliWear charges up to $650 for lost or damaged equipment.
8. AngelSense Watch: Best for seniors who wander
The AngelSense Watch is new to the market. We haven't had a chance to test it yet, but we have high hopes thanks to our good experiences with AngelSense's flagship GPS tracker.
It's not a professionally-monitored watch, so caregivers are the only ones who get alerts when the SOS button is pressed. There's a fall detection option currently in beta testing, so it's too soon to tell if that'll be a permanent feature in the AngelSense Watch.
It comes with basic caregiving features, like location tracking, route history geofencing, and low-battery alerts. There's also an auto pickup feature that lets you talk directly to your loved one even if they're not able to answer.
9. Bay Alarm Medical's SOS Smartwatch: Honorable mention
We expected to like the SOS Smartwatch because Bay Alarm Medical is one of our favorite medical alert companies. But this product was a dud. Our tests didn't go well, from navigating the touchscreen with difficulty to placing test calls that never went through. We're looking forward to testing a new one to give it a second chance.
The SOS Smartwatch appears to be from the same manufacturers as the MGMove and Sidekick Smart. If you like this design, we'd go with the MGMove—it has more features than the SOS Smartwatch anyway.
Images: Cathy Habas, SafeWise
10. LifeStation Sidekick Smart: Honorable mention
LifeStation charges over $55 per month to monitor the Sidekick Smart and makes you pick up a phone to order one. It also looks an awful lot like the HandsFree , which offers the same features (SOS button with GPS, heart rate monitor, pedometer) but charges about $25 less per month. We’d go with HandsFree.
Image: Alina Bradford, SafeWise
Final word
The Apple Watch is a modern device with tons of other uses besides calling for help in an emergency. You're likely to wear it every day, and while we recommend the professional monitoring option through Lively, you can go the ultra-affordable route and contact 911 or loved ones instead.
We've crowned it the best medical alert watch overall, but the other options on our list are worth considering before you make that final purchase:
- MGMove: A little pricey but easy to put on and feature-rich with a nice caregiver app
- BellPal: No upfront cost but requires a contract and depends on a smartphone for emergency calling
- Angel Watch Series R - Assist: Not professionally monitored but bursting with features and caregiver controls
- Verizon Care Smartwatch: Requires a 2-year Verizon contract but good for caregiver monitoring and connections
Medial alert watch FAQs
No, the FitBit Sense is not a fall detection watch, nor is any other FitBit model.
Here's a list of watches that detect falls:
- Angel Watch Series R - Assist
- Apple Watch SE
- Apple Watch Series 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
- BellPal
- Garmin vívoactive 3 Music
- Garmin fēnix 5 Plus Series
- Garmin Forerunner 645 Music
- HealthAssist Watch
- Kanega Watch
- Lively Wearable 2
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 and up
Generally, no. Most medical alert providers charge a one-time equipment fee and a monthly monitoring fee (if connected to a professional monitoring center). If you sign up for a medical alert service or buy a watch with monthly fees, it’s likely you’ll pay on a month-to-month basis. So you can cancel or switch your service whenever you wish.
Medical alert watches cost about $50 to $300 up front. Most medical alert companies charge around $30 per month to monitor these smartwatches, but we found fees ranging from $10 to $70 per month.
Smart watches for older adults are designed to be easy, but the learning curve still exists and false alarms can happen. When you accidentally press the emergency button, what happens next depends on the type of system you have.
Usually, you’ll have around 30 seconds to cancel the emergency by swiping the watch face or pressing the button again. You can always explain the false alarm to the professional monitor once they start talking to you. We haven’t found any that penalize users for false alarms.
How we reviewed medical alert watches
Image: SafeWise
Medical alert watches should be enjoyable for older adults to wear and easy to use. After all, nobody wants to feel like they’re on a leash. So we prioritized watches that give the most freedom to older adults and confidence to caregivers. Comfort, simplicity, and access to emergency help also topped our priority list.
We also awarded brownie points for extras that keep wearers healthy and active—like messaging and health-tracking apps. Learn more about how we approach reviews like this one from our methodology.
*Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
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