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UnaliWear Medical Alerts Review


ConsumersAdvocate.org Rating: 4.7 / 5 (Excellent)
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UnaliWear was founded in 2013 with the express mission of developing a smartwatch that gives vulnerable populations greater independence. The company's flagship product, the Kanega Watch, is a comfortable and discreet solution that offers advanced fall detection features and 24/7 emergency contact services. UnaliWear is headquartered in Austin, Texas.
 
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How is UnaliWear rated?

Breakdown

4.7/5
Monitoring
4.7/5
Equipment
4.7/5
Contract and Price
4.7/5
Reputation and Certifications

Overall Rating: 4.7 / 5 (Excellent)

Conventional wisdom tells us that it's not a good idea for people to put all their eggs in one basket. But businesses do that all the time. In the case of UnaliWear, the basket is called the Kanega watch: the only product UnaliWear offers. Years of research went into developing the watch, and it now offers several benefits compared to other medical alert systems.

The Kanega watch is designed to be worn 24/7. You never have to remove it to charge (you just swap out rechargeable batteries that come with the watch), can be worn in the shower and works equally well at home and “on-the-go”. In addition, the watch is uniquely equipped with RealFall™ Fall Detection technology. RealFall detects falls using data collected from actual falls by real wearers and gets smarter over time.

The Kanega watch connects via cellular and WiFi to UnaliWear's US-based monitoring facilities. It features GPS technology, so the watch works throughout the country. There's no need to connect it to a base station or pair it with a phone.

Service through UnaliWear is comparatively expensive, but users praise the company's excellent customer service and the Kanega Watch's discreet design. Overall, the Kanega watch is an excellent choice for users who prefer not to wear a pendant and want easy battery changes and the freedom to go anywhere while still enjoying full protection.

UnaliWear Equipment

Equipment - 4.7 / 5

UnaliWear doesn't offer a choice of products—just one very effective medical alert solution. It's a stand-alone wrist watch device with built-in Wi-Fi and LTE technologies. The Kanega watch is easy to use and requires no professional setup. It works straight out of the box.

The Kanega watch stands out for its machine-learning capability. As you wear it, the watch learns about your movements, continuously improving fall detection accuracy and limiting false alerts.

The Kanega watch comes with four long-lasting lithium batteries. One advantage of the watch is that you can sleep with it all night and the next morning, swap out the batteries quickly and easily. There is no need to remove the device for charging. UnaliWear reports that Kanega watch users wear their devices more extensively than other wearable medical alert devices. Wearing the watch overnight offers added protection: we all get up in the middle of the night, and falls are more likely to happen in the dark.

The Kanega watch also offers medication reminders: it can remind you when to take your medication by vibrating and lighting up at the times you designate. Set up your medication schedule, and let your watch do the rest.
System Types
Mobile/GPS
On the Go (Mobile & GPS)
Help Button Option
Watch
Help Button Range
None
Mobile/GPS Battery Life
36 hours

Key Features

Wearable 2-Way Communication
Waterproof Help Button
Automatic Fall Detection
Supports Multiple Help Buttons
2-Way Communication
Fall Detection
Optional Fall Detection
Water-Resistant Help Button

Additional Info

Cellular Provider Options
Verizon
Equipment Warranty
UnaliWear warrants that the UnaliWear Kanega Watch will be free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal use for as long as the consumer remains current with ongoing service payments.

Monitoring

Monitoring - 4.7 / 5

UnaliWear offers 24/7 US-based monitoring. The Kanega watch automatically connects to the monitoring center if it detects a fall. Wearers can also reach the monitoring center simply by pushing the side/alert button or using their voice to ask for help. In each instance, the wearer will soon be speaking directly with a trained monitoring agent. If the wearer is responsive, he or she can direct whatever care they need – from “call my neighbor” to “I need EMS” and the agent will do what the wearer asks. When a wearer is not responsive, the agent can contact emergency contacts as well as dispatch EMS directly to each wearer’s GPS location.
Monitoring Options
Professionally Monitored
Monitoring Center Type
Owned
Services
24/7 Monitoring
Emergency Dispatch
Non-Emergency Dispatch

Contract & Price: How much does UnaliWear cost?

Contract and Price - 4.7 / 5

UnaliWear offers a choice of two plans. With the Annual Plan, the total cost for the first year is $918, which amounts to a $199 set-up fee plus $59.95 per month. Customers pay for 12 months upfront with the Annual Plan. With the Monthly Plan, customers pay a set-up fee of $299 and $69.95 a month thereafter.

If a customer pays for the Annual Plan and does not use the full year of service, a prorated refund is provided for unused service months after the equipment is returned to UnaliWear.

Starting Prices per Month

Free Monitoring for Additional Person

Contract & Fees

Contract Required?
No
Activation/ Installation Fee
Customers pay a $199 set-up fee when they sign up for an Annual Plan or $299 when they sign up for a Monthly Plan.
Equipment Fees
With the Kanega watch, customers pay for monthly monitoring services, not the equipment itself. Effectively, customers rent the watch, they do not purchase it. Service continues as long as they remain current with their payments. There is a one-time setup fee—either $199 or $299, depending on the plan you choose. Service is billed for as long as you keep the watch.
Free Trial Period
30 days, from date of shipment to date of return.
Cancellation Policy
Customers may cancel service at any time after returning their equipment. Fees are prorated from the time of return for Annual Plans.

UnaliWear Reputation

Reputation and Certifications - 4.7 / 5

UnaliWear is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and earns an A+ rating from the organization. Customers who review the Kanega watch on the BBB website praise UnaliWear's excellent customer service, the comfort of wearing the watch, and the watch's reliability under all circumstances. There have been no BBB complaints filed against the company.

UnaliWear is not rated on Trustpilot.

Media reviews of the Kanega watch are generally very positive, though reviewers do note that medical alert service through UnaliWear are comparatively expensive.

Additional Ratings

BBB Rating
A+
Date Collected
2023-10-04

Disclaimers

Disclaimers

UnaliWear is not responsible for the promptness, sufficiency or adequacy of the action of any emergency responder. UnaliWear will not send any of its personnel to Wearer’s location in response to an emergency alarm signal. Neither the Equipment nor the Services can prevent death, bodily or personal injury, or any other harm or damage to the Wearer or others who use them. Customer acknowledges and understands that this monitoring system is dependent on the functionality of cellular service and/or internet connectivity and the availability of global positioning system (“GPS”) data to operate properly. Customer recognizes that UnaliWear has no control over, nor is it responsible for, such functionality or connectivity. There is always a chance that the Equipment may fail to operate properly. The 911 emergency services line is an alternative to the Equipment and the Services. If utilizing Services that include medication reminder functionality, Customer acknowledges that medication reminders are not intended to be used as a confirmation that the medication was actually taken nor is it intended to be used as a tool for dispensing medications. The accuracy of medication reminder data is the sole responsibility of the Customer entering the data. The Customer acknowledges and accepts that the medication reminders feature may display Private Medical Information.

Contact & Additional Information

Homepage URL
https://unaliwear.com
Headquarters Address
3901 S Lamar Blvd Suite 150, Austin, TX, 78704
Year Founded
2013

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Customer Comments & Reviews

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cyna35pa
4/6/2024
I am 80 years old and quite active. I had no interest in a pendant and didn't want or need all the features in an Apple Watch. The Kanega Watch is perfect! I can wear it everywhere, all the time and feel protected and safe, even in the shower. I've only fallen once (so far!)) and it worked. I didn't need help from the agent who spoke to me through my watch, but it was a great test! I have called through the watch to an agent to contact my neighbor for help and, again, it worked perfectly. So happy I have this watch. Highly recommend it and the company/service

T
Teresa J
1/21/2024
We were sent a defective watch that constantly went off at the worst times. It literally fell off of her wrist while sitting in bed. The batteries fall out constantly. I would not purchase this for your elderly parent, they refunded all.monies Minus 2 months monitoring fee and activation fee of $199.00 which they chgd for activating the defective watch. Unacceptable. Dont purchase! Read all reviews on BBB.org. says A+ rating but if you read the most recent, you will see all the problems! We deserve the activation fee returned and pur attorneys are dealing with this, free of charge. Blatant, disgusting advantage taken of gullible senior citizens.

D
Deborah D
12/19/2023
This is a great product for normally active adults. The customer servic is difficult to reach, doesn’t return calls in a timely fashion and exhibits a lack of caring. My mother’s limited manuel dexterity made it too difficult for her to change the batteries and the band bruised her wrist. Customer service did not make the return process easy.

ripbaby61316
12/8/2023
Kanega is absolutely the best option for anyone, especially anyone living alone ! The watch responds to ME--not like other devices that require you to respond to IT. Then there is actually a PERSON there to help. It works with both WIFI and cell coverage= perfect if no cell signal is available. Forget that ugly pendant, and go with an attractive watch . Customer service gets 6 out of 5 stars ! Rosamond Prince in NC

Our Partner
Rated “Best Medical Alert” by NY Times/Wirecutter
  • Device works out of the box with no in home setup needed
  • RealFall™ Tech: Smart Fall Detection, Minimizing False Alerts
  • Clear Connections: WiFi and Cellular for Crisp Calls
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