Will my family be notified if my parent falls?

Yes, if your parent wears a fall-detection-capable smartwatch and KinectedCare is set up. When the watch detects a fall, the watch’s own operating system handles the emergency response, and KinectedCare notifies the whole CareTeam so the family knows too.¹ KinectedCare does not detect falls itself.

Updated October 2026.

The short version

The watch detects the fall. That is a feature of the watch, not of KinectedCare.
The watch’s operating system handles the emergency response.
KinectedCare notifies the CareTeam, everyone at once. That is the part a watch can’t do on its own: reach the people who care.
Your parent can also press HELP on their phone or watch at any time, for the times nothing is detected.

An older woman at home wearing a smartwatch on her wrist

How it works, step by step

Your parent wears a fall-detection-capable Apple Watch or Wear OS watch, with fall detection turned on in the watch’s settings.
If the watch detects a fall, it starts its own emergency response.
KinectedCare then notifies the CareTeam: you, your siblings, a neighbor, whoever your parent has chosen.
You open the notification and take it from there, whether that is a phone call, a visit, or asking a neighbor to check in.

What you need

A watch that can detect falls. Whether a model has the feature, and whether it is available in your country, is the watch maker’s decision.
KinectedCare installed on your parent’s phone, and on the phones of the people who will be notified.
A CareTeam set up in the app. It is quick to do, and care coordination is free.

If there is no fall-detection watch

Fall notification needs a capable watch. Many families start without one, and the HELP button still gives your parent a clear way to reach everyone at once: one press on their phone, or a tap on the wrist. Learn more on how KinectedCare works, or see what to look for in a smartwatch for seniors.

An honest limit

Fall detection is not perfect and is not available everywhere. A watch can miss a fall, and it may not detect a fall in every situation. KinectedCare is not a medical device or a substitute for emergency services.¹ If a parent has fallen and may be hurt, call local emergency services first. The CDC reports that about one in four adults aged 65 and older falls each year, which is why knowing quickly matters.

Questions people ask

Does KinectedCare detect falls?

No. Fall detection is the watch’s own feature. When a fall-detection-capable smartwatch detects a fall, the watch’s operating system handles the emergency response, and KinectedCare notifies the CareTeam.

Does KinectedCare call emergency services?

No. KinectedCare is not an emergency service. Emergency response after a detected fall is handled by the watch itself. KinectedCare’s job is to make sure the family knows too.

Which watches work?

KinectedCare supports Apple Watch and Wear OS watches. Whether a particular model has fall detection, and whether it is available in your country, is up to the watch maker, so check the watch’s own settings and documentation.

What if my parent doesn’t wear a watch?

Fall notification needs a capable watch. Without one, your parent can still press the HELP button on their phone, and every member of the CareTeam is alerted at once. See how the HELP button works.

Does my parent have to do anything when they fall?

Not for the notification. Once the watch detects a fall, KinectedCare notifies the CareTeam without any action from your parent. They can also press HELP themselves at any time.

Keep reading

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: older adult fall prevention. cdc.gov/falls

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