Information that once could only be obtained during a physical exam with lab tests can now be identified simply by looking at one’s wrist! Plus, thanks to this wearable technology for seniors, you don’t have to wait a week to receive the news.
Today, approximately one in five seniors own a smartwatch or fitness tracker. These devices offer a sense of independence and confidence as users go about their daily activities. In addition, the information the watches and trackers store can be used by physicians to review and improve the health practices of their senior adult patients.
Best Wearable Technology Options for Seniors
Apple Watch
Smartwatches like the Apple Watch help seniors adhere to their fitness and wellness goals as well as monitor their health. The Apple Watch is available in different models. Depending upon the model, along with monitoring activity levels, features include:
- A blood oxygen levels app
- An ECG app, which checks heart rhythm
- Notification if the wearer’s heart rate is too high or too low
- Irregular heart rhythm notification
- Sleep monitor
- Fall detection
- Emergency SOS capability
- Cellular connectivity to make calls and reply to messages
Apple Watch users can also share this health data with loved ones or a care network.
Fitbit Watch
The Fitbit Sense 2 is Fitbit’s most advanced health smartwatch. Along with tracking physical activities, this wearable technology gives you access to:
- A Daily Readiness Score, which reveals when you are best suited to exercise and when you should rest
- Information on exercise, sleep quality, and heart rate
- Body response tracking, which senses the body’s response to stress and provides guided breathing sessions and mindfulness suggestions to help manage stress
- A Health Metrics dashboard, which measures blood oxygen levels, breathing rate, heart rate variability, and skin temperature
- An ECG app to assess your heart for rhythm irregularities
Omron
Omron produces a wide variety of blood pressure monitoring devices. This includes a HeartGuide wristwatch, which provides real-time, clinically accurate blood pressure readings, thus enhancing the ability to immediately understand how lifestyle choices impact heart health.
The watch also measures physical activity, and tracks fitness and sleep habits. A HeartAdvisor app helps users to view trends over time, receive customized insights based on personal data, and provide important information for physician review.
CarePredict Tempo Series 3 Watch
The CarePredict Tempo Series 3 watch is touted as a device focused on “small changes in seniors that can indicate serious issues before they happen.”
Sensors on this watch recognize, learn and track daily activities. It also tracks exposure to UV light, which is an important consideration for seniors.
This watch has a variety of functions noting health and habit changes that make a senior more susceptible to falls, malnutrition, sleep issues and depression. It also tracks where seniors typically spend their time in the home, and whether their habits change over time.
The watch is always on due to a swappable battery system, and has a touch-to-talk button.
The watch is equipped with a CarePredict TouchPoint app, which helps family and friends stay informed about their loved one’s health and wellbeing.
MGMove Smartwatch
A simplified smartwatch with life-saving capabilities provides daily task and medication reminders, and location tracking. It is designed with large icons, and touchscreen technology.
The device provides local weather information, a chat feature, and two-way emergency calling for assistance.
An online member portal is available that stores safety and health information.
Theora Connect™ Watch
Maintaining the health and wellbeing of seniors with dementia has also improved with wearable technology for seniors. Theora Connect™ is a purpose-built smartwatch for older adults, and the Theora Connect™ Wearable smartwatch provides caregivers a solution for quick communication, fall detection and wandering in people with mild cognitive impairment or dementia.
Caregivers can place a call to their loved one that automatically connects without the senior needing to press a button to answer. Automatic notifications are provided should the senior leave their usual locations.
The watch also measures daily steps, supplies weather information and has a locking clasp for people living with memory issues or dementia.
Optional accessories include a lockable band with keys and a motion-activated door alarm.
To find more information on senior-friendly technology, visit Bethesda’s Technology blog.
