Best Medical Alert Smartwatches
One of the largest and most popular sections of the ‘smart’ industry is the every changing smartwatch market. And with good reason, these gadgets are incredibly useful, multifunctional, and very convenient. Is it any wonder then that medical alert companies have also started incorporating them into their services? Considering their place in a market whose primary focus is providing protection for independent seniors, medical alert smartwatches come in different shapes and forms, and it’s important to keep in mind that not all of these will necessarily fit every need.
One of the largest and most popular sections of the ‘smart’ industry is the every changing smartwatch market. And with good reason, these gadgets are incredibly useful, multifunctional, and very convenient. Is it any wonder then that medical alert companies have also started incorporating them into their services? Considering their place in a market whose primary focus is providing protection for independent seniors, medical alert smartwatches come in different shapes and forms, and it’s important to keep in mind that not all of these will necessarily fit every need.
Recommended medical alert watches
Freedom guardian by Medical Guardian
As a very simplistic and senior-friendly medical alarm watch, Medical Guardian’s Freedom Guardian is the perfect fit for elderly people that are not quite tech-savvy enough to be thrown in at the deep end when it comes to gadgetry. This medical alert watch for seniors gives users the chance to enjoy the perks of modern technology without them becoming overwhelming. While the functions might seem limited to someone that has ventured further down the technological rabbit hole than your average elderly person, this quality product is designed to serve the exact purposes its customers would generally use it for, without any unnecessary functions or apps to make the experience a hassle
What the device does have, however, is a nifty text-to-speech function that’s easy to activate, a weather forecast app, event reminders, GPS, and – most importantly – a help button that enables customers with instant contact with Medical Guardian’s call center in an emergency, no matter where they are. The only downside that this simple-to-use equipment has is that, unlike a regular medical wristband, the button on the medical alert watch must be pressed for at least three seconds continuously to activate a call.
MobileHelp Smart
Representing the golden mean in this list, MobileHelp’s sleek-looking smartwatch allows users to experience the best of both worlds. Armed with both an external and in-app alert button that connects wearers to the company’s emergency call center with a simple push, MobileHelp Smart provides the excellent protection that the company is already known for, all the while sporting some useful apps as well.
Since the device is the result of MobileHelp’s collaboration with Samsung, the high quality of this product comes as little surprise, although it is missing a few handy features such as a complementary mobile app for caretakers or a messaging function. However, MobileHelp Smart has amazing activity tracking, heart rate monitoring, and other health apps that make the watch an attractive solution for people living a more active lifestyle.
As a bonus, the modern design makes it look nothing like a regular alert button, so more fashion-conscious people can wear it with confidence. All in all, while it isn’t the simplest device to operate, it still has an intuitive and user-friendly interface with features that make it an ideal choice for people wanting to experience the benefits that modern technology has to offer without sacrificing their safety.
Apple Watch
Although not specifically designed as an emergency watch for the elderly – and should certainly not be treated as such – Apple’s product boasts all of the basic functions to place it in this list. One of its most distinguishing features that even the true medical alert wristwatches lack is the built-in fall detection. According to Apple, the accuracy of its detection is 100%, although that statement should likely be taken with a grain of salt. Apple uses the same technology as medical alert hardware manufacturers and providers should be careful not to make unrealistic claims.
How does a medical alert watch work?
Trendy, multifunctional, and offering the wearer unobtrusive protection, medical alarm smartwatches are the future of today’s alert systems. Even though they do tend to come with a drawback or two, most areas in which these smartwatches are still lacking can be easily ironed out with time. What’s more, products can be chosen to fit your needs as well as your budget.
Basic functions
The most important feature any alert smartwatch should have is a simple way to call for help. Apple’s device is limited in the extent and type of assistance that it is able to summon unlike the Freedom Guardian or MobileHelp Smart, but it is not really marketed as alert equipment specifically so the fact that it has the option at all is a great bonus.
It is always wise to seek fall detection in a device, although currently only Apple Watch boasts this feature. All of these products have built-in GPS, however, so if an accident occurs, people on the wearer’s contact list, operators, or even paramedics will have an easy way of finding the location.
Extras
Other than regular apps such as a weather forecast function or a calendar with event reminders, the most senior-friendly smartwatch, the Freedom Guardian, has a useful text-to-speech tool that makes receiving text messages a breeze. For people with impaired vision this feature can be a lifesaver, especially considering that the technology works the other way around as well, allowing people to simply send texts by speaking them out loud.
MobileHelp’s slightly more advanced device does more than function as just an alarm watch, although it certainly performs admirably in that capacity as well. The real draw – besides its cool appearance – is the Samsung health apps that it comes with. Heart rate monitoring, step counting, and sleep cycle tracking are just a few of the awesome features this watch boasts, and they are definitely a clincher for people that like to keep fit.
The apps that can be downloaded on an Apple Watch are seemingly endless. Games, health, or news; you can have it all. The company also fit everything and anything a smartwatch user could ever ask for into this compact device, including ECG, text-to-speech functionality, and fall detection. With all these functions it is therefore likely that an elderly person would sooner stop using it because of frustration than enjoy the benefits it offers. Still, medical alert devices aren’t only meant for seniors, and Apple certainly recognizes this.
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Zsuzsanna K.
Adam B.
