For the tech-savvy, the idea of using a smartwatch is a no-brainer. Many people have benefited from communicating quickly and easily through a smartwatch and keeping track of health data and fitness goals from steps to standing to calories burned.

Now that smartwatches have become the norm, is it time to introduce the senior in your life to the smartwatch experience?

This article will review the top smartwatches for seniors to help them meet their health and wellness objectives.

What Are the Main Benefits?

Smartwatches’ main benefits are that they can be a convenient way to help seniors and their families meet their goals. Those goals are staying active and fit, maintaining independence, and having peace of mind throughout the day.

Many smartwatches promote those goals with the following:

• Health monitoring
  • Smartwatches collect data like breathing rate, heart rate, temperature, blood pressure, sleep, activity, and blood oxygen levels. This data can help the senior stay within a healthy range and provide insights to inform care for anything abnormal.
• Health and routine reminders
  • Sticking to care plans and performing maintenance health and wellness activities can be a lot to keep track of. Many smartwatches can integrate with a cell phone or an application to set up alerts and notifications to appear right on the watch for important daily milestones and reminders.
• Maintaining independence
  • Smartwatches can help close the communication gap to encourage independence and provide peace of mind. Many smartwatches have communication features like phone calls, texting, push-button emergency support, and fall detection that activates a phone call to a member of the senior’s care circle. 

What Features Should You Look For?

There are a variety of options for smartwatches that support your goals. Options range from big brand smartwatches to watches explicitly designed to support seniors. It can be tough to evaluate the options available. Here are some features to consider to find the right fit:

• Operating system
  • Smartwatches require a connection to wireless internet or cell service to work. Check and make sure your smartwatch is compatible with the systems you use or ones available in your area.
• Health data
  • Some smartwatches offer more health data than others. Check for features that monitor ECG, breathing rate, blood oxygen levels, activity levels, and more to make sure you’re getting insights on the right information.
• Battery life
  • Smartwatches only work when they’re charged! Make sure the watch is easy to charge and that the battery lasts through until the next charge.
• Comfort – band/clasp
  • Nobody wants to wear an uncomfortable watch. Make sure the clasp, band, and watch size are all appropriate to wear regularly.
• Interface
  • Some interfaces are very simple, while others are more complex. While a preferred watch may have more features, it will be challenging to take advantage of those features if the interface is too complicated. Make sure the interface matches the level of tech-savviness of the wearer.
• Price
  • Check the price of the watch itself, but also keep in mind any monthly subscription fees or additional wireless or cellular services you may need for it to function correctly.
• Diversity of features
  • Some watches support 1-2 functions, while some can support hundreds of functions and applications. Decide whether you like the simplicity of the watches with fewer features or prefer the ability to add multiple features.
• Integration with an overall care plan
  • If a senior has a care plan in place, make sure the smartwatch you choose can help you achieve your plan’s goals.

Do-It-All Smartwatches

These watches are like a smartphone on your wrist. They offer robust features but might be too complicated and the interfaces too small for seniors’ needs.

Apple Watch

Health Monitoring Features:

• ECG monitoring
• Blood oxygen sensor
• Fitness/Activity tracking and reminders
• Altimeter

Reminders:

• Integrates with calendar apps and alarms
• Audible or vibration reminders
• Activity reminders for calorie burning, standing, and active minutes

Independence:

• Texting/phone capabilities
• Email
• Fall detection
• Swappable bands for comfort

Cons:

• Requires iPhone
• Complex functionality

Samsung Galaxy Watch

Health Monitoring Features:

• ECG monitoring
• Blood oxygen sensor
• Sleep tracker
• Fitness/activity tracking and reminders

Reminders:

• Integrates with calendar apps and alarms
• Audible or vibration reminders
• Activity reminders for calorie burning, standing, and active minutes

Independence:

• Texting/phone capabilities
• Email
• Fall detection
• Swappable bands for comfort

Cons:

• Requires smartphone
• Complex functionality

Activity and Fitness Focused Smartwatches

These smartwatches are built more around health and wellness rather than replicating smartphone features.

Garmin

Health Monitoring Features:

• ECG monitoring
• Oxygen saturation
• Heart rate 
• Stress data
• Sleep tracking
• Body energy monitoring
• Respiration tracking

Reminders:

• Hydration tracking
• Daily workout suggestions

Independence:

• Solar charging
• Animated workouts
• Battery life manager
• Smart notifications
• Swappable bands
• Fall detection

Cons:

• Complex functionality

Fitbit

Health Monitoring Features:

• ECG monitoring
• Oxygen saturation
• Skin temperature
• Breathing rate
• Heart rate 
• Electrodermal activity (EDA)/stress
• Sleep tracking

Reminders:

• Reflections: keep track of how you’re feeling
• Guided breathing

Independence:

• Text and call notifications
• Fall detection
• Swappable bands for comfort
• Fast charging and long battery life

Cons:

• Complex functionality

Senior-Specific Watches

These watches are designed with seniors in mind.

Freedom Guardian

Health Monitoring Features:

• None

Reminders:

• None

Independence:

• Medical alert button
• Connects with a medical monitoring center
• Receive assistance in the case of an incident

Cons:

• Light on proactive monitoring features
• Subscription required

GreatCall Lively Wearable

Health Monitoring Features:

• Step tracker

Reminders:

• Daily health tips

Independence:

• Medical alert button
• Connects with a medical monitoring center
• Receive assistance in the case of an incident
• Fall detection
• Daily activity notifications to family on some plans

Cons:

• Light on proactive monitoring features
• Subscription required

Health Alert Watch by Routinify

The Health Alert Watch by Routinify is user-friendly and promotes habits for aging well by monitoring steps, sleep, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, heart rate, and skin temperature.

The Health Alert Watch is most effective because it is part of a holistic health and wellness system, WellAssist. WellAssist is a remote care management platform that incorporates monitoring and tracking data from wearables, like smartwatches, in order to provide the best possible care for your aging loved one. Some benefits of the WellAssist solution include:

• Features to help your loved one with their daily routine (for instance, sleep cycle management, nutrition reminders, and alerts to take a scheduled medication).
• Improved security to prevent scammers (and other individuals with bad intentions) from defrauding or otherwise harming seniors. (As an example, the ScamStop feature includes door and phone monitoring for suspicious activity.
• Seamless integration with a range of remote care devices and functionalities, such as panic buttons, TeleMedicine, TeleVisits, etc.

If you’d like to learn more about how Routinify’s WellAssist platform can integrate with your loved one’s smartwatch and help you manage his or her care, contact us today.