5 Benefits of Smartwatches for Seniors
Smartwatches have become trendy over the last few years, and for a good reason. Importantly, they have become much easier to use for people of all different levels of comfort with technology, and improved smartwatch features have made it easier to monitor your health, connect with family, and set reminders.
Smartwatches are not just for the younger generation; they are a great tool for people of all ages, including seniors, who want to have easy access to important data.
Why should seniors invest in a smartwatch?
From fitness tracking, heart rate monitoring, medication and appointment reminders, to fall detection and communication functionality, smartwatches can be a good option for seniors wanting technology that supports their independence.
5 Benefits of smartwatches for seniors
Track health data
One of the main benefits of wearable devices is the ability to track health data. Most smartwatches can collect and detect information such as daily steps, calories burned, heart rate, distance traveled, and blood oxygen levels. Some smartwatches can also measure things such as sleep, nutrition, and stress levels.
Most smartwatches come with their own health tracking apps that seniors, their caregivers, and other adults, can use to measure overall health and provide health data to health care providers. For example, Apple created a platform called Apple Health that allows Apple Watch wearers to easily share their health data with family and health care providers securely. The ability to track, observe, and share health data is a great feature for seniors who are more at risk of health-related decline.
Encourages activity
There are many benefits of living an active lifestyle, especially for seniors. Physical activity has been shown to prevent disease, lower blood pressure, improve mental health and cognitive function, and decrease risk of falls. Many smartwatches encourage activity by allowing users to set personalized fitness goals and track performance. Even small things, such as steps through the house can be tracked and measured against goals.
Set Reminders
Remembering events and obligations can be challenging for people of all age groups, but even more so for seniors. Smartwatches can sync to a person’s schedule and provide notifications prior to a specific event or designated reminder.
Many smartwatches are equipped with the ability to set medication reminders as well. This is great for people who take medication regularly and who may need a reminder to take them on time.
Keep in mind, a smartwatch is not a replacement for senior care, and, if a senior is missing medications, it may be time to consider in-home care or another medication management plan with the help of a family member or primary care provider.
Communication
According to the University of California, more than 40% of seniors experience loneliness. Communicating with family and friends can help combat loneliness and isolation, although it is not a substitute for in-person engagement. Many smartwatches can act as a communication tool for seniors allowing them to receive and send SMS messages, make phone calls, and send emergency SOS signals if assistance is needed. The emergency SOS features of wearable technology can be invaluable in the event of an emergency such as a fall.
Smartwatches make it easy for seniors to quickly access important contacts and phone numbers because they sync directly to a wearers cell phone.
GPS Tracking
Another, often overlooked, benefit of smartwatches is GPS tracking and real-time navigation. With online and offline mode, regardless of where a senior is they can access directions home.
Conclusion
Wearable technology can be a valuable tool for people of all ages. Aside from telling the time, smartwatches offer a plethora of benefits that can help the wearer in many different aspects of daily life.
A few of the biggest benefits for seniors include health data tracking, daily activity monitoring, real-time reminders, communication features, and GPS tracking.
While Comfort Keepers Twin Cities is not affiliated with any smartwatch manufacturer, nor do we endorse or recommend one product over another, we are always happy to discuss with older adults and their families ways to help maintain safety, happiness, and independence at home. Call and speak to a member of our care team today at (651) 796-2540.
From fitness tracking, heart rate monitoring, medication and appointment reminders, to fall detection and communication functionality, smartwatches can be a good option for seniors wanting technology that supports their independence.
