Best Smartwatches & GPS Trackers For Old People
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Who says that a smartwatch is not useful for senior people? Smartwatches are a fashion statement for some, a neat piece of technology for others. But for the elderly, they transcend any ‘cool factor’ and can be genuinely useful. For instance, they can provide medication reminders, track daily activity, and even alert loved ones of any emergency. Some smartwatches can also take and receive phone calls, which is a particularly useful feature because unlike a phone a watch will be worn all of the time.
If you are looking to invest in a smartwatch or fitness device for your loved one, we have prepared a list for you below which we feel covers the best devices available right now. So without further ado, let’s take a look at the best smartwatches for the elderly in [year]:
The Ultimate List Of Smartwatches & Smart Devices For Seniors
Apple Watch
The Apple watch comes as an easy recommendation for the elderly due to its ease of use, and more importantly, seamless connectivity with iPhones. Chances are, most of the elderly would prefer to use an iPhone in the first place since iOS is much more intuitive to use than Android devices, and the clear winner for a smartwatch to go with an iPhone is obviously an Apple Watch.
The latest Apple Watch Series 5 also has a larger screen, making it easier for elderly folks with limited vision loss to read the elements on the display easier. On top of that, the Apple Watch series is also waterproof, so there’s no need to worry about getting the watch wet or wearing it in the shower.
Moreover, there are many helpful features baked into watchOS that could come in super handy for the elderly, namely the fall detection feature. This uses the accelerometer and gyroscope sensors on the Apple Watch to accurately detect if the wearer has had a hard fall, and can even contact emergency services by itself if the wearer is unresponsive after the fall.
Reasons to buy:
– Water-resistant
– Fantastic health monitoring features
– Seamless connectivity with iPhones
– Robust emergency features
Reasons not to buy:
– Expensive
– Limited compatibility with Android phones
Verdict:
With its robust set of features, you simply cannot go wrong with getting an Apple Watch for the elderly. If you find the Apple Watch Series 5 too expensive, the Series 3 Apple Watch can be had for nearly half of the price with just minor differences on the hardware.
Laxcido Elderly GPS Smart Watch
The Laxido elderly GPS Smart Watch is a compelling option at just $145.99 since it packs a lot of features such as 4G connectivity, GPS tracker, blood pressure/heart rate monitor, SOS emergency call, and even a front-facing camera for video calls for such a low price.
On top of that, the Laxido elderly GPS smartwatch is also waterproof, which means you can easily keep this watch on the wrist at all times, even in the shower. There’s also geofencing features that can be set up, which will send alerts whenever the wearer enters or leaves designated safe zones.
All in all, we think the Laxido elderly GPS smartwatch is a worthy purchase around $145, especially when you consider that it’s one of the few watches that are capable of video calls.
Reasons to buy:
– Relatively affordable
– Decent health monitoring features
– Front-facing camera
– Waterproof
Reasons not to buy:
– Not as intuitive to use as the Apple Watch
– Not compatible with iPhones
– Might be confusing to use
Verdict:
While it isn’t the cheapest smartwatch by any means, the Laxido GPS smartwatch is a reasonably priced at $145. It’s also one of the few smartwatches that has a front-facing camera and a cellular connection, which are features that you don’t get with far more expensive smartwatches.
CallToU Caregiver Pager
The CallToU Caregiver Pager isn’t a smartwatch per se, but rather a watch-style receiver that’s meant for caretakers to receive alerts from the transmitters, which is meant to be used by the elderly. This way, the caregiver can be alerted on the watch whenever help is needed.
The CallToU Caregiver Pager comes with 1 receiver and 2 transmitters, so you have everything you need to get started from the get-go. These transmitters are very easy to use, with just a red ‘call’ button on the device that comes with a strap for it to be worn like a hung on the neck like a pendant. It’s also water-resistant, although only with an IP55 rating.
The range for the transmitters is 500 feet, which should be more than enough to cover most homes. There’s also doubled side adhesive tapes included if you want to attach the transmitters certain parts of the home.
At $65.99, we think the price is a little steep considering that this isn’t a smartwatch, but it can be a compelling option if you have a dedicated caregiver and don’t want to get a smartwatch for the elderly wearer.
Reasons to buy:
– Cheap
– Comes with 2 transmitters
– Straightforward operation
– Water-resistant
– Good range for transmitters
Reasons not to buy:
– Very limited functionality
– Not functional outside of range
Verdict:
If you want to stay connected with the elderly folks without troubling them to use a smartwatch, the CallToU Caregiver Pager might be the next best option, as the transmitters are essentially just a simple-to-use button that can alert you or the caregiver whenever help is needed.
Freedom Guardian
The Freedom Guardian smartwatch is built especially for the elderly in mind and is the only smartwatch that allows the wearer to speak to a 24/7 emergency monitoring center directly.
This outstanding feature is also available on the smartwatch itself without requiring a phone to be tethered, as the Freedom Guardian has built-in cellular connectivity to make calls independently. A SIM card is also built-in to the device, though you’ll need to pay a monthly subscription fee for the cellular plan.
While the Freedom Guardian only costs $69 for the device itself, the subscription charges are very pricey since you’re essentially paying for the 24/7 emergency monitoring center. The monthly fee is a whopping $49.95, which will be far too expensive for most people.
Unless you really see the value of having access to the emergency services, we think the price of the monthly subscription won’t be feasible to use this device long-term.
Reasons to buy:
– Cheap device cost
– Well built and water-resistant
– Direct access to 24/7 emergency monitoring team
– Cellular connection
– Built-in speakers and microphone for 2-way calling
Reasons not to buy:
– Extremely expensive monthly subscription cost
Verdict:
The Freedom Guardian is a compelling smartwatch for the elderly in its own right, but the exorbitant monthly fees are far too expensive for most people.
Samsung Galaxy Smartwatch
The Samsung Galaxy Smartwatch, now priced at $269, packs a ton of features that would be particularly useful for the elderly. It features a blood pressure monitor, heart rate monitor, and an SOS alert feature that can be used to make emergency calls. There’s also a sleep monitor that can monitor sleeping cycles, REM sleep, and more.
The watch faces on the watch are also very stylish, and thanks to its large 1.3 inch display with a resolution of 360 x 360, elements on the screen are crisp and easy to read.
Durability is also another strong point for the Samsung Galaxy Smartwatch since its screen is made with Gorilla Glass, making it much less likely to get damaged. There’s also water resistance up to 5 ATM, which means this watch can be worn even when swimming.
Thanks to GPS + LBS tracking, you’ll also have the peace of mind since you’ll be updated on the wearer’s whereabouts, which can be directly synced to your phone.
Reasons to buy:
– Elegant design
– Water-resistant
– GPS + LBS tracking
– Decent battery life
– Fully featured apps with support for 2-way calling
Reasons not to buy:
– Expensive
– Poor compatibility with iPhones
Verdict:
The Samsung Galaxy Watch is pricey but is easily one of the best smartwatches you can get for older folks. It’s got every feature you could possibly want in a smartwatch and has the looks to match as well.
Fitbit Blaze
The Fitbit Blaze is an excellent offering by Huami that has a retro 80’s looks with its simple, rectangular design. Despite its looks, the Fitbit Blaze is very well-equipped under the hood, with GPS tracking support, heart rate monitor, and a slew of health monitoring apps.
The Blaze definitely has a sharp focus on health monitoring, as its always been with Fitbit devices. There’s built-in support to track steps, sleep, and heart rate that can be conveniently synced to your phone.
On top of that, the Blaze also boasts great battery life, lasting about 5 days on a charge even with its large 1.66-inch screen that has a resolution of 240 x 180 pixels.
With that said, the Fitbit Blaze is starting to show its age in terms of its processing power, since the Blaze was originally released some time ago.
At $198, the Fitbit Blaze is a hard sell when you consider that it doesn’t necessarily offer anything more than the competition for that price point.
You could find interesting too: Best Fitbit for Kids
Reasons to buy:
– Unique retro design
– Health tracking features
– GPS tracking
– Great battery life
Reasons not to buy:
– Expensive
– Outdated
Verdict:
The Fitbit Blaze is a great option if you plan to get this for an active elderly person, as its focus on fitness tracking means that you’ll get nuanced analytics about steps taken, calories burned, and so on. The sleep tracking and heart-rate monitor would also come in handy to give preemptive health warnings, but the lack of a modern processor with the dated hardware might make the Blaze a tough sell when you can get a far more modern smartwatch with far less money.
Amazfit Bip Smartwatch by Huami
The Amazfit Bip comes in at only $67.99, but still covers all the essential features that you’d typically look for in a smartwatch for older people. It’s got onboard GPS tracking, an incredible 30-day battery life, support for notifications, heart-rate sensor, sleep tracking, and a screen that’s plenty bright enough to view outdoors.
The Bip is made from a simple plastic case that doesn’t look particularly interesting but is very lightweight and compact, making it very comfortable on the wrist.
Text and other display elements are prominently displayed, which is perfect for older people who might have impaired vision.
While the Bip was originally designed as more of a fitness tracker than a smartwatch, the features that come with the Bip makes it surprisingly viable as a smartwatch for the elderly. It’s GPS tracking, heart-rate monitor, and incredible battery life makes it an amazing choice, especially when you consider for the unbelievably cheap price of $67.99.
Reasons to buy:
– Comfortable on the wrist
– Extremely cheap
– Outstanding 30-day battery life
– Decent health monitoring features
– Great display
Reasons not to buy:
– The software doesn’t look as polished as wearOS or Tizen
– Bland design
Verdict:
The Bip is a compelling option not just for older people but for everyone looking for a no-nonsense smartwatch that covers the essentials perfectly. It’s got a fantastic price, a long battery life, a bright screen, and so on. There’s nothing much to complain about the Amazfit Bip.
V.ALRT Wireless Personal Emergency Alert Device
The V.ALRT is a small keychain-sized button that you can carry around to send out alerts in case of an emergency. Priced at only $15, it’s a no brainer just to pick one up if you have older people in your family just for the extra peace of mind.
The V.ALRT uses a traditional watch battery and can last up to one year. While that might sound amazing, the V.ALRT only offers a very limited set of features to make such a small device last so long.
The 2 main reasons for getting the V.ALRT device would be its ability to make emergency calls or text and its automatic fall detection monitor. The V.ALRT needs to be paired to your phone using Bluetooth for it to work, and the idea here is to allow the wear an easier way to reach out for help in case of an emergency.
Overall, we think the V.ALRT is a no-brainer at just $15, and while it’s not an independent GPS tracker or smartwatch by any means, it does offer some nifty features that might come in handy in an emergency.
Reasons to buy:
– Very cheap at only $15
– SOS calling and texting features
– Automatic fall detection
– Year-long battery life
– Waterproof
– Very compact
Reasons not to buy:
– Requires tethering with a phone
– Requires an active Bluetooth connection
Verdict:
At only $15, the V.ALRT so inexpensive that it doesn’t matter if you never got to use, but can be priceless if it helps during an emergency. With that said, you’ll need to constantly pair this device using Bluetooth for it to work.
Conclusion – The best option of Smartwatch for Seniors
Needless to say, there are plenty of options when it comes to getting a smartwatch for older people. If the person you’re getting the smartwatch for own an iPhone, it’s a no brainer to just go with the Apple Watch. While it’s expensive, it’s simply the best smartwatch you can get so long as it’s paired with an iPhone. If the Series 5 is over your budget, we recommend going for the Series 3 Apple Watch since it can be found for just over $200 on Amazon.
As for other options, we’d have to go with the Amazfit Bip for the overall best smartwatch for older people. Its slew of features is simply incredible for the price point and offers everything you can ask for in a smartwatch. We’d also recommend the V.ALRT for its super inexpensive price of just $15 that comes in handy during an emergency.
