Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

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clip651
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by clip651 »

Sandtrap wrote: Sat Aug 27, 2022 3:39 pm An over-riding concern might be the possibility of falling or other trauma and rendered incapable ofbgetting or dialing a cell,phone.

then what?

pendant with a button and a sensor?

j🌴
You have to look at each device you are looking at (whether dedicated device, or something like an apple watch, or whatever else) and understand how it works, and what it will do if it detects a fall and you don't respond. Also what your options are for calling for help yourself if you can (e.g. hitting a button, dialing a phone, yelling for Alexa, or whatever). Not all emergencies where you want help and can't walk across the room involve a fall. Heart attack, stroke, etc might be a good time to have a button handy you could push.

I would definitely want a device that can call for help if there is a fall and the person that fell is not able to confirm to someone, somehow that they are still OK. (Details of how to say "I'm OK" will vary by device.)

Basically, figure out which scenarios you worry about most, and pick one or more devices that might help you (or your loved one) in that situation. None of these devices are perfect in every possible situation. But one or more of them could detect a fall and get you some sort of help if you needed it, at least some of the time. Better than nothing, hopefully.

You have to do some research about what is available in your area. Consider cell signal strength, wifi availability, landline availability, and which services require cell vs wifi vs landline, etc. Consider if you're looking for protection inside the home, in the home and yard, or in the home and around town, etc. Look at what companies offer services in your area, and what you want from a device.

For our family:

For me, relatively younger, the emergency features on an apple watch that has cellular and wifi connectivity are good enough for peace of mind for now, and gives me coverage at home as well as when I am out and about.

For my older parents it was a Philips lifeline pendant for each of them. That particular system required a landline, which they still have at their home (not everyone can still get a landline, and other systems from Philips and others work without a landline). The pendants worked in the home and yard, and would detect a fall automatically (most of the time) and also had a button that could be pressed for any reason (not limited to falls). When activated by a fall or a button press, a voice would come over the base unit. If you tell them you're OK, they say have a nice day. If you don't reply, or say you need help, they send help. Their house required two base units so they could communicate with the base from anywhere in the house. If they were to fall in the yard, they would not be able to hear the voice from the base unit (or vice versa), so help would have been called whether they were OK or not, though that never happened.

For most elders I personally know - big resistance to any dedicated device ("I don't want to wear that thing") combined with lack of basic tech knowledge (apple watch and similar things are not usable solutions) means they don't have anything, and they just plan on not falling or needing to call for help unexpectedly. Don't let indecision lead you or your family member to be the one lying on the floor unable to call for help. Pick something and learn how to use it/teach them how to use it.

cj
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Sandtrap
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by Sandtrap »

clip651 wrote: Sun Aug 28, 2022 4:00 pm
Sandtrap wrote: Sat Aug 27, 2022 3:39 pm An over-riding concern might be the possibility of falling or other trauma and rendered incapable ofbgetting or dialing a cell,phone.

then what?

pendant with a button and a sensor?

j🌴
You have to look at each device you are looking at (whether dedicated device, or something like an apple watch, or whatever else) and understand how it works, and what it will do if it detects a fall and you don't respond. Also what your options are for calling for help yourself if you can (e.g. hitting a button, dialing a phone, yelling for Alexa, or whatever). Not all emergencies where you want help and can't walk across the room involve a fall. Heart attack, stroke, etc might be a good time to have a button handy you could push.

I would definitely want a device that can call for help if there is a fall and the person that fell is not able to confirm to someone, somehow that they are still OK. (Details of how to say "I'm OK" will vary by device.)

Basically, figure out which scenarios you worry about most, and pick one or more devices that might help you (or your loved one) in that situation. None of these devices are perfect in every possible situation. But one or more of them could detect a fall and get you some sort of help if you needed it, at least some of the time. Better than nothing, hopefully.

You have to do some research about what is available in your area. Consider cell signal strength, wifi availability, landline availability, and which services require cell vs wifi vs landline, etc. Consider if you're looking for protection inside the home, in the home and yard, or in the home and around town, etc. Look at what companies offer services in your area, and what you want from a device.

For our family:

For me, relatively younger, the emergency features on an apple watch that has cellular and wifi connectivity are good enough for peace of mind for now, and gives me coverage at home as well as when I am out and about.

For my older parents it was a Philips lifeline pendant for each of them. That particular system required a landline, which they still have at their home (not everyone can still get a landline, and other systems from Philips and others work without a landline). The pendants worked in the home and yard, and would detect a fall automatically (most of the time) and also had a button that could be pressed for any reason (not limited to falls). When activated by a fall or a button press, a voice would come over the base unit. If you tell them you're OK, they say have a nice day. If you don't reply, or say you need help, they send help. Their house required two base units so they could communicate with the base from anywhere in the house. If they were to fall in the yard, they would not be able to hear the voice from the base unit (or vice versa), so help would have been called whether they were OK or not, though that never happened.

For most elders I personally know - big resistance to any dedicated device ("I don't want to wear that thing") combined with lack of basic tech knowledge (apple watch and similar things are not usable solutions) means they don't have anything, and they just plan on not falling or needing to call for help unexpectedly. Don't let indecision lead you or your family member to be the one lying on the floor unable to call for help. Pick something and learn how to use it/teach them how to use it.

cj
thanks for taking the time to write all this great information

my primary and only concern is for myself.
and the concerns you mentioned are on target.

we have a mini ranch with multiple buildings, stables, and a large multi level home.
My concern would be in case of trauma, accident, or medical issue, and DW would not be near or reachable, etc.

not sure what age is a ?
senior?
elder?
retiree?

thanks again
j :D
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Sandtrap
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by Sandtrap »

opus360 wrote: Sat Aug 20, 2022 8:47 am I would like to get a smartwatch for my mom. She lives alone and isn't technologically savvy. She has a Samsung Galaxy S7 smartphone, with ... I forgot who the cellular carrier is. From what I know about smartwatches, the Apple Watch Series 7 and SE, and Samsung Watch 3 and 4 (I assume 5) have fall detection capabilities. My questions:

1) Can she use Apple Watch with fall detection even without an iphone? Does her cellular carrier have to be the same as the cell phone carrier?

2) What other smartwatches have fall detection capabilities and can call 911 if wearer doesn't respond? Both Apple and Samsung watches have very short battery life, so looking for something else.

Thank you.
To OP:
Did you end up getting a "Smart Watch" for your mom?
How did it work out?

j :D
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stan1
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by stan1 »

Happened a few weeks ago.

Spouse had Apple Watch/iPhone set up with fall detection with me as emergency contact under Emergency SOS setting (Settings and Apple Health). You can tell where this is headed. Spouse fell down, did not silence/cancel the warning on watch due to lots of blood, 911 was automatically called. I got an alert via text message that 911 had been alerted due to a fall and a link to a map with a coordinate (was accurate to within 25 feet of fall site as it turns out). Believe this happened within 60 seconds of the fall. I called spouse, no answer again due to lots of bleeding. Soon 911 called spouse and asked what was needed, but a co-worker had already called 911 separately. After a few tries to call and text spouse without an answer I called the office where spouse was working as identified on the map. There are several buildings within a few blocks. Co-worker said ambulance had been called and was arriving. As spouse was taken to hospital in the ambulance I could track location on phone (fall alert still was not silenced) all the way into the specific section of the ER. I got to ER only a few minutes after ambulance. Even the doctors and RNs in the ER were surprised how this all worked.

The only problem we had was eventually figuring out how to turn off the SOS text alerts (they continued for 24 hours off and on). We eventually had to reboot both phones after toggling the SOS feature on and off failed to silence it.

That said I don't think this is a good system for someone in their 80s or 90s who is more likely to need immediate, complex assistance or who might not be as technology savvy. I think its better for someone who is active (running, biking, hiking, walking) and has a lower likelihood of needing help due to overall better health. It also convinced me that I will probably go ahead and get a cellular enabled Apple Watch next time, worth the $120/year in extra fees for the peace of mind and being less tied to the bulk of a phone while exercising.
clip651
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by clip651 »

Sandtrap wrote: Mon Aug 29, 2022 2:11 pm
thanks for taking the time to write all this great information

my primary and only concern is for myself.
and the concerns you mentioned are on target.

we have a mini ranch with multiple buildings, stables, and a large multi level home.
My concern would be in case of trauma, accident, or medical issue, and DW would not be near or reachable, etc.
Do you have good cell phone signal in all those areas? if yes, then a cellular based device would probably be a good solution. If you already have an iPhone (and know how to use it, keep it charged regularly, etc), carry it with you and consider adding an Apple watch if you would charge it daily and wear it regularly, and think you would learn how to use it. Or if you use an Android cell phone, investigate the corresponding watches, etc.

And if you have good wifi coverage in some of those areas, use the settings on your phone to also take advantage of the wifi when it is available. That may give you more coverage if you have dead areas for cell signal where there is wifi (e.g. certain areas of the house that don't get good cell signal).

Otherwise, you can look for dedicated devices/services (either pendant or watch type system) that are based on cell coverage. Be sure they use the cell phone carrier that has a good signal in your area, and look into other details of the service, of course.

If your stables contain horses or other livestock, some sort of way to reach out in case of emergency is definitely a good idea. Even a well trained animal can accidentally injure you at times. I wouldn't want to be around horses alone without an easy way to call for help, myself.

Hope you find a solution you're happy with, and that it gives you peace of mind. :D

cj

Edited to add - new iPhone and apple watch models announced today have additional safety features. I haven't read the details yet, but these may be worth looking into when deciding what to get.
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by Sandtrap »

clip651 wrote: Wed Sep 07, 2022 11:00 pm
Sandtrap wrote: Mon Aug 29, 2022 2:11 pm
thanks for taking the time to write all this great information

my primary and only concern is for myself.
and the concerns you mentioned are on target.

we have a mini ranch with multiple buildings, stables, and a large multi level home.
My concern would be in case of trauma, accident, or medical issue, and DW would not be near or reachable, etc.
Do you have good cell phone signal in all those areas? if yes, then a cellular based device would probably be a good solution. If you already have an iPhone (and know how to use it, keep it charged regularly, etc), carry it with you and consider adding an Apple watch if you would charge it daily and wear it regularly, and think you would learn how to use it. Or if you use an Android cell phone, investigate the corresponding watches, etc.

And if you have good wifi coverage in some of those areas, use the settings on your phone to also take advantage of the wifi when it is available. That may give you more coverage if you have dead areas for cell signal where there is wifi (e.g. certain areas of the house that don't get good cell signal).

Otherwise, you can look for dedicated devices/services (either pendant or watch type system) that are based on cell coverage. Be sure they use the cell phone carrier that has a good signal in your area, and look into other details of the service, of course.

If your stables contain horses or other livestock, some sort of way to reach out in case of emergency is definitely a good idea. Even a well trained animal can accidentally injure you at times. I wouldn't want to be around horses alone without an easy way to call for help, myself.

Hope you find a solution you're happy with, and that it gives you peace of mind. :D

cj

Edited to add - new iPhone and apple watch models announced today have additional safety features. I haven't read the details yet, but these may be worth looking into when deciding what to get.
Very gracious for taking the time to input all of that great stuff.

Some senior newbie questions:

1
Does the Apple Watch (Smart Watch) have to be near my iPhone in order to work?

2
Let's say, I'm lying on the ground out in a pasture because I fell off my tractor or zero turn mower. . .or fall down a flight of stairs and nobody is home. . . other "surprises. . ". .

Will the Apple Smart Watch? "call for help" all by itself without me having to press any buttons, do anything on the iPhone in a Ziplock bag in my pocket. . or even be "awake"????


3
Can my iPhone (going to upgrade from my iPhone 7 Plus to the lastest best loaded iPhone when it comes out soon) also be set for a "fall detection". . as well as the "Smart Watch" so it's sort of a double "fail safe" system???

Huge thanks again for everyone's help.
My concerns are maybe a very "real and present danger".. . . (like the movies).
aloha
j :D
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bradinsky
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by bradinsky »

Sandtrap wrote: Thu Sep 08, 2022 8:25 am
clip651 wrote: Wed Sep 07, 2022 11:00 pm
Sandtrap wrote: Mon Aug 29, 2022 2:11 pm
thanks for taking the time to write all this great information

my primary and only concern is for myself.
and the concerns you mentioned are on target.

we have a mini ranch with multiple buildings, stables, and a large multi level home.
My concern would be in case of trauma, accident, or medical issue, and DW would not be near or reachable, etc.
Do you have good cell phone signal in all those areas? if yes, then a cellular based device would probably be a good solution. If you already have an iPhone (and know how to use it, keep it charged regularly, etc), carry it with you and consider adding an Apple watch if you would charge it daily and wear it regularly, and think you would learn how to use it. Or if you use an Android cell phone, investigate the corresponding watches, etc.

And if you have good wifi coverage in some of those areas, use the settings on your phone to also take advantage of the wifi when it is available. That may give you more coverage if you have dead areas for cell signal where there is wifi (e.g. certain areas of the house that don't get good cell signal).

Otherwise, you can look for dedicated devices/services (either pendant or watch type system) that are based on cell coverage. Be sure they use the cell phone carrier that has a good signal in your area, and look into other details of the service, of course.

If your stables contain horses or other livestock, some sort of way to reach out in case of emergency is definitely a good idea. Even a well trained animal can accidentally injure you at times. I wouldn't want to be around horses alone without an easy way to call for help, myself.

Hope you find a solution you're happy with, and that it gives you peace of mind. :D

cj

Edited to add - new iPhone and apple watch models announced today have additional safety features. I haven't read the details yet, but these may be worth looking into when deciding what to get.
Very gracious for taking the time to input all of that great stuff.

Some senior newbie questions:

1
Does the Apple Watch (Smart Watch) have to be near my iPhone in order to work?

2
Let's say, I'm lying on the ground out in a pasture because I fell off my tractor or zero turn mower. . .or fall down a flight of stairs and nobody is home. . . other "surprises. . ". .

Will the Apple Smart Watch? "call for help" all by itself without me having to press any buttons, do anything on the iPhone in a Ziplock bag in my pocket. . or even be "awake"????


3
Can my iPhone (going to upgrade from my iPhone 7 Plus to the lastest best loaded iPhone when it comes out soon) also be set for a "fall detection". . as well as the "Smart Watch" so it's sort of a double "fail safe" system???

Huge thanks again for everyone's help.
My concerns are maybe a very "real and present danger".. . . (like the movies).
aloha
j :D
Hey Sandtrap,
Check out Apple’s info about new products that they released to the public yesterday. Their new watch is a series 8 & it comes with GPS, an SOS button & cellular is an option. Regarding the watch, it’s fairly informative. I’m kind of in the same boat as you, so I’m trying to gather as much info as possible.
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Sandtrap
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by Sandtrap »

bradinsky wrote: Thu Sep 08, 2022 5:20 pm
Sandtrap wrote: Thu Sep 08, 2022 8:25 am
clip651 wrote: Wed Sep 07, 2022 11:00 pm
Sandtrap wrote: Mon Aug 29, 2022 2:11 pm
thanks for taking the time to write all this great information

my primary and only concern is for myself.
and the concerns you mentioned are on target.

we have a mini ranch with multiple buildings, stables, and a large multi level home.
My concern would be in case of trauma, accident, or medical issue, and DW would not be near or reachable, etc.
Do you have good cell phone signal in all those areas? if yes, then a cellular based device would probably be a good solution. If you already have an iPhone (and know how to use it, keep it charged regularly, etc), carry it with you and consider adding an Apple watch if you would charge it daily and wear it regularly, and think you would learn how to use it. Or if you use an Android cell phone, investigate the corresponding watches, etc.

And if you have good wifi coverage in some of those areas, use the settings on your phone to also take advantage of the wifi when it is available. That may give you more coverage if you have dead areas for cell signal where there is wifi (e.g. certain areas of the house that don't get good cell signal).

Otherwise, you can look for dedicated devices/services (either pendant or watch type system) that are based on cell coverage. Be sure they use the cell phone carrier that has a good signal in your area, and look into other details of the service, of course.

If your stables contain horses or other livestock, some sort of way to reach out in case of emergency is definitely a good idea. Even a well trained animal can accidentally injure you at times. I wouldn't want to be around horses alone without an easy way to call for help, myself.

Hope you find a solution you're happy with, and that it gives you peace of mind. :D

cj

Edited to add - new iPhone and apple watch models announced today have additional safety features. I haven't read the details yet, but these may be worth looking into when deciding what to get.
Very gracious for taking the time to input all of that great stuff.

Some senior newbie questions:

1
Does the Apple Watch (Smart Watch) have to be near my iPhone in order to work?

2
Let's say, I'm lying on the ground out in a pasture because I fell off my tractor or zero turn mower. . .or fall down a flight of stairs and nobody is home. . . other "surprises. . ". .

Will the Apple Smart Watch? "call for help" all by itself without me having to press any buttons, do anything on the iPhone in a Ziplock bag in my pocket. . or even be "awake"????


3
Can my iPhone (going to upgrade from my iPhone 7 Plus to the lastest best loaded iPhone when it comes out soon) also be set for a "fall detection". . as well as the "Smart Watch" so it's sort of a double "fail safe" system???

Huge thanks again for everyone's help.
My concerns are maybe a very "real and present danger".. . . (like the movies).
aloha
j :D
Hey Sandtrap,
Check out Apple’s info about new products that they released to the public yesterday.

Their new watch is a series 8 & it comes with GPS, an SOS button & cellular is an option.

Regarding the watch, it’s fairly informative. I’m kind of in the same boat as you, so I’m trying to gather as much info as possible.
Huge thanks.

Question:
Is the Apple Smart Watch or the "series 8" you speak of as durable, waterproof, and so forth as a Casio "G Shock" wrist watch?

I do like the idea of an "SOS" button that you mention.. . it would have came in handy last year when I was "very unintentionally" lying on the ground, staring up at the sky, all by myself. . pondering on what might hurt or be broken on this human body. . . . and wondering about things like that. . .

I will go to the Apple site now to do as you say.
j :D
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Jags4186
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by Jags4186 »

I’ll just add something I learned about today for the Apple Watch. There is a service called TruPhone that allows you to add cellular talk/text/data to an Apple Watch without a corresponding tethered iPhone and plan. It’s $9.99/mo. I.E. your mom/grandma etc. could keep their flip phone/basic phone and you could have the security of knowing where they are at all times via the Find Family app and always be able to reach them even if they don’t have their phone handy.

https://go.truphone.com/plans/US
02nz
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by 02nz »

quantAndHold wrote: Sat Aug 20, 2022 9:14 am The Apple Watch needs an iPhone.
It's now possible to set up an Apple Watch for a family member using your iPhone, and they can use the Watch independently from then on.
Topic Author
opus360
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by opus360 »

Sandtrap wrote: Tue Sep 06, 2022 8:31 pm To OP:
Did you end up getting a "Smart Watch" for your mom?
How did it work out?

j :D
Sandtrap. Not yet. I have been busy lately and wanted to look at the new Apple Watch Series 8, and updated SE. Since we don't have an iphone but a family member has an iphone, I also need to figure out the "family plan" thing someone bought up in reply 60.
zie
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by zie »

Sandtrap originally asked the question, but I thought I'd try to answer more generally.

Apple watches come in 2 varieties now. 1 is Wifi only and the 2nd is Cellular and Wifi.

The official apple documentation for how Emergency SOS works is here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206983

Basically the WIFI models need to be near your iPhone or connected to the Internet via Wifi and setup properly.

The cell versions just work everywhere there is cell signal, and not all of Emergency SOS will work without a plan, the calling 911 part WILL work even if the watch was never connected to a cellular plan. There is a caveat, it can take an extra few minutes(say 5 minutes or less) for the watch to find a cell signal and dial 911 for you when it doesn't have a cell plan.

The cellular version of Apple Watch's emergency services works in many countries regardless of where you bought the watch, so if you vacation in Vanuatu, it will happily call the local version of 911 for you without any extra work on your part. Full list of countries are available here: https://www.apple.com/watchos/feature-a ... -emergency

Apple now also sells a "rugged" version, that is even usable for divers, it's called the Apple Watch Ultra at the moment(it just came out this week, shipping end of this month).

Apple Watches currently need an iPhone to set them up, but they don't need to be near an iPhone to work or anything, so your grandkids iPhone can setup your Apple Watch if you don't want to also buy an iPhone.

Fall detection is obviously not 100% accurate, I don't have good data on how reliable it is, but reviews are "mixed". Fall detection will work better when it's on your wrist. It's very likely that the accuracy will continue to improve over time. If you fall and are knocked unconscious, the phone will wait 1 minute before trying to wake you up. Then it will start making louder and louder sounds for 30 seconds(think Fire Alarm type sound). If you still don't acknowledge the watch that you are alive, it will automatically call 911 for you and play a recorded message to 911 letting them know it thinks you are unconscious and where you are (GPS coordinates) When it plays the recorded message, it also plays it locally, so if you happen to wake up or someone wanders by, they will hear the message and people near you can talk with 911 on your behalf without having to do anything. The phone will automatically lessen the volume of the recorded message when it notices someone talking to 911.

If it doesn't notice your fall for you, then you can manually call emergency services:

* Press and hold your watch's side button (the button below the Digital Crown) until the Emergency SOS slider appears.
* Drag the Emergency SOS slider to start the call immediately. Alternatively, you can keep holding the side button. After a countdown, your watch calls emergency services automatically.

So basically if you push and hold the button long enough, it will do all the right things and call 911 for you.

Battery Life: It totally depends on how often you use the watch, the newer watches should be good for a few days if you just use it as a watch and its primary purpose is to call emergency services for you. The new Ultra watches you maybe can get a week out of with minimal use, but they haven't shipped yet, so nobody really knows.

Hope this helps!
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by Sandtrap »

zie wrote: Fri Sep 09, 2022 2:22 pm Sandtrap originally asked the question, but I thought I'd try to answer more generally.

Apple watches come in 2 varieties now. 1 is Wifi only and the 2nd is Cellular and Wifi.

The official apple documentation for how Emergency SOS works is here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206983

Basically the WIFI models need to be near your iPhone or connected to the Internet via Wifi and setup properly.

The cell versions just work everywhere there is cell signal, and not all of Emergency SOS will work without a plan, the calling 911 part WILL work even if the watch was never connected to a cellular plan. There is a caveat, it can take an extra few minutes(say 5 minutes or less) for the watch to find a cell signal and dial 911 for you when it doesn't have a cell plan.

The cellular version of Apple Watch's emergency services works in many countries regardless of where you bought the watch, so if you vacation in Vanuatu, it will happily call the local version of 911 for you without any extra work on your part. Full list of countries are available here: https://www.apple.com/watchos/feature-a ... -emergency

Apple now also sells a "rugged" version, that is even usable for divers, it's called the Apple Watch Ultra at the moment(it just came out this week, shipping end of this month).

Apple Watches currently need an iPhone to set them up, but they don't need to be near an iPhone to work or anything, so your grandkids iPhone can setup your Apple Watch if you don't want to also buy an iPhone.

Fall detection is obviously not 100% accurate, I don't have good data on how reliable it is, but reviews are "mixed". Fall detection will work better when it's on your wrist. It's very likely that the accuracy will continue to improve over time. If you fall and are knocked unconscious, the phone will wait 1 minute before trying to wake you up. Then it will start making louder and louder sounds for 30 seconds(think Fire Alarm type sound). If you still don't acknowledge the watch that you are alive, it will automatically call 911 for you and play a recorded message to 911 letting them know it thinks you are unconscious and where you are (GPS coordinates) When it plays the recorded message, it also plays it locally, so if you happen to wake up or someone wanders by, they will hear the message and people near you can talk with 911 on your behalf without having to do anything. The phone will automatically lessen the volume of the recorded message when it notices someone talking to 911.

If it doesn't notice your fall for you, then you can manually call emergency services:

* Press and hold your watch's side button (the button below the Digital Crown) until the Emergency SOS slider appears.
* Drag the Emergency SOS slider to start the call immediately. Alternatively, you can keep holding the side button. After a countdown, your watch calls emergency services automatically.

So basically if you push and hold the button long enough, it will do all the right things and call 911 for you.

Battery Life: It totally depends on how often you use the watch, the newer watches should be good for a few days if you just use it as a watch and its primary purpose is to call emergency services for you. The new Ultra watches you maybe can get a week out of with minimal use, but they haven't shipped yet, so nobody really knows.

Hope this helps!
wow, this is incredible data
Huge thanks for taking the time to type all that out.

This is exactly what I wanted to know and need to know.
I will look into all that you've posted.

I really need something like this for my health and safety. DW will like it as well.
Mega Aloha!!!!
jim
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bradinsky
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by bradinsky »

I wear a 7 year old Apple Watch that still does all it’s supposed to. In the spring of 2021, I was exercising in a cardio class & went into a-fib. I always tracked my heart rate using the watch & that day it showed a crazy erratic rate at the beginning of my workout. I typically exercised for an hour and had a target heart rate I aimed for at the conclusion. One minute in, my watch showed a rate 20+ beats per minute faster than my finish target. From there I went to a cardiologist & they put a Holter monitor on me for 24 hours & then diagnosed a-fib. I would have eventually realized there was something wrong without the watch but it really helped. During the couple of weeks before my electrical cardioversion the watch registered irregular heart rates from 36 to 205 beats per minute. Amazing technology!
Now I’m seriously considering upgrading to a series 8 with cellular capability.
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by William4u »

A Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 or 5 will work well for her and her Samsung Phone. Either will work well for detecting falls, and a fall can auto call 911 and/or text family/friends.
https://www.androidpolice.com/samsung-g ... ic-review/
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by Sandtrap »

bradinsky wrote: Sun Sep 11, 2022 8:00 pm I wear a 7 year old Apple Watch that still does all it’s supposed to. In the spring of 2021, I was exercising in a cardio class & went into a-fib. I always tracked my heart rate using the watch & that day it showed a crazy erratic rate at the beginning of my workout. I typically exercised for an hour and had a target heart rate I aimed for at the conclusion. One minute in, my watch showed a rate 20+ beats per minute faster than my finish target. From there I went to a cardiologist & they put a Holter monitor on me for 24 hours & then diagnosed a-fib. I would have eventually realized there was something wrong without the watch but it really helped. During the couple of weeks before my electrical cardioversion the watch registered irregular heart rates from 36 to 205 beats per minute. Amazing technology!
Now I’m seriously considering upgrading to a series 8 with cellular capability.
Had that happen to me last year but no watch or alarm. Did get meself to a cardiologist asap.
An added reason to look at the upgraded Apple watch etc as you say.

thanks for sharing
huge mahalo
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by bradinsky »

Sandtrap wrote: Sun Sep 11, 2022 9:02 pm
bradinsky wrote: Sun Sep 11, 2022 8:00 pm I wear a 7 year old Apple Watch that still does all it’s supposed to. In the spring of 2021, I was exercising in a cardio class & went into a-fib. I always tracked my heart rate using the watch & that day it showed a crazy erratic rate at the beginning of my workout. I typically exercised for an hour and had a target heart rate I aimed for at the conclusion. One minute in, my watch showed a rate 20+ beats per minute faster than my finish target. From there I went to a cardiologist & they put a Holter monitor on me for 24 hours & then diagnosed a-fib. I would have eventually realized there was something wrong without the watch but it really helped. During the couple of weeks before my electrical cardioversion the watch registered irregular heart rates from 36 to 205 beats per minute. Amazing technology!
Now I’m seriously considering upgrading to a series 8 with cellular capability.
Had that happen to me last year but no watch or alarm. Did get meself to a cardiologist asap.
An added reason to look at the upgraded Apple watch etc as you say.

thanks for sharing
huge mahalo
j🌺
You’re welcome. I can use the extra security the watch will provide if I were to fall & as a bonus it will also do a mini EKG. Like many, when I was 35 I didn’t think 70 & retirement was going to be quite like this. Oh well, we just play the hand we’re dealt. Take care!

Brad
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by ResearchMed »

This is suddenly of great interest here at the RM household.

I recently fell... and broke my foot.
Thank goodness DH was home.
He's almost always home, and has been working from home since before COVID, but it's only *almost* always... I was stretching to reach for something, and my balance isn't as good as it had been due to some recent health issues. I've had to promise "not to do that again..."
:oops:

And of course, what if I had been knocked out? Sure, he would have found me, but when...?

A few years ago, we had spoken with the Director of late MIL's Assisted Living Facility about why their pedant "panic buttons" don't have fall detection. He said that they had found that the "fall detection" isn't reliable enough, but if a resident had a separate/private device, that's up to them.
I don't know how much better the technology is now, but we really do need to find out.

Even in the ALF (where we expect to go), if someone fell and wasn't able to use a panic button, they probably wouldn't be "missed" until the next meal. Anyone missing a meal without telling someone in advance will get a phone call, then a knock on the door, and then an "arrival into the apartment."

Now this concern is even more scary for me, given what just happened.
This device sounds very promising, and we'll be looking into it very soon.

Any other devices to consider also?

RM
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by auntie »

I have a pendant paid for by my Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plan.

It needs to be recharged every few days, so every night when I go to bed I plug it into the charger without taking it off. That's a little awkward but not really difficult. I don't want to take it off to charge it because that means It could possibly be unavailable when I get up in the night and fall in the bathroom. I read in bed for a few minutes, then put away my book and the pendant is charged.

It has given me a few false alarms, once when I jumped, once when I accidentally pressed the button. It tells me in a loud voice to press the button if it's a false alarm, or if I'm OK.

Soon after I got it I tested it when I was 8 miles from home, I pressed the button and when the operator came on I told her I was just testing it and I wanted to know if she could tell me where I was. She told me exactly where I was.

I wear it under my clothes and it's unfortunately quite a visible bulge. I can live with that.
High risk does not equal high reward. It equals high risk of no reward.
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by ResearchMed »

What device are you using?

The false alarm reminds me of our home alarm system. Soon after it was installed, we inadvertently triggered the glass-break detector when a glass was dropped... and broke.
Good to know it definitely works! :happy

But even better to know that it worked with the test you tried.

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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by Sandtrap »

auntie wrote: Sun Sep 11, 2022 10:14 pm I have a pendant paid for by my Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plan.

It needs to be recharged every few days, so every night when I go to bed I plug it into the charger without taking it off. That's a little awkward but not really difficult. I don't want to take it off to charge it because that means It could possibly be unavailable when I get up in the night and fall in the bathroom. I read in bed for a few minutes, then put away my book and the pendant is charged.

It has given me a few false alarms, once when I jumped, once when I accidentally pressed the button. It tells me in a loud voice to press the button if it's a false alarm, or if I'm OK.

Soon after I got it I tested it when I was 8 miles from home, I pressed the button and when the operator came on I told her I was just testing it and I wanted to know if she could tell me where I was. She told me exactly where I was.

I wear it under my clothes and it's unfortunately quite a visible bulge. I can live with that.
This is interesting.

Without personal details....how did you get insurance to cover the pendant gizmo?

What type is it?

Are there various companies that supply rhe pendant?
)sort of like home alarm companies)?

Huge thanks for your help.
And thanks for sharing.
Aloha
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by auntie »

I just contacted the insurance company and asked if they covered that and they said yes. I don't remember the company or brand name of the pendant, the insurance took care of it. Medicare advantage plans are working hard to recruit customers so they are very generous.
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by Sandtrap »

auntie wrote: Mon Sep 12, 2022 8:20 pm I just contacted the insurance company and asked if they covered that and they said yes. I don't remember the company or brand name of the pendant, the insurance took care of it. Medicare advantage plans are working hard to recruit customers so they are very generous.
Did you have to go through an MD doc, IE: cardiologist, internist, orthopedic spine doctor?

Or just call the insurance provider?

huge thanks
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by bradinsky »

Sandtrap, are you on a Medicare Advantage plan?
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by Sandtrap »

bradinsky wrote: Tue Sep 13, 2022 8:03 am Sandtrap, are you on a Medicare Advantage plan?
No
Medicare Original
Part F supplemental
Additional supplementals etc
= 100% coverage for nearly everything w zero copsy n so forth
but higher premiums

something like that
dw is the tax and health insurance and insurance expert
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by bradinsky »

Sandtrap wrote: Tue Sep 13, 2022 8:24 am
bradinsky wrote: Tue Sep 13, 2022 8:03 am Sandtrap, are you on a Medicare Advantage plan?
No
Medicare Original
Part F supplemental
Additional supplementals etc
= 100% coverage for nearly everything w zero copsy n so forth
but higher premiums

something like that
dw is the tax and health insurance and insurance expert
j🌺
DW & I have supplemental plan G & they said there is no coverage for medical alert devices on that. Apparently, many Advantage plans currently do, but we need more medical coverage for our ailments than the advantage plans offer.
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by Sandtrap »

bradinsky wrote: Tue Sep 13, 2022 8:50 am
Sandtrap wrote: Tue Sep 13, 2022 8:24 am
bradinsky wrote: Tue Sep 13, 2022 8:03 am Sandtrap, are you on a Medicare Advantage plan?
No
Medicare Original
Part F supplemental
Additional supplementals etc
= 100% coverage for nearly everything w zero copsy n so forth
but higher premiums

something like that
dw is the tax and health insurance and insurance expert
j🌺
DW & I have supplemental plan G & they said there is no coverage for medical alert devices on that. Apparently, many Advantage plans currently do, but we need more medical coverage for our ailments than the advantage plans offer.
+1
Same here.
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by auntie »

Sandtrap wrote: Tue Sep 13, 2022 7:47 am
auntie wrote: Mon Sep 12, 2022 8:20 pm I just contacted the insurance company and asked if they covered that and they said yes. I don't remember the company or brand name of the pendant, the insurance took care of it. Medicare advantage plans are working hard to recruit customers so they are very generous.
Did you have to go through an MD doc, IE: cardiologist, internist, orthopedic spine doctor?

Or just call the insurance provider?

huge thanks
j :D
I didn't have to go through a doctor.
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by deserat »

At the risk of going off in a bit of a tangent, I offer the following links from the NHS and National Institute on Aging. While this thread has been about technology to detect falls, one hopes that prevention is also of interest.

I was involved a few years ago in a large project that worked on falls detection and prevention in NHS Scotland; they used various technologies but also stressed the PT and OT to prevent falls.

The links are below:

From the NHS - their program for the prevention of falls: https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... our-health

From the NIA - their info on prevention of falls: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/prevent- ... -fractures
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by Youngblood »

Sandtrap wrote: Tue Sep 13, 2022 9:23 am
bradinsky wrote: Tue Sep 13, 2022 8:50 am
Sandtrap wrote: Tue Sep 13, 2022 8:24 am
bradinsky wrote: Tue Sep 13, 2022 8:03 am Sandtrap, are you on a Medicare Advantage plan?
No
Medicare Original
Part F supplemental
Additional supplementals etc
= 100% coverage for nearly everything w zero copsy n so forth
but higher premiums

something like that
dw is the tax and health insurance and insurance expert
j🌺
DW & I have supplemental plan G & they said there is no coverage for medical alert devices on that. Apparently, many Advantage plans currently do, but we need more medical coverage for our ailments than the advantage plans offer.
+1
Same here.
j :D
IMHO, I would just spring for the iPhone 14 and Watch 8 combo. Their safety and health features are just too numerous to ignore. These
latest models also have crash detection and will call emergency services within 20 seconds of a crash if you don't/can't respond and then speak for
you of course giving them your location.

My entire family use the Apple find my app to locate any family member we are worried about to see exactly where they are.
Wife out shopping longer than expected, family on the way for a visit but not arrived as expected.

Plus, endless useful and fun things to do on both.

Age 74 here and you couldn't pry either of these or my iPad and Mac out of my hands.
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by Sandtrap »

Youngblood wrote: Tue Sep 13, 2022 1:33 pm
Sandtrap wrote: Tue Sep 13, 2022 9:23 am
bradinsky wrote: Tue Sep 13, 2022 8:50 am
Sandtrap wrote: Tue Sep 13, 2022 8:24 am
bradinsky wrote: Tue Sep 13, 2022 8:03 am Sandtrap, are you on a Medicare Advantage plan?
No
Medicare Original
Part F supplemental
Additional supplementals etc
= 100% coverage for nearly everything w zero copsy n so forth
but higher premiums

something like that
dw is the tax and health insurance and insurance expert
j🌺
DW & I have supplemental plan G & they said there is no coverage for medical alert devices on that. Apparently, many Advantage plans currently do, but we need more medical coverage for our ailments than the advantage plans offer.
+1
Same here.
j :D
IMHO, I would just spring for the iPhone 14 and Watch 8 combo. Their safety and health features are just too numerous to ignore. These
latest models also have crash detection and will call emergency services within 20 seconds of a crash if you don't/can't respond and then speak for
you of course giving them your location.

My entire family use the Apple find my app to locate any family member we are worried about to see exactly where they are.
Wife out shopping longer than expected, family on the way for a visit but not arrived as expected.

Plus, endless useful and fun things to do on both.

Age 74 here and you couldn't pry either of these or my iPad and Mac out of my hands.
Update:
Good points.
Well said.

I just updated my ancient. . . iPhone 7 to the latest iPhone 14 Pro Max with the "flux capacitor" 1 TB memory and all other options.

Now, seriously thinking about the Apple Watch with the fall detection feature.

Which Apple Watch do you recommend? The latest greatest $$$$ one?

Do you use the other features on the watch? (I am a bit low tech)??

Thanks for the help and great personal input.
j :D

** Though an older thread, the subject matter is timeless and useful to all and our loved ones.
Huge thanks for everyone's input. I've learned a lot on these threads.
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by hudson »

deserat wrote: Tue Sep 13, 2022 12:15 pm At the risk of going off in a bit of a tangent, I offer the following links from the NHS and National Institute on Aging. While this thread has been about technology to detect falls, one hopes that prevention is also of interest.

I was involved a few years ago in a large project that worked on falls detection and prevention in NHS Scotland; they used various technologies but also stressed the PT and OT to prevent falls.

The links are below:

From the NHS - their program for the prevention of falls: https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... our-health

From the NIA - their info on prevention of falls: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/prevent- ... -fractures
Thanks for the great links deserat!...bookmarked.

Mountain Biking has led to the most falls for me. Now age 75, I moved to an easier trail. On the harder trails, most falls were hard uphill sections at low speeds. If I do harder trails, I need to push around the difficult spots. Now I'm mostly on a safer trail. Falls don't happen as much. When I turn elderly, I'll turn the fall detection back on on my Apple watch.
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by nisiprius »

While recovering from an episode of vertigo, someone I know used a medical alarm system from Bay Alarm, one with cell capability. The extra-cost fall detection was comically unreliable.

They chose a pendant because of having read articles that all said wrist units were less reliable than pendants.

There were several false alarms for no obvious reason. There was one alarm because the lanyard had a cheesy clasp which parted and the unit fell to the floor (they promptly sent a new one free). The serious case was the one time the user really did fall while taking a walk. The user fortunately not hurt--but the fall was not detected. Fortunately there was no harm from the fall.
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by TomatoTomahto »

bradinsky wrote: Sun Sep 11, 2022 8:00 pm I wear a 7 year old Apple Watch that still does all it’s supposed to. In the spring of 2021, I was exercising in a cardio class & went into a-fib. I always tracked my heart rate using the watch & that day it showed a crazy erratic rate at the beginning of my workout. I typically exercised for an hour and had a target heart rate I aimed for at the conclusion. One minute in, my watch showed a rate 20+ beats per minute faster than my finish target. From there I went to a cardiologist & they put a Holter monitor on me for 24 hours & then diagnosed a-fib. I would have eventually realized there was something wrong without the watch but it really helped. During the couple of weeks before my electrical cardioversion the watch registered irregular heart rates from 36 to 205 beats per minute. Amazing technology!
Now I’m seriously considering upgrading to a series 8 with cellular capability.
A reminder that a-fib and falls don’t only happen to older people. I took an “ass over teakettle” fall in my 50s that was unexpected, sudden, and could have been much worse than it turned out to be. Black ice happens.
I get the FI part but not the RE part of FIRE.
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by bradinsky »

TomatoTomahto wrote: Mon Dec 12, 2022 8:22 am
bradinsky wrote: Sun Sep 11, 2022 8:00 pm I wear a 7 year old Apple Watch that still does all it’s supposed to. In the spring of 2021, I was exercising in a cardio class & went into a-fib. I always tracked my heart rate using the watch & that day it showed a crazy erratic rate at the beginning of my workout. I typically exercised for an hour and had a target heart rate I aimed for at the conclusion. One minute in, my watch showed a rate 20+ beats per minute faster than my finish target. From there I went to a cardiologist & they put a Holter monitor on me for 24 hours & then diagnosed a-fib. I would have eventually realized there was something wrong without the watch but it really helped. During the couple of weeks before my electrical cardioversion the watch registered irregular heart rates from 36 to 205 beats per minute. Amazing technology!
Now I’m seriously considering upgrading to a series 8 with cellular capability.
A reminder that a-fib and falls don’t only happen to older people. I took an “ass over teakettle” fall in my 50s that was unexpected, sudden, and could have been much worse than it turned out to be. Black ice happens.
+1 Amen
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by ROIGuy »

Another option (non technology) would be to take some one on one or group classes on fall prevention/ balance training.
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by Sandtrap »

Update:
Just ordered an Apple Watch series 8 with the fall detection, etc.

Up to recently, I had an iPhone 7 which was incompatible. So, upgrade to iPhone 14 Pro Max and the Apple Watch 8 is good to go.
Should get it before Christmas. Seems very high tech for my old brain.

j :D
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by TomatoTomahto »

Sandtrap wrote: Mon Dec 12, 2022 10:07 am Update:
Just ordered an Apple Watch series 8 with the fall detection, etc.

Up to recently, I had an iPhone 7 which was incompatible. So, upgrade to iPhone 14 Pro Max and the Apple Watch 8 is good to go.
Should get it before Christmas. Seems very high tech for my old brain.

j :D
Those are good Christmas presents for yourself, but I don't expect to see it in the "frugal thing you did today" thread. 🎅
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by cjcerny »

Unless your mother displays a knack for technology, a single purpose wrist or neck worn device from one of the fall detection services is a better choice than a smartwatch.
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by Lynette »

deserat wrote: Tue Sep 13, 2022 12:15 pm At the risk of going off in a bit of a tangent, I offer the following links from the NHS and National Institute on Aging. While this thread has been about technology to detect falls, one hopes that prevention is also of interest.

I was involved a few years ago in a large project that worked on falls detection and prevention in NHS Scotland; they used various technologies but also stressed the PT and OT to prevent falls.

The links are below:

From the NHS - their program for the prevention of falls: https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... our-health

From the NIA - their info on prevention of falls: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/prevent- ... -fractures
Thank you. I am taking a balance class at my health club. There was also an article in the New York Times on balance:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/12/well ... rcises.htm
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by Sandtrap »

opus360 wrote: Sat Aug 20, 2022 8:47 am I would like to get a smartwatch for my mom. She lives alone and isn't technologically savvy. She has a Samsung Galaxy S7 smartphone, with ... I forgot who the cellular carrier is. From what I know about smartwatches, the Apple Watch Series 7 and SE, and Samsung Watch 3 and 4 (I assume 5) have fall detection capabilities. My questions:

1) Can she use Apple Watch with fall detection even without an iphone? Does her cellular carrier have to be the same as the cell phone carrier?

2) What other smartwatches have fall detection capabilities and can call 911 if wearer doesn't respond? Both Apple and Samsung watches have very short battery life, so looking for something else.

Thank you.
UPDATE:
I recently bought a new "Apple Watch Series 8, Stainless Steel Case". (specifically for the fall detection and emergency features).
I also bought the latest iPhone 14 Pro Max. (because it "plays very well" with the Apple Series 8 Watch.
(Note: I did not get the Apple Watch Ultra because the extra features weren't important to me, price was not a concern).

to op:
What I've found:
1. Battery life is very very long on the Apple Watch if you put it in "Low Power Mode". This disables extra apps and features but "retains the emergency and fall detection feature" (This Is Important).

2. Buy the Apple Watch with "GPS + Cellular", it only costs a little more. This allows the Apple Watch to work "Independently of a cell phone".

3. When you call your cell phone carrier, in this case, for me, Verizon, they assign a different phone number to the Apple Watch, but also "piggyback" or "link" your cell phone phone number to your Apple Watch. (non technical terms and poor explanation).

4. Verizon will be charging me an extra 10 dollars a month to add the Apple Watch to our family plan.

5. The Apple Watch needs an iPhone to be set up and so forth. It is better that you have an iPhone and not an Android (non iPhone) cell phone.

6. You can save a few dollars by not getting an Apple Watch that is cellular ready but in that case, it has to work with an iPhone cell phone within bluetooth distance at all times. If you get the cellular ready Apple Watch, then it doesn't need the iPhone nearby to work or call emergency services and whatever emergency contacts you enter into it. Think of it as its own cell phone.

7. The fall detection does indeed work. I bumped the Apple Watch while working in my shop and it sent out an audible alarm that if I did not cancel the "countdown", it would go through the emergency contacts protocols.

8. You can also program the Apple Watch to call EMS, etc, if you press it or hold the button a certain way or length of time. So, that means if a person wanted to call EMS and didn't fall or the fall was not activated or any other reason, then the Apple Watch can make those calls for you, directly from itself, with no Cell Phone needed. But, again, you need to buy the Apple Watch with "Cellular enabled" and pay a little extra for that. And, while you don't need an iPhone for the watch to make EMS calls, you do need an IPhone, newer is better, to do setup and customizations and also updates.

To OP:
I hope this is helpful for you. It is just my recent experience. Others will know more.
j :D

*Note: Though this original post is dated Aug 2022, the subject matter is important to many, so rather than start a new thread with my Update and experiences, it might be better to add to this thread since it has great input from others already.
If anyone wants me to put this post as a new thread, then let me know. Happy Holidays. Stay warm and safe.
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opus360
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by opus360 »

Sandtrap wrote: Fri Dec 23, 2022 9:14 am UPDATE:
I recently bought a new "Apple Watch Series 8, Stainless Steel Case". (specifically for the fall detection and emergency features).
I also bought the latest iPhone 14 Pro Max. (because it "plays very well" with the Apple Series 8 Watch.
(Note: I did not get the Apple Watch Ultra because the extra features weren't important to me, price was not a concern).
To All and Sandtrap:

This is what end up happening.

My mother got an iphone SE (the current generation) and watch (2nd generation - current one) 40mm with cellular. Watch and phone have same number. She wished she got the bigger one SE 44mm, as the words such as weather on the screen are a bit too small for her to read. No problem with the SE phone. Screen was enough for her. Unlike the pendant (Lifeline or something), she does like to wear the watch, as she can receive phone calls.
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by Sandtrap »

opus360 wrote: Fri Jan 06, 2023 9:55 am
Sandtrap wrote: Fri Dec 23, 2022 9:14 am UPDATE:
I recently bought a new "Apple Watch Series 8, Stainless Steel Case". (specifically for the fall detection and emergency features).
I also bought the latest iPhone 14 Pro Max. (because it "plays very well" with the Apple Series 8 Watch.
(Note: I did not get the Apple Watch Ultra because the extra features weren't important to me, price was not a concern).
To All and Sandtrap:

This is what end up happening.

My mother got an iphone SE (the current generation) and watch (2nd generation - current one) 40mm with cellular. Watch and phone have same number. She wished she got the bigger one SE 44mm, as the words such as weather on the screen are a bit too small for her to read. No problem with the SE phone. Screen was enough for her. Unlike the pendant (Lifeline or something), she does like to wear the watch, as she can receive phone calls.
Great news!
Thanks for the update.

*Apple has a free exchange within a certain time frame after purchase if your mom wants a watch with a bigger screen.

The "Geri the Giraffe" animated watch screen is a hit!
j :D
Last edited by Sandtrap on Fri Jan 06, 2023 12:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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TomatoTomahto
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by TomatoTomahto »

opus360 wrote: Fri Jan 06, 2023 9:55 am
Sandtrap wrote: Fri Dec 23, 2022 9:14 am UPDATE:
I recently bought a new "Apple Watch Series 8, Stainless Steel Case". (specifically for the fall detection and emergency features).
I also bought the latest iPhone 14 Pro Max. (because it "plays very well" with the Apple Series 8 Watch.
(Note: I did not get the Apple Watch Ultra because the extra features weren't important to me, price was not a concern).
To All and Sandtrap:

This is what end up happening.

My mother got an iphone SE (the current generation) and watch (2nd generation - current one) 40mm with cellular. Watch and phone have same number. She wished she got the bigger one SE 44mm, as the words such as weather on the screen are a bit too small for her to read. No problem with the SE phone. Screen was enough for her. Unlike the pendant (Lifeline or something), she does like to wear the watch, as she can receive phone calls.
I nearly always have my phone with me, but I enjoy the "Dick Tracy" aspect of answering a call on my watch.

Glad that your Mom enjoys wearing her watch. I hope she never needs to detect a fall, but she's better prepared now.
I get the FI part but not the RE part of FIRE.
curmudgeon
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by curmudgeon »

nisiprius wrote: Sat Aug 20, 2022 10:22 am I am very skeptical about their accuracy.

When my wife needed a monitor--specifically for falls because she was experiencing vertigo but very much wanted to continue taking the dog for long works--she got a Bay Alarm pendant-style monitor, based on a) good reviews, and b) many online articles suggesting that pendant-style monitors were more reliable than wrist monitors for detecting falls.

During the six months she had it, she fell once while wearing it and it failed to detect the fall. That's possibly because was not a severe flop-and-bang free-fall-type fall, more a staggered-and-almost-but-not-quite-recovered fall. But it was a fall, and it didn't detect it. On the other hand, it generated about half a dozen false alarms, one for an obvious reason (pendant lanyard parted and device fell off the lanyard). The false alarms confirmed that the service worked. But six false positives, one false negative, and zero correct operations. If she'd been alone when she fell, she might have been able to push the button manually, but she might also have been able to call 9-1-1 on her cell phone.
This is an older thread, but I though I would add some real-life experience to it. DW has Parkinson's, but is still quite active, which has resulted in many falls (probably 100 over the past year).

I got the Apple Watch (2nd generation SE with cellular) a year ago for my wife, with fall detection and alert the primary reason.

Overall the fall detection has been very accurate, when the watch is being worn. I would say it has detected 95% of the falls, missing just a few "soft falls" where she had partly caught herself on something while going down. Probably one or two false alarms from banging an arm against something or the like. Fortunately the falls have not resulted in serious injury, just a lot of bruised knees and elbows and a few scrapes. Becoming sedentary to prevent falls is against DW's nature. There has never been a need to let the call go out to emergency services; she's just tapped the buttons on the watch to say "yes, there's been a fall", and "no, no need to call 911".

Forming the habit of always wearing the watch has been a slow process, though the convenience of seeing texts and answering calls when the phone is in the other room helps. The short battery life is somewhat annoying. The watch doesn't do as well as the phone in keeping cellular reception in marginal signal areas where we walk.
Last edited by curmudgeon on Wed Oct 30, 2024 2:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Emorla
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by Emorla »

I get where you're coming from—helping your mom with tech can be tricky! The Apple Watch won’t work with her Samsung phone since it needs to be paired with an iPhone for all its features, including fall detection. For smartwatches with good battery life and fall detection, I’d recommend checking out the Garmin Venu 2 or Fitbit Sense 2. They’re user-friendly and can call for help if she falls and doesn’t respond, which is a great safety feature. Plus, the battery life on those tends to be a lot better than the Apple or Samsung options, so she won't have to worry about charging it every day.
Circe
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by Circe »

I have an iPhone SE 2 (about 6 years old) and an apple watch SE that's 3+ years old. I got the watch through an Alzheimer's study (they needed volunteers from the 30s to the 70s -- the study for me ended last year) so wear it all the time except when I'm eating breakfast while it's charging. I'm pretty active and hike in some treacherous places. I think I slipped twice and told it that I was OK. Also one time I was hammering something really hard and it went off, but I like the idea that it has the feature to call if needed. I almost always have the phone in a pocket, and the watch cannot call unless it's within 100' or so of the phone. The health data, like sleep stages and heart rate are interesting. I don't always remember to turn on the exercise feature for swimming or distance walking, but when I do, it's good.

The downside to my watch is charging time. I have a faster charger in my suitcase and should probably swap them since I'm home more!
Point
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by Point »

Sandtrap wrote: Thu Sep 08, 2022 8:25 am
clip651 wrote: Wed Sep 07, 2022 11:00 pm

Do you have good cell phone signal in all those areas? if yes, then a cellular based device would probably be a good solution. If you already have an iPhone (and know how to use it, keep it charged regularly, etc), carry it with you and consider adding an Apple watch if you would charge it daily and wear it regularly, and think you would learn how to use it. Or if you use an Android cell phone, investigate the corresponding watches, etc.

And if you have good wifi coverage in some of those areas, use the settings on your phone to also take advantage of the wifi when it is available. That may give you more coverage if you have dead areas for cell signal where there is wifi (e.g. certain areas of the house that don't get good cell signal).

Otherwise, you can look for dedicated devices/services (either pendant or watch type system) that are based on cell coverage. Be sure they use the cell phone carrier that has a good signal in your area, and look into other details of the service, of course.

If your stables contain horses or other livestock, some sort of way to reach out in case of emergency is definitely a good idea. Even a well trained animal can accidentally injure you at times. I wouldn't want to be around horses alone without an easy way to call for help, myself.

Hope you find a solution you're happy with, and that it gives you peace of mind. :D

cj

Edited to add - new iPhone and apple watch models announced today have additional safety features. I haven't read the details yet, but these may be worth looking into when deciding what to get.
Very gracious for taking the time to input all of that great stuff.

Some senior newbie questions:

1
Does the Apple Watch (Smart Watch) have to be near my iPhone in order to work?

2
Let's say, I'm lying on the ground out in a pasture because I fell off my tractor or zero turn mower. . .or fall down a flight of stairs and nobody is home. . . other "surprises. . ". .

Will the Apple Smart Watch? "call for help" all by itself without me having to press any buttons, do anything on the iPhone in a Ziplock bag in my pocket. . or even be "awake"????


3
Can my iPhone (going to upgrade from my iPhone 7 Plus to the lastest best loaded iPhone when it comes out soon) also be set for a "fall detection". . as well as the "Smart Watch" so it's sort of a double "fail safe" system???

Huge thanks again for everyone's help.
My concerns are maybe a very "real and present danger".. . . (like the movies).
aloha
j :D
I have the apple watch and have sos set only during exercise. Why? Too many things trigger it when working outside or in the shop. Hammering hard, demo work, working with a bar on rocks and holes, chainsaw work and moving cut wood… and I don’t know it’s triggered because I can’t hear it or I can’t feel it. And long sleeves and moisture cause issues too. Love the watch, but limit use of 911 features. If I’m hiking or out doing regular stuff I can reenable
It.
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Sandtrap
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by Sandtrap »

Point wrote: Wed Oct 30, 2024 8:44 pm
Sandtrap wrote: Thu Sep 08, 2022 8:25 am
Very gracious for taking the time to input all of that great stuff.

Some senior newbie questions:

1
Does the Apple Watch (Smart Watch) have to be near my iPhone in order to work?

2
Let's say, I'm lying on the ground out in a pasture because I fell off my tractor or zero turn mower. . .or fall down a flight of stairs and nobody is home. . . other "surprises. . ". .

Will the Apple Smart Watch? "call for help" all by itself without me having to press any buttons, do anything on the iPhone in a Ziplock bag in my pocket. . or even be "awake"????


3
Can my iPhone (going to upgrade from my iPhone 7 Plus to the lastest best loaded iPhone when it comes out soon) also be set for a "fall detection". . as well as the "Smart Watch" so it's sort of a double "fail safe" system???

Huge thanks again for everyone's help.
My concerns are maybe a very "real and present danger".. . . (like the movies).
aloha
j :D
I have the apple watch and have sos set only during exercise. Why? Too many things trigger it when working outside or in the shop. Hammering hard, demo work, working with a bar on rocks and holes, chainsaw work and moving cut wood… and I don’t know it’s triggered because I can’t hear it or I can’t feel it. And long sleeves and moisture cause issues too. Love the watch, but limit use of 911 features. If I’m hiking or out doing regular stuff I can reenable
It.
happens to me as well although I wish i was as active and capable as you are....."cue song"..."Barbara Streisand"...."Memories.....like the corners..."

When I'm in my mini shop or warehouse, changing oil on the tractor, using the air impact wrench, yes, it triggers occasionally, or even if caught on the closing frig door.
But, I have 2 flights of stairs in my house and other places to fall so the benefits are working out well, although no "emergencies" yet.....
j
UPDATE: my series 8 smartwatch iwatch? has it's own cellular number as well. It's working out great with my new Iphone 16 pro max. Both bought cash from Apple. Money well spent. Also 2 pairs of apple earpods pro 2 with the hearing transparency mode tweaks.
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Dottie57
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Re: Smartwatches for seniors to Detect Falls

Post by Dottie57 »

nisiprius wrote: Sat Aug 20, 2022 10:22 am I am very skeptical about their accuracy.

When my wife needed a monitor--specifically for falls because she was experiencing vertigo but very much wanted to continue taking the dog for long works--she got a Bay Alarm pendant-style monitor, based on a) good reviews, and b) many online articles suggesting that pendant-style monitors were more reliable than wrist monitors for detecting falls.

During the six months she had it, she fell once while wearing it and it failed to detect the fall. That's possibly because was not a severe flop-and-bang free-fall-type fall, more a staggered-and-almost-but-not-quite-recovered fall. But it was a fall, and it didn't detect it. On the other hand, it generated about half a dozen false alarms, one for an obvious reason (pendant lanyard parted and device fell off the lanyard). The false alarms confirmed that the service worked. But six false positives, one false negative, and zero correct operations. If she'd been alone when she fell, she might have been able to push the button manually, but she might also have been able to call 9-1-1 on her cell phone.
My apple watch detects falls quite well indeed. I was surprised the first time. Had it it since 2020.
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