Useful Devices for Seniors Living Alone

Table of contents:

• #1 Tech Device for Seniors Living Alone: Home Systems​
• #2 Tech Device for Seniors Living Alone: Wearable Devices
• #3 Tech Innovation for Seniors Living Alone: Mobile Apps

 

Every age has its tech “toys.” Children are obsessed with smartwatches. Teenagers permanently dream about the newest smartphone. Their parents buy sports wristbands, paying tons of attention to the number of steps they’ve walked. So what’s the big problem with specially designed personal safety alert devices and apps for seniors living alone?

Let’s look at some of them and identify the most comfortable, functional, and useful. A tech novelty may become a valuable present. For more gift ideas, check out our previous article.

 

#1 Tech Device for Seniors Living Alone: Home Systems​

 

Functions

Home systems imply technical apparatuses that provide full 24/7 monitoring of a house with the help of alarm signals, video monitoring, and movement-detecting sensors. For elderly people living alone, such systems can change the overall quality of life. Some systems are connected to a particular website, where an adult son or daughter can observe the activity of their parent if needed.

Another more simplified variant of home systems is just an alert system. There are numerous similar brands and models - but they all function in a like manner. An average alert system is comprised of a home base console with 2-3 main emergency buttons and an electronic pendant (with one more emergency button), used when you are far from the base station. Alert systems summon instant help when it is needed.

 

Pros and Cons

Home systems come with benefits that are hard to deny.

First of all, ease of use - the senior does not need to think too hard before pushing the button.

Second, modern models are becoming sophisticated, thus, they can be connected to the Internet or detect falls.

However, some other facts show the downsides of the usage of home systems.

• Depending on complexity, prices vary a lot. The most innovative and all-encompassing systems can cost a small fortune.

• The limited area of functionality. They function only in a house or a yard.

• They might be pretty obtrusive and even dangerous, especially if the security of the system is not high enough and the personal data or the video stream gets leaked.

• In addition, you can’t be 100% reliant on your home system anyways. It is connected to an electricity supply; therefore, even the smallest electrical failure can lead to malfunction.

 

#2 Tech Device for Seniors Living Alone: Wearable Devices

 

Functions

Now let’s take a look at alert devices for seniors living alone that are attached to the body, which generally look like a pendant or a wristband. Modern wearable devices are all similar in function and target audience, yet differ in price, battery characteristics, and modes, if it has them.

Actually, wearable devices work similar to “traditional” alarm systems, but without a base console. With this, the user can go walking wearing this “super-button,” and when an accident happens the button will emit an audible signal, able to be heard from a certain distance away, or will call 911.

Wristbands can look more attractive for tech-savvy seniors. They work similarly to sports wristbands. Therefore, they read out vital health information (blood pressure, number of steps, sleep cycle, etc.).

 

Pros and Cons

It is hard to identify any real advantages or disadvantages, except that you need to remember to wear it all the time, which can become a real challenge for some seniors. All in all, wearable devices do exactly what is expected, no more and no less. So if you are looking for something more than just a “beeping” sound, then you should look at other options.

 

#3 Tech Innovation for Seniors Living Alone: Mobile Apps

Now that we have discussed all the conventional types of alert systems and devices, let’s find out what exciting options are now available on the App store and Google play store.

 

Functions

To put it mildly, there are many apps for seniors living alone. Today, elderly people looking for entertainment, striving to stay in touch with relatives, or just wanting to keep fit can find an appropriate mobile option for their needs. A separate category is personal emergency and safety alert apps ranging from s simple panic button to more complex inactivity monitoring systems like AllsWell Alert.

All the apps are designed with a nod to the peculiarities of the twilight years.

 

Pros and Cons

Among the pros, we can distinguish such features as:

• An extensive range of options

• Ease of installing and operation

• Cheap or even free

 

For the cons, it was strange to find that there are not so many applications that provide security and dual control, which is crucial for seniors living alone. But even for this, you can find a great solution like AllsWell - a unique application that has combined all the potential benefits of devices with panic buttons and alarms for seniors living alone with unobtrusive inactivity monitoring. The application is programmed to send an e-mail and SMS to the chosen relatives and friends in case of an emergency. It means, the emergency contact will get an automated alert with a GPS location after the user has stayed inactive for a suspiciously long period of time, even if the user is unable to press the button. Moreover, the app can send useful medical data about the person and his or her location. It gives their adult children assurance that everything is all right.

The first month is free, so try it out for yourself:
DOWNLOAD ALLSWELL APP FOR ANDROID
DOWNLOAD ALLSWELL APP FOR iOS

With AllsWell, seniors can live independent and active lives. To get all the benefits of the app, just download it on the mobile phone of your loved one, and know that from now on, “no news is good news.”