A 2022 survey found that 45% of Americans regularly wear smartwatches. These wearable all-in-one devices pack various unique features and have emerged as a popular tool for seniors. Perhaps you’re already aware of how smartwatches can enhance their daily lives while helping them to stay connected and engaged. If not, keep reading, and you’ll soon learn about the benefits of introducing smartwatches to senior living communities.
How Technology Is Transforming Senior Living Communities
Technology has rapidly become a pivotal part of senior living communities. As we enter the age of artificial intelligence (AI), seniors are exposed to an ever-growing number of possibilities. Smart home systems can promote the health, safety, and security of those in memory care or an assisted living community. Social isolation has become an alarming issue among many seniors. This was amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Technology has proven critical in assisting seniors to keep in touch with friends and family. Every senior living community embracing modern technology is becoming more efficient, practical, and comfortable for residents, caretakers, and administrative staff.
Four Huge Advantages of Choosing Smart Watches
Smartwatches provide many features that go far beyond telling the time. Whether you’re looking for a simple way to stay connected on the go, track your health, or help manage your daily tasks, a smartwatch can make things much more manageable.
1. The Health Benefits
As humans age, our health needs often become more complex and demanding. Thankfully, smartwatches offer a range of features that can help seniors stay on top of their health and improve their overall well-being. Smartwatches help with health and fitness by tracking activity levels, heart rate, and sleep quality. They can monitor vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels.
Having access to all this information can help detect potential health issues before they become serious. Their healthcare provider can use this valuable information to address the issue. And they’ll be better informed about developing a personalized plan for managing their health. It’s not just seniors choosing smart watches for health reasons. 92% of smartwatch users call upon their smartwatches to maintain and manage their health.
2. The Safety Benefits
Smartwatches offer notable safety benefits for seniors. This is especially true for those with mobility issues and those who spend lots of time alone. One of the most significant safety features of smartwatches is GPS tracking. This feature can help family members and caregivers locate seniors in an emergency. And this is particularly helpful for seniors at risk of wandering or getting lost.
Many smartwatches offer emergency alert buttons that can be pressed to immediately send an alert to designated emergency contacts or emergency services. This can be useful in a fall or other medical emergency. It ensures that seniors will receive prompt assistance when they need it most. Some smartwatches even have a fall detection feature that will send out an SOS alert when the watch senses a hard impact. Another safety feature of smartwatches is biometric authentication. This prevents unauthorized access to sensitive information and features for people of all ages.
Seniors can set up their smart watch to require biometric authentication. And they can do it before making a payment or accessing personal health information. Contactless payment options are available on smart watches. And this allows seniors to avoid carrying cash or credit cards, reducing the risk of theft or loss. With these safety features, smartwatches can provide seniors with added peace of mind and security in their daily lives.
3. The Convenience Benefits
A smartwatch can simplify daily routines and make it easier for seniors to stay on top of their schedules and tasks. Plus, it can be customized to suit individual preferences and needs. Receiving notifications on their wrist means seniors can stay up to date on important information. They can use notifications to manage their medications, schedules, and routines more efficiently. The calendar reminders are particularly helpful for seniors in memory care. Additionally, users can make and receive phone calls from their smartwatch. The voice-activated features make it easy for seniors to do so. And the fitness tracking features may motivate them to
4. The User-Friendly Features
Smartwatches offer a range of uncomplicated features that are fantastic for seniors who may be less comfortable using modern technology. Navigating a touch screen isn’t easy for everyone. But smartwatches have simple and intuitive interfaces that are user-friendly. You can choose to customize the watch face and font size to make it easier for seniors to read.
There is voice activation that allows seniors to control their watch with their voice. This saves them a lot of trouble if they struggle to navigate menus and buttons. Plus, seniors can install apps and widgets that cater to specific interests. For example, there are apps for medication reminders, exercise tracking, or weather updates. And these all make it easy for seniors to stay on top of things.
A Smart Watch Is a Fantastic Device for Senior Living
Smartwatches are a smart choice for seniors. They provide undeniable benefits to help users stay connected, organized, and motivated in their daily lives. Are you interested to learn how assisted living can translate to a better quality of life?
Contact us today if you’d like to know how our innovative senior living facilities can help you live a more fulfilling life. Our personalized, holistic approach encourages residents to maintain their independence.
