What to look for in a wearable senior monitor

The best wearable senior monitors have come a long way thanks to the ongoing ‘smart’ revolution. As wearable devices become lighter and offer more features, particularly health-monitoring functions, they’ve fast become a potential alternative or supplementary upgrade for the more traditional medical jewellery.

Let’s dive into the essential need to know for the core components of today’s wearable senior monitors.

As you might’ve guessed from the name, a wearable senior monitor is a product designed for older adults that can monitor various health factors. Also, it’s wearable, which means it can be fastened to the wrist, clipped to a belt, or worn around the neck on a lanyard.

Wrist wearables look a lot like watches, or they can even be smartwatches, some of which have advanced health-monitoring features. Depending on the wearable monitor, you may be given multiple wearable options. For instance, the LifeLive Alarm and Medi Alarm come with these three wearable configuration options, which let the user switch it up or stick with the wearable method they prefer.

In terms of what a wearable senior monitor does, the extended range of features may vary, but there are some basics to consider. Fall detection and an SOS button are key inclusions. GPS location tracking or sharing and geofencing are additional features worth having. And other advanced features include health tracking on a variety of metrics—the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, for instance, has TGA-approved electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring—while mobile reception is also a plus.

Depending on what you’re looking for in a wearable senior monitor, you may be able to get one for free. The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) is designed to assist older adults with entry-level support services for independent (and safe) home living. Visit the CHSP website to apply for an eligibility assessment.

If you’re eligible, you may be able to receive a wearable senior monitor at a reduced cost or for free. Alternatively, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is another potential funding option for older adults after a wearable senior monitor. Speaking of insurance, it’s worth chatting to your health insurance provider about potential reimbursements for health wearables.

For more information, read our guide to subsidised senior monitors.

The answer to that question really depends on what will provide the greatest peace of mind. Fall detection and an SOS button are great base considerations. The option to easily call or be called from the wearable is also worth considering. Where applicable, a large screen is a great inclusion but, generally, a wearable that’s easy to use is recommended.

Battery life is also a key consideration. Smartwatches may have additional health-monitoring functionality, but they may need to be recharged daily. Other wearable senior monitors can recharge in under an hour and provide days of battery life.

GPS and/or geofencing are also nice-to-have features. A wearable that includes GPS functionality can let the user notify others of their location. Geofencing allows a wearable senior monitor to notify preset contacts when it detects a person has moved outside of a defined area.

For wearable senior monitors that use a mobile network for full functionality, you should consider the network coverage of your area. The Telstra network is the largest, the Telstra wholesale network is the second largest, while Optus and Vodafone rank behind those. You can save money by opting for a Vodafone or Optus plan, but check that the coverage is available in your area.

Since most monitors only require calls, texts, and a small amount of data (if any), you can pair them with cheap SIM-only plans. The list below displays low-cost prepaid plans across the different mobile networks in Australia.