Wearable tech for those over 50

It wasn’t so long ago that wearable tech simply referred to digital watches. These days, wearable tech is so advanced that it can seem more like magic than science. 

Because however they’ve managed it, the smart cookies behind the smart watches and personal alarms of today have created some seriously beneficial doo-dads. Anyone can make the most of the features of wearable technology, but over 50s may stand to benefit the most.

Like many countries, New Zealand has an ageing population, with the New Zealand Office for Seniors expecting more than a million people aged over 65 by 2034. 

As a result, wearable tech that helps to track and monitor key health metrics could offer a huge benefit for those who want to remain independent but take sensible precautions at the same time. 

The benefits of wearable tech 

The benefits of wearable technology are incredibly wide ranging, from being able to read and answer texts on your smartwatch to checking your blood oxygen levels and tracking your sleep patterns. 

Here are some of the key metrics that leading wearable tech brands (including smartwatches) monitor:

  • Steps per day
  • Workouts/athletic performance
  • Heart health
  • Sleep quality and duration
  • Calories
  • Stress levels
  • Possible COVID-19 symptoms
  • Chronic health conditions

That’s all on top of standard electronic watch features such as actually telling the time.

Unsurprisingly, many seniors we surveyed for our Digital Trends Report were already open to the idea of relying on technology for their health services. The majority (85%) are already using technology to better look after their physical or mental health, and 77% are always willing to consider adopting new technology. 

That means the technology exists, and even better, most of us are keen to use it. 

Top wearable items

Apple Watch 8

The Apple Watch 8 is an impressive piece of wearable tech, including features such as notifications for high or low heart rates, ECGs, fall detection, crash detection, emergency SOS, daily activity monitor, a sleep stages monitor, and a workout app. 

The Apple Watch Series 6, an older model, was recently found to monitor blood oxygen levels just as well as standard medical grade devices, making it a powerful tool for health and wellbeing tracking. 

Unrelated to health but also handy are the basic smart features such as calls, texts, emails, and podcasts. 

FitBit Sense 2

A FitBit Sense 2 is considered by some to be the most advanced piece of wearable tech in the FitBit range when it comes to health and fitness. It comes with stress management tools, an easy-to-use sleep tracker, a heart rate monitor, skin temperature monitor, breathing rate, blood oxygen monitor, and an ECG app. 

It will even give you a Daily Readiness Score, which lets you know whether your body is up for a rigorous bout of exercise like a brisk walk or something gentler, depending on your recent sleep patterns, heart rate levels, and other metrics. 

Of course, it also comes with standard apps such as Google Wallet, the weather forecast, and maps.

NevaAlone 

NevaAlone is a piece of wearable tech by ADT Security, and it’s a much simpler device. It is a button that you can wear as a necklace or on your wrist, which you simply push for immediate emergency assistance at any time of the day or night. It can also be mounted on the wall.

When you press the button, the device sends an alarm to the ADT Security Monitored Response Centre, and you can talk to someone at the centre through the device. This staff member will notify your nominated contacts and call an ambulance if necessary. 

Should you press the button by accident, you can also cancel the call within 10 seconds. This is a great device if you’re not interested in all the bells and whistles of higher technology wearables but do want to be able to call for help quickly in case of an emergency.  

Protect yourself and your loved ones

While your smart watch can help to protect you, you don’t need to be smarter than modern wearable tech to know that life insurance can help to protect your loved ones.

If you’re between the ages of 45 and 79, you may be eligible for Seniors Term Life Insurance, which could help to protect your family’s finances. 

18 Dec 2022