This list has been updated for 2020, complete with new senior wearables and GPS location trackers.
Why are They Necessary?
Many seniors prefer to be independent, living in a home or apartment they’ve known for years. The problem with this is if anything were to happen nobody would know, or it would take a while before someone found out.
Trackers allow family, friends, or caretakers to monitor seniors remotely. The same devices exist for children, and even pets.
Senior wearables often have an emergency or SOS feature that will call for help at the touch of a button. When you’re living on your own, without anyone nearby, a device like this could save your life.
Like smartwatches, many of the devices offer extra functionality, like the ability to call or message friends and family.
Thanks to the popularity of smartwatches and similar devices, many forms of tech are being slimmed down into wearable form. Gadgets like smartwatches, HD action cameras, lifeloggers, augmented reality glasses and more. It’s no surprise that medical alert devices are compacted and upgraded with better features.
The Best Senior Wearables and GPS Trackers
Tempo by CarePredict
The CarePredict is essentially a wrist-worn sensor – like the emergency buttons – except it can do a whole lot more than alert the appropriate parties. Like any watch or smartwatch, you can change out the band to give it a different appearance or style.
The internal sensor tracks a variety of data because it can detect motion. It will be able to tell when the wearer is running, sitting, standing, walking and even lying down. It can also discern location in a home and figure out what the wearer is doing activity-wise at any given time.
The collected data is transferred wirelessly to the cloud, and it can also be charged wirelessly — no reason to plug it in! Additional users – like family members – can tap into the service and check up on the wearer.
Information is transmitted via the CarePredict Temp Hub, which connects to beacons that must also be placed around the home. These beacons are what allow the device to determine where the wearer is without a GPS module. The beacons are small and discreet and they are powered via battery so you never have to worry about charging them either. The hub plugs into an outlet for power and connects directly to a wired internet connection.
If you’d like to know more about the system head on over to CarePredict.
Yepzon Freedom GPS Tracker
The Yepzon Freedom is essentially a key fob or keychain style tracker that utilizes GPS, cellular 3G and Wi-Fi for accurate location tracking. It’s relatively easy to use, offers a lot of functionality and is quite versatile since it can be attached to any bag, pocket or item.
The downside is, obviously, that someone with dementia could misplace it.
MindMe Locate and Alarm
MindMe makes two devices that are excellent for anyone with a cognitive disorder.
They are both the same size, shape and style with one obvious difference. Locate is a tracker designed to ping the wearer’s location at all times, and Alarm is a single-button emergency alert system.
Locate reports its position every four minutes, so even if the wearer enters a dead zone, it will still be fairly easy to locate them. Caretakers and family members can check in, anytime via the MindMe web service.
MindMe Alarm includes the same GPS tracking functionality, but it also includes an emergency button. If the wearer is in trouble, they can press the SOS button and the device will connect to an operator. The wearer will then be able to chat with the operator, and their current position will also be recorded.
Both devices GPRS technology and a multi-SIM to remain connected at all times.
For MindMe Locate’s US prices visit this page.
SafeLink
The neat thing about SafeLink is that you have a couple options for the type of device you’d like to use. They offer both a 2G watch, and a 2G tracker module.
The module is nothing more than a small fob, which you can wear any way you choose – or just stick in a pocket. The watch on the other hand, well that’s self-explanatory.
Features include:
- Tracking from computers and mobile devices
- Advanced Notifications
- Geo-fencing and safe zones
- SOS alerts
- Low battery alerts
- SMS notifications which can be sent to three different contacts simultaneously
- No fixed contract, service is month to month with a consistent fee
- Tailing mode when necessary, forces GPS location updates to happen every minute
GPS SmartSole
The GPS SmartSole is a pretty ingenious device. It’s essentially a GPS tracker that can be implanted in the sole of a shoe. The beauty of this is that it is both discreet and non-invasive and if your loved one journeys somewhere they won’t forget to bring the tracker.
The downside to this is they probably won’t be wearing their shoes inside their home or apartment.
It includes a companion app for both Android and iOS, and you can also check in on your loved one via a web interface. You can set up geo-fencing boundaries which will send text and email alerts if the tracker exits the area.
It pings a GPS location every ten minutes using both GPS and mobile networks – like a cellphone.
UnaliWear Kanega Watch
This watch was crowdfunded via Kickstarter. It’s a wrist watch and mobile device hybrid, which means it has a digital analog style clock, but it can also display notifications and alerts.
Other features include “cellular, Wi-Fi, and GPS communications, continuous speech recognition, and a 9-axis accelerometer for fall detection.”
Also unique about the Kanega is that it is compatible with Bluetooth Low Energy – BLE or Bluetooth Smart – communications, which means that it can be paired with the latest hearing aids.
Head to the company’s website to order.
MedicAlert Safely Home
MedicAlert Safely Home is different than the other services on this list. Their system does not include a GPS tracker or gadget. Instead, subscribers are given a MedicAlert ID – similar to those that identify diabetics.
On the bracelet is a unique identifier and contact info for the 24-hour emergency hotline.
The purpose of this bracelet and system is to help loved ones monitor someone suffering from dementia or a debilitating disease. They are often prone to wander, resulting in them getting lost.
In the event that the wearer is found elsewhere, the emergency hotline will contact family members or caretakers.
A membership costs $60 per year, but there are no further fees.
Do You Know Any Other Senior Wearables or GPS Trackers?
That’s it for now. Those are all the wearables we know about that are designed for seniors. Do you know of others?
Keep in mind, not all of the senior wearables listed are available right now. Some you’ll have to wait for before you can buy them at retail.
Previously Featured and Now Removed
- PocketFinder GPS Child and Senior
- Limmex Emergency Watch/ G2i Emergency Watch
- Lively Safety Watch
- PAL from Project Lifesaver
- Revolutionary Tracker
- iTraq
- Burg 31 Cellphone Watch
- Comfort Zone Check-In
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Thank you so much for this article! I have been searching for 30 min online and it seemed like no one had made a wearable that offers emergency alerts! I am shopping for my grandma. I’ll check your suggestions. THANK YOU!
You’re welcome! In case you’re still looking, we just updated and highlighted a few more options!
As far as I know VESAG is the first wearable medical alert released in January 2011, Even before any other smart watch existed. They received many awards and holds patents, Recently there is a new version of the product called MPERSENS medical alert watch that has received all the approvals and ready to hit the market soon. you can visit their website if you search for veesag or mpersens in google.
Thank you very much for such a great and professional review! I’m CEO of iTraq and I would be happy to answer any questions regarding our product.
Hello Roman. Your product sounds great but for an adult with dementia the product needs to be attachable to the body and not removable – maybe a watch or bracelet. It looks like your device would slip into a pocket, wallet or purse. Unfortunately, dementia patients will not know what it is and throw it out the minute they find it in their pocket or purse. Please let me know if you develop a device that is not removable. I would be very interested as would an entire community of caregivers. Thank you.
Thanks for your feedback. We will discuss this internally on our strategy meeting in November. Thanks!
Is there something that attaches to a key ring? Do these devices require the senior to have wifi?
I’m currently looking at the gizmo through verizon. It’s designed for kids, but I think looks great for grandma with alzheimers too. GPS locating via smartphone app on my phone. Looks like a digital watch- which she relies on heavily- but is a phone and gps device too. Phone is programmed with up to ten contacts and is verbally prompted. Wondering if anyone has used it.
seen the LG gizmo gadget? its marketed for kids (tweaked apps etc) but would be great for seniors
We need a smartwatch that will detect a person falling.