Best wearable senior health monitors

Log location, steps, and health metrics with these devices for seniors that you’ll want to wear all day.
Best overall
Apple Watch SE (2nd gen)
  • pro
    Excellent health tracking
  • pro
    Automatic fall detection
  • pro
    SOS button
Best senior-specific smartwatch
NutTAG Guardian 4G Smart Watch
  • pro
    Heart rate monitor
  • pro
    Automatic fall detection
  • pro
    SOS button
Best pendant
LiveLife Alarm
  • pro
    Telstra 4GX reception
  • pro
    Automatic fall detection
  • pro
    GPS tracking
Best for 24/7 monitoring
Medi Alarm Pro 4G 2
  • pro
    24/7 monitoring
  • pro
    Automatic fall detection
  • pro
    SOS button

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For over 11 years, SafeWise experts have conducted independent research and testing to create unbiased, human reviews. We may earn money when you click links on our site, but this does not affect our recommendations. Learn how we test and review.

Georgia Dixon
Mar 19, 2024
Icon Time To Read6 min read

The Apple Watch SE (2nd gen) works for people of all ages and levels of tech-savviness. Its large screen, easy controls, and health monitoring apps make it easier to age gracefully at home. As long as you’re wearing the watch when you take a fall, it will act like a standard medical alert system.

While it is expensive, older adults can use it to track almost any health metric. In addition to heart, diet, and activity monitoring, the Apple Watch has automatic fall detection for older adults.


Best senior monitors and wearables

Compare Wearable Senior Monitors

Product
Best for
Price
Ongoing fees
Fall detection
Learn more
Best overall N/A*
Icon Yes  LightYes
Best senior-specific smartwatch Yes (BYO SIM plan)
Icon Yes  LightYes
Best pendant Yes ($75/year from 2nd year)
Icon Yes  LightYes
Best for 24/7 monitoringYes ($50/month or $520/year)
Icon Yes  LightYes

Prices are accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

*Apple Watch SE (GPS) incurs no monthly fees when paired with an active iPhone. To use the Apple Watch SE (GPS + Cellular) without an iPhone, users will need to pay a monthly mobile plan fee.

Senior wearables reviews

1. Apple Watch SE (2nd gen): Best seniors wearable overall

Best overall

Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The best health watch for seniors is none other than the Apple Watch SE (2nd gen). It's packed with senior-friendly features like health tracking, fall detection, texting, and calling. And while it costs a pretty penny upfront, it has everything we looked for, and you won’t have to pay a monthly fee to keep it working like medical alert systems.

For older adults already using an iPhone, you can opt for the cheaper GPS-only model, which pairs with your phone and offers all the same features as long as your phone and watch are within range of one another. For those looking to replace their phone altogether with a cellular Apple Watch SE, you'll have to find a compatible eSIM plan which will incur the same sort of monthly costs as a normal mobile plan.

pro
Pros
pro Tons of health tracking apps
pro Automatic fall detection
pro Calls and text
pro SOS alerts
con
Cons
con Steep price tag
con Learning curve for newcomers
con Average battery life

What turned our heads is the Apple Watch SE’s automatic fall detection. This feature is common in medical alert systems but unique among smartwatches like this one. When the Apple Watch SE detects a sudden change in speed and altitude, it triggers an alert asking if you need assistance. If you’re unresponsive, it will call for help within 60 seconds.

Just like your phone, the Apple Watch’s screen is customisable. You can download health apps based on your needs. Apps focus on heart health tracking, sleep tracking, activity tracking, and more.

Older adults can also use the watch to keep in touch with loved ones through calls and text on their Apple Watch SE. This may come with a learning curve for anyone new to smartwatches, but if you can operate an iPhone, you can operate this smartwatch.

The device itself is sleek with a large, clear screen that makes it easy to read. There are also tons of wristbands available users can change out based on their style or comfort level.

On the downside, the battery life leaves a lot to be desired—in fact, you'll need to pop it on the charger overnight at the end of every day, which may be a dealbreaker for some.

2. NutTAG 4G Watch: Best senior-specific smartwatch

Best senior-specific smartwatch
NutTAG Guardian 4G Smart Watch
$370plus BYO SIM mobile plan fees

Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The NutTAG Guardian 4G Smart Watch is a smartwatch made with older adults in mind. Its simple buttons, fall detection, and easy calling features take the guesswork out of technology found in mainstream smartwatches like the Apple Watch. It also offers live and historical GPS location tracking through its app.

The watch can store up to 15 numbers in the onboard phonebook, and because you can use your own SIM card, it could even replace your regular mobile phone. NutTAG also offers a 24/7 monitoring service for those living further away from family and friends, though this does cost extra.

Other features include an SOS button, alarms and reminders, and a heart rate monitor.

pro
Pros
pro Calls and text
pro Automatic fall detection
pro 24/7 monitoring available (extra cost)
pro Waterproof
con
Cons
con Limited health tracking features
con Average battery life

Of course, there are a few caveats to the NutTAG Guardian 4G Smart Watch.  Aside from heart rate monitoring, there aren't many health tracking features on offer, if that's important to you.

Additionally, the battery life isn't the greatest, and with normal usage, the watch will need a charge once every day or two.

One of the biggest benefits is that you can bring your own SIM card (or pay an additional $70 for their recommended Telstra SIM), meaning you could simply grab one of the cheap prepaid SIM plans below and you're all set.

3. LiveLife Alarm: Best senior pendant

Best pendant
LiveLife Alarm
$547then $75/yr. after 1st year

Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

For those looking for something much simpler than a smartwatch, the LiveLife Alarm offers the best features of all the senior pendant alarms we looked at—albeit for a very high price.

Users can set up to six emergency contacts (including 000), and anytime the SOS button is pressed, the pendant sends your GPS location (via a handy Google Maps link) to those contacts. At the same time calls each of them one after the other until someone picks up, allowing the user to speak through the pendant like a normal phone. It also has automatic fall detection and will send a fall alert (along with your GPS location) to your contacts.

Like all the picks on our list, the LiveLife Alarm is showerproof. But unlike the smartwatch options above, the LiveLife Alarm doesn't require daily charging. It can be fully charged in 25 minutes, after which it lasts for up to five days.

pro
Pros
pro Easy to use
pro Automatic fall detection
pro GPS tracking and geofencing
pro Good battery life
con
Cons
con High upfront cost
con Ongoing yearly fee
con Limited features

It's also got a pretty versatile design and can be attached to a lanyard, wristband, or belt clip (all of which are included).

The LiveLife Alarm also has a 'Find me' feature, which allows you to send a text to your pendant with a simple command if you can't find it. Your pendant will then announce 'I am over here' so it can be easily found.

For your money, you also get an included Telstra 4GX SIM card with unlimited calls and texts and no ongoing monthly plan fees. That said, after the first year, you will need to pay $75 per year to keep the plan active, which is a shame considering the already high upfront cost.

It's also important to note that, since it's a more basic device, you don't get any of the health tracking or smartwatch features that come with other options.

4. Medi Alarm Pro: Best senior pendant for 24/7 monitoring

Best for 24/7 monitoring
Medi Alarm Pro 4G 2
$497plus $50/mo. OR $520/yr.

Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Medi Alarm Pro 4G 2 is another one-button wearable tracking device designed to send help wherever it’s needed. It works much like the LiveLife Alarm above, with an included Telstra SIM card and GPS tracking to find the user’s location.

The difference is that the Medi Alarm Pro 4G 2 offers 24/7 monitoring, which can be a lifesaver for those whose family and friends live far away or work busy schedules. Pressing the SOS button will trigger a call to the monitoring team. Because they have access to your medical conditions and the medications you're taking, they can then contact emergency services on your behalf.

Without monitoring, pressing the SOS button will trigger a call to up to 8 of your contacts, and send a text message to each with your exact GPS location. 

Like the LiveLife Alarm, the Medi Alarm Pro also comes with a wristband, belt clip, and lanyard for easy wearing.

pro
Pros
pro 24/7 monitoring
pro Easy to use
pro Automatic fall detection
pro GPS tracking
con
Cons
con High upfront cost
con Ongoing fees
con Limited features

The downside is that the Medi Alarm Pro 4G 2 comes at a hefty cost, both upfront and ongoing ($50 per month or $520 per year). Still, for those who are worried their loved ones might accidentally miss or sleep through an SOS alert, the 24/7 monitoring might just be worth it.

Final word

None of these devices are helpful unless users wear them every day in case of an emergency. So prioritise comfort and convenience before flashy features like texting and video calling. Activity and fitness tracking are attractive too, but don’t choose them over essentials like location and emergency calling. The best wearable devices for older adults should help them live independently and safely.

Wearable senior monitors FAQ

For older adults, a simple slip in the shower or trip on the path can cause serious injuries, even death. Automatic fall detection is a feature found in many medical alert devices that detects the speed and change in elevation that happens during a fall. When the device notices these changes, it automatically alerts emergency contacts and gets help.

Absolutely. As long as the medical alert device you use has messaging or two-way communication, you can add family, neighbours, and caregivers to emergency contacts to call for help.

Not all wearables are medical alert devices and not all medical alert devices are wearable. Medical alert systems connect to emergency services and can be buttons or base stations as well as worn on your wrist.

“Wearables” refers to anything you can wear on your wrist, belt, or around your neck. They can track steps and location, call for assistance, or both. Wearable medical alert devices are a smart solution if you’re worried about falls or health emergencies.

Yes, wearables complement in-home care by sending information to caregivers via app or text alerts. And you can track your loved ones whether they’re home or not, so they gain more independence thanks to the device’s mobility.

How we reviewed the best wearable devices for seniors

Wearable trackers need to be just that—wearable. So we prioritised comfort and easy wearing over bells and whistles. We looked for monitors with adjustable sizes that don’t get in the way of normal activities. The more comfortable the wearable, the more inclined users are to wear them. After all, wearable senior monitors aren’t helpful if nobody wears them.

Tracking features are also important. GPS location features, health tracking, and fall detection are the most important types we considered. The devices with the most tracking abilities scored higher in our lineup.

Finally, we looked for devices with senior-friendly features like a big screen or button, easy fasteners that don’t hurt arthritic joints, and simple setup and operation. Take a look at our methodology to see how we reviewed this and other products.


Disclaimer
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time of publish and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on the retailer’s website at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. SafeWise Australia utilises paid affiliate links.
Georgia Dixon
Written by
Georgia Dixon has 10 years of experience writing about all things tech, entertainment and lifestyle. She has bylines on Reviews.org, 7NEWS, Stuff.co.nz, in TechLife magazine and more. In 2023 she won Best News Writer at the Consensus IT Awards, and in 2024 she was a finalist for Best News Journalist at the Samsung IT Journalism Awards (The Lizzies). In her spare time, you'll find her playing games and daydreaming about good food, wine, and dogs.

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