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Every senior with an Apple Watch should set up these 5 health alerts
From emergency help to medication reminders, your Apple Watch can support you as you age.
Apple Watches are owned by people of all ages, so wearing one doesn't mark you as vulnerable, unlike a medical pendant. This is important to some older people who do not see themselves as "seniors", as explained by the National Institute of Aging. Older individuals know age does not stop them from living independent lives, and an Apple Watch can help them stay healthy when they do.
The idea that technology can help older people live independently for longer is hugely attractive to independent-minded boomers. Stand and movement reminders, fitness tracking and the step counter help seniors stay more active, keeping them healthier for longer. As Apple invests in healthcare research, the smartwatch gets better at detecting short term illness, boosting self-care.
With permission, the Find My app helps younger people take better care of their elderly relatives by tracking their location. There are also a number of health alerts every senior with an Apple Watch should set up.
Apple Watch has great tools for emergency help, which can be especially beneficial for seniors. These include Emergency SOS, Medical ID and Emergency Contacts.
Emergency SOS contacts emergency services when things go wrong. To use this feature, press and hold the side button, then drag the Emergency Call slider or keep holding the button until the call is made. This needs a cellular watch with an active plan, Wi-Fi calling or the paired iPhone nearby.
To turn on Emergency SOS, open the Watch app on your iPhone, tap Emergency SOS and turn on Hold Side Button to Dial.
Access to Medical ID and Emergency Contacts can be found in the Health app on your iPhone. Tap your profile picture and select Medical ID. Tap Edit, enter your details and add trusted Emergency Contacts. Medics who find your Apple Watch will review your Medical ID, so keep your allergies or conditions up to date to help medics deliver the treatment you need.
Over one in four people aged 65 or older fall unexpectedly each year, says the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In addition, 319,000 older people are hospitalized for hip fractures after a fall every year. Pew Research claims that, in 2023, 26% of US adults aged 65 or older lived alone, which compounds the potential risk of falling. Fall Detection may protect them.
Fall Detection is enabled automatically if you tell the Health app you are 55 or older. Once activated, it will call emergency services if the built-in sensors on your Apple Watch detect you are immobile after taking a fall.