Emergency Wristbands for Seniors Test: How to Find the Right Model

An emergency call wristband should work in a situation where there is no time for complicated technology. After a fall, with sudden dizziness, or a medical problem, the emergency call must be triggered quickly and as simply as possible. However, not every emergency call wristband offers the same functions. Some devices only work within the home and require a base station. Others use mobile radio and GPS and can also be used on the go. Some only inform relatives, while others also establish a connection to a professional emergency call center. There are also significant differences in automatic fall detection, battery life, water resistance, and operation. Current buying guides therefore primarily name fall detection, GPS, battery life, water resistance, usability, ongoing costs, and the type of emergency call forwarding as decisive comparison criteria.

A good emergency wristband for seniors should:

• be easy and intuitive to use,
• work at home and on the go,
• have an easily accessible emergency button,
• be able to automatically detect possible falls,
• allow for voice communication in an emergency,
• only transmit the location when an emergency call is triggered,
• offer a sufficiently long battery life,
• be wearable while showering and in everyday life,
• inform relatives or a professional emergency call center.

The Gardia emergency wristband combines a manual emergency button with intelligent FallGuard360° fall detection, integrated mobile communication, GPS, voice connection, and up to 21 days of battery life. It works without the wearer's smartphone and can integrate private emergency contacts and optionally a professional 24/7 emergency call center.

An emergency wristband is a compact emergency device worn directly on the wrist. By pressing a button, the wearer can request help in the event of a fall, weakness, or other emergency situation.

Depending on the model, the alert is forwarded to:

• relatives,
• private emergency contacts,
• a care service
• or a professional emergency call center.

Mobile models also feature an integrated cellular connection and a location function. This means they can be used not only within one's own home, but also while out for a walk, shopping, or traveling. Traditional home emergency systems, on the other hand, are often limited by the range of a base station.

The terms are often used synonymously but describe different device concepts.

Classic Home Emergency Call Bracelet

A classic home emergency call bracelet usually consists of a simple radio transmitter and a base station in the apartment. The emergency button is easy to use, but the system often only works within a limited range.

Suitable for: People who are predominantly at home.

Possible disadvantage: Usually no protection outside the home.

Mobile Emergency Watch

A mobile emergency watch uses mobile communications and often GPS. This allows it to transmit an emergency call even when on the go. Depending on the model, telephony, fall detection, and an app for relatives may be integrated.

Suitable for: active people who want to be protected even outside the home.

Possible disadvantage: Many watches need frequent charging or have a more complex user interface.

Smartwatch with Emergency Call Function

In addition to the emergency call function, a smartwatch offers numerous additional features such as messages, fitness data, apps, or health measurements.

Suitable for: tech-savvy individuals who are deliberately looking for a versatile device.

Possible disadvantage: Small menus, touchscreens, regular updates, and short battery life can be overwhelming in everyday use. A connection to a professional emergency call center is also not automatically included.

The right model cannot be determined by price alone. It is crucial whether the entire system fits the life situation of the wearer and their relatives.

1. Easy Operation

In an emergency, the emergency call must be triggered without complicated menus, PIN entries, or small touch surfaces.

Pay attention to:

• a clearly tactile emergency button,
• an easily understandable trigger,
• clear signals through sound, light, or vibration,
• a simple way to cancel a false alarm.

With the Gardia emergency wristband, the manual emergency call is triggered by pressing the central button for three seconds. The device confirms the initiated process with vibration, light signals, and sound. If the automatic fall detection detects a possible fall, the process can also start without pressing a button.

Before the actual forwarding, there is a 20-second window in which an accidentally triggered alarm can be canceled.

2. Automatic Fall Detection

A manual emergency button only helps if the affected person can still reach and consciously press it after a fall.

This can be difficult if they are:

• dazed or unconscious,
• in shock,
• in severe pain,
• lying on their arm,
• can no longer reach the button,
• or cannot properly assess the situation.

Automatic fall detection can therefore be an important safety feature. It analyzes movements and tries to distinguish a possible fall from normal everyday movements.

What makes FallGuard360° special?

Gardia's FallGuard360° fall detection has been specially adapted to the typical movement profiles of older people. Various sensor information is combined so that not only particularly dynamic but also less conspicuous fall sequences can be detected. At the same time, the system attempts to distinguish everyday movements such as sitting down or lying down from a possible fall. If FallGuard360° detects a critical event, the emergency process starts automatically. An active button press is then not required. No automatic fall detection can detect every fall with 100% certainty or exclude every false alarm. It should therefore be understood as an additional safeguard and not as a replacement for the manual emergency button.

3. Mobile Use at Home and On the Go

An important difference between classic home emergency call systems and modern emergency wristbands is the range. A system with a base station often only works within the home or in the immediate vicinity. Mobile devices, on the other hand, have their own SIM card and can communicate via the mobile network.

The Gardia emergency wristband has a permanently installed eSIM and functions autonomously, meaning without a smartphone and without the wearer's Wi-Fi. The mobile connection can be used in Germany and large parts of Europe. As with any mobile emergency call system, a available mobile connection is a prerequisite. A special feature of Gardia is that it dials into the best available network and is not dependent on a mobile provider.

This is particularly relevant when:

• walking,
• shopping,
• spending time in the garden,
• visiting relatives,
• on a day trip,
• or on holiday.

4. Location Transmission and Data Protection

A location function can be crucial in an emergency if the affected person cannot say where they are.

At the same time, many people do not want permanent monitoring. Therefore, before purchasing, it should be checked:

• When is the location determined?
• Who can see it?
• Is location tracking outside of an emergency possible?
• How long does the location remain visible?

With Gardia, the location is transmitted exclusively during an active emergency. Permanent tracking in everyday life is not possible according to the manufacturer. The wristband also draws attention to the ongoing emergency process with light, sound, and vibration.

5. Voice Connection Directly via the Wristband

An alarm alone does not yet indicate what help is needed. Therefore, a direct voice connection is particularly helpful.

Via microphone and speaker, relatives or the emergency call center can:

• assess the situation,
• ask about injuries,
• reassure the person,
• coordinate further action,
• and, if necessary, organize professional help.

With the Gardia emergency wristband, hands-free calling is possible directly via the device. The wearer does not have to search for or operate a phone.

6. Private Emergency Contacts or Professional Emergency Call Center

Before purchasing, you should clarify who will actually respond in an emergency.

Private Emergency Contacts

Private contacts are useful if several relatives are reliably reachable and can act quickly. With Gardia, up to six emergency contacts can be stored in the My Gardia App. In an emergency, they are informed simultaneously and can coordinate within the app. The wearer themselves does not need a smartphone for this; however, the emergency contacts do need a compatible smartphone with the My Gardia App installed.

3. Mobile Nutzung zu Hause und unterwegs

Ein wichtiger Unterschied zwischen klassischen Hausnotrufsystemen und modernen Notrufarmbändern ist die Reichweite. Ein System mit Basisstation funktioniert häufig nur innerhalb der Wohnung oder im unmittelbaren Umfeld. Mobile Geräte verfügen dagegen über eine eigene SIM-Karte und können über das Mobilfunknetz kommunizieren. Das Gardia Notrufarmband besitzt eine fest verbaute eSIM und funktioniert autark, also ohne Smartphone und ohne WLAN der tragenden Person. Die Mobilfunkverbindung ist sowohl in Deutschland als auch in weiten Teilen Europas nutzbar. Eine Besonderheit am Gardia Notrfuarmband ist, dass es sich in das beste, verfügbare Netz einwählt und nicht von einem Mobilfunkanbieter abhängig ist.

Das ist insbesondere relevant beim:

• Spaziergang,
• Einkaufen,
• Aufenthalt im Garten,
• Besuch bei Angehörigen,
• Tagesausflug
• oder Urlaub.

4. Standortübermittlung und Datenschutz

Eine Standortfunktion kann im Notfall entscheidend sein, wenn die betroffene Person nicht sagen kann, wo sie sich befindet. Gleichzeitig wünschen sich viele Menschen keine dauerhafte Überwachung. Deshalb sollte vor dem Kauf geprüft werden:

• Wann wird der Standort ermittelt?
• Wer kann ihn sehen?
• Ist eine Ortung außerhalb eines Notfalls möglich?
• Wie lange bleibt der Standort sichtbar?

Bei Gardia wird der Standort ausschließlich während eines aktiven Notfalls übermittelt. Eine dauerhafte Ortung im Alltag ist laut Hersteller nicht möglich. Das Armband macht zudem durch Licht, Ton und Vibration darauf aufmerksam, dass der Notfallprozess läuft.

5. Sprachverbindung direkt über das Armband

Ein Alarm allein sagt noch nicht, welche Hilfe benötigt wird. Deshalb ist eine direkte Sprachverbindung besonders hilfreich.

Über Mikrofon und Lautsprecher können Angehörige oder die Notrufzentrale:

• die Situation einschätzen,
• nach Verletzungen fragen,
• beruhigend auf die Person einwirken,
• das weitere Vorgehen abstimmen
• und bei Bedarf professionelle Hilfe organisieren.

Beim Gardia Notrufarmband ist das Freisprechen direkt über das Gerät möglich. Die tragende Person muss kein Telefon suchen oder bedienen.

6. Private Notfallkontakte oder professionelle Notrufzentrale

Vor dem Kauf sollten Sie klären, wer im Ernstfall tatsächlich reagiert.

• Private Notfallkontakte

Private Kontakte sind sinnvoll, wenn mehrere Angehörige zuverlässig erreichbar sind und schnell handeln können.
Beim Gardia Notrufarmband können bis zu sechs private Notfallkontakte hinterlegt werden. Im aktiven Notfall können sie über die My Gardia App informiert werden, den übermittelten Standort einsehen und sich untereinander abstimmen.

Die tragende Person benötigt dafür selbst kein Smartphone; die Notfallkontakte brauchen jedoch ein kompatibles Smartphone mit installierter My Gardia App.

• Professionelle 24/7-Notrufzentrale

Eine professionelle Notrufzentrale kann sinnvoll sein, wenn:

• Angehörige nicht ständig erreichbar sind,
• sie weit entfernt wohnen,
• die Person allein lebt,
• nachts eine zuverlässige Ansprechstelle gewünscht ist
• oder keine privaten Notfallkontakte vorhanden sind.

Je nach gewähltem Tarif beim Gardia Notrufarmband kann zusätzlich eine professionelle 24/7-Notrufzentrale eingebunden werden. Über die Sprachverbindung kann die Situation eingeschätzt und bei Bedarf passende Unterstützung organisiert werden. Wenn Sie diesen Tarif gebucht haben, können Sie selbst entscheiden, wer im Notfall zuerst benachrichtigt werden soll – private Notfallkontakte oder die professionelle Notrufzentrale.

Professional 24/7 Emergency Call Center

A professional emergency call center can be useful if:

• relatives are not constantly reachable,
• they live far away,
• the person lives alone,
• a reliable point of contact is desired at night,
• or no private emergency contacts are available.

With the Gardia NotfallPlus tariff, a professional 24/7 emergency call center can also be integrated. There, the situation is assessed via voice connection and appropriate help is organized.

If you have booked this tariff, you can decide who should be notified first in an emergency – private emergency contacts or the professional emergency call center.

7. Battery Life

An emergency call watch can only provide support if it is sufficiently charged and actually worn. If it has to be charged daily, it spends regular time on the charging station.

This can lead to problems in everyday life:

• Daily charging is forgotten.
  
• The wristband is not put back on after charging.
  
• During the charging break, the emergency call button is not on the wrist.
  
• The charger is forgotten when traveling.
  
• The daily charging routine is perceived as burdensome.
  

The Gardia emergency wristband achieves a battery life of up to 21 days and is charged via a magnetic charging cradle. The actual runtime can be influenced by, among other things, usage, mobile reception, as well as triggered emergency calls and voice connections. The long battery life is therefore not just a technical feature. Above all, it means: fewer charging breaks and more time on the wrist.

8. Water Resistance

Many falls happen in the bathroom. An emergency wristband should therefore not have to be removed when washing hands or showering. The Gardia emergency wristband is IP67 protected against dust and temporary immersion. It can be worn in everyday life when washing hands, showering, and in the rain. However, water-resistant does not automatically mean that the device is suitable for swimming, prolonged immersion, in the sauna, or in salt water. Here, the specific usage instructions should always be observed.

9. Wearing Comfort

The technically best emergency wristband is of little help if it is uncomfortable and therefore regularly taken off.

Therefore, pay attention to:

• Weight and size,
  
• Skin compatibility,
  
• Clasp,
  
• Adjustability of the wristband,
  
• Operability with limited finger mobility,
  
• Wearing comfort day and night.
  

The Gardia emergency wristband is made of skin-friendly silicone and has an individually adjustable folding clasp. This allows it to be adapted to different wrists and worn as discreetly as possible in everyday life.

10. Costs and Contract Model

An emergency wristband can incur one-time and ongoing costs.

These include, depending on the provider:

• Purchase price of the device,
• Monthly service tariff,
• Mobile phone costs,
• Fees for the emergency call center,
• Setup or connection costs,
• Costs for accessories,
• Possible minimum contract terms.

Gardia currently offers a basic tariff with private emergency contacts and an extended tariff with a professional 24/7 emergency call center. The tariffs can be canceled monthly. Furthermore, the monthly costs for the PflegePlus subscription can be reimbursed by the long-term care insurance fund after a successful review.

Beim Gardia Notrufarmband stehen unterschiedliche Service-Tarife zur Verfügung. Je nach Tarif können private Notfallkontakte oder zusätzlich eine professionelle 24/7-Notrufzentrale von Bosch eingebunden werden. Für das PflegePlus-Abo kann ab Pflegegrad 1 eine mögliche Kostenübernahme durch die Pflegekasse beantragt werden. Ob die Voraussetzungen erfüllt sind und die laufenden Servicekosten übernommen werden, entscheidet die zuständige Pflegekasse nach Prüfung des Antrags.

The table shows typical differences. The exact features always depend on the respective model and tariff.

The Gardia emergency wristband combines the simple operation of a classic emergency button with the mobile functions of modern emergency watches.

• One button instead of complicated menus

Operation is reduced to the central emergency function. There is no small touchscreen and no multitude of apps to navigate through in an emergency.

• Automatic FallGuard360° fall detection

If the system detects a possible fall, it can automatically start the emergency process. This is particularly important if pressing a button is no longer possible.

• Up to 21 days of battery life

While many smartwatches have to be charged regularly, Gardia can be used in standby mode for up to three weeks, according to the manufacturer.

• Usable without a smartphone and Wi-Fi

Mobile communication and GPS are integrated directly into the wristband. The wearer does not need to own or operate a smartphone.

• Voice connection on the wrist

The integrated microphone and loudspeaker allow direct communication with emergency contacts or the emergency call center.

Up to six private emergency contacts

Several relatives can be informed simultaneously and coordinate via the My Gardia app.

• Optional with a professional emergency call center

Those who do not want to rely exclusively on private contacts can add a 24/7 emergency call center.

• Location only in an emergency

Gardia does not allow continuous tracking. The location is only transmitted in the event of a manually or automatically triggered emergency.

• Wearable in the shower

Thanks to protection class IP67, the wristband does not have to be removed in many everyday situations.

The emergency process follows a clear sequence:

1. The alarm is triggered

The emergency call starts either:

• manually by pressing a button for three seconds
• or automatically by FallGuard360° fall detection.

2. The safety phase begins

The wristband signals, using light, sound, and vibration, that an emergency call is being prepared. A false alarm can be cancelled via the button within 20 seconds.

3. Emergency contacts are informed

If the alarm is not cancelled, Gardia informs the stored contacts. Depending on the plan, the professional emergency call center is also activated.

4. Contact and location are available

The emergency contacts can establish a voice connection to the wristband and retrieve the location in an active emergency.

5. Help is organized

Depending on the situation, a relative can come or professional help can be called.

Gardia can be particularly suitable for:

• people living alone,
• individuals with an increased risk of falling,
• active seniors,
• people who regularly go for walks or grocery shopping,
• individuals who do not want to operate a complex smartwatch,
• relatives who wish to be informed in an emergency,
• people who desire a long battery life,
• individuals who optionally want to use an emergency call center.

Not every emergency call system is suitable for every person. A classic stationary home emergency call system may suffice if the person is almost exclusively at home and a professional control center is to be the focus. A smartwatch may be more suitable if fitness functions, messages, heart rate measurement and other apps are desired and the person can safely use touchscreens. A simple telephone or smartphone may be sufficient if it is reliably carried and can still be operated in an emergency. However, after a serious fall, this is not always possible.

There is no single best emergency wristband for everyone. The right choice depends on whether the device will be used only at home or also on the go, how tech-savvy the wearer is, and who should react in an emergency. For a good overall package, the most important factors are ease of use, automatic fall detection, mobile usability, voice communication, sufficient battery life, and a clearly organized emergency chain. The Gardia Emergency Wristband combines these criteria in a specialized system: a central emergency button, intelligent FallGuard360° fall detection, integrated mobile communication and GPS, up to 21 days of battery life, and a voice connection directly via the wristband. Depending on the chosen tariff, private emergency contacts or, additionally, a professional 24/7 Bosch emergency call center can be integrated. This makes Gardia particularly suitable for people who want more safety at home and on the go, without having to operate a complicated smartwatch or charge it daily.