Smartwatch, emergency watch, or emergency bracelet: What is a suitable emergency call system?

 

More and more older people are becoming enthusiastic about smartwatches. Discreet and modern design, monitoring of vital data, and short messages directly on the display. But are these watches also suitable for making emergency calls? And what exactly are special emergency call watches? What advantages and disadvantages do they have compared to a proper emergency bracelet? We answer these and other questions in this article.

Smartwatches with fall detection?

Modern smartwatches with fall detection often offer a variety of health and safety features that enable emergency calls. For example, through integrated fall detection or dedicated emergency buttons. However, it is important to note that not all smartwatches with fall detection have these special emergency call functions and are therefore not always suitable for making emergency calls.

Fall detection is an important feature in smartwatches as it can provide older people with additional security. In the event of a fall, the watch can automatically make an emergency call or send notifications to predefined contacts.

Unfortunately, the integrated fall detection of many smartwatches is not adapted to the movement profile of older people. The movement patterns and activities of older people often differ from those of younger people. For example, older people tend to walk slower, may have a different gait, or perform certain movements less abruptly. When older people fall, these are usually gentle falls. For example, they often trip over a rug edge or fall out of bed at night – in most of these cases, the fall detection of smartwatches does not activate, as these are more attuned to harder falls that match the movement profile of younger people.

Anyone who wants to use a smartwatch with fall detection specifically as an emergency call system and quickly make emergency calls in emergencies should thoroughly familiarize themselves with the advantages and disadvantages before buying to always ensure their own safety or the safety of loved ones.

Below, we have compiled all the advantages and disadvantages to help you decide for or against a smartwatch with fall detection as an emergency call system.

Advantages of a smartwatch with fall detection as an emergency call system

A smartwatch with fall detection as an emergency call system offers several advantages that can make it an attractive option for some people:

Comfort and discretion: Smartwatches with fall detection are generally small, lightweight, and discreet to wear on the wrist. This makes them comfortable and not particularly noticeable in everyday life, which can be particularly important for older people who do not want to wear a conspicuous emergency bracelet.

Everyday utility and additional functions: In addition to the emergency call function, a smartwatch with fall detection can offer many additional functions that are useful in everyday life. These include pedometers, heart rate measurement, calendar reminders, and notifications of incoming calls or messages. This makes the smartwatch a versatile companion and offers more than just an emergency call function.

Voice function: The voice function allows calls to be made or answered without having to operate the smartphone. Smartwatches with fall detection that are not equipped with an integrated SIM card can usually only make calls if they are paired with a smartphone and the smartphone is nearby.

Integrated GPS and location determination: Many smartwatches with fall detection are equipped with a GPS chip that allows the precise location of the user to be determined. In an emergency, this can be crucial for providing quick help, especially if the user cannot accurately describe their exact location.

Disadvantages of a smartwatch with fall detection as an emergency call system

Although a smartwatch with fall detection as an emergency call system offers many advantages, there are also some potential disadvantages:

Technological barriers: Not all older people are tech-savvy or have experience with mobile devices such as smartwatches. For some, using such a watch can be a hurdle.

Battery life: Smartwatches with and without fall detection usually need to be charged daily. Older people who suffer from memory problems or are not so familiar with technology will have extreme difficulties with a short battery life. If the smartwatch is used as an emergency call system, a too short battery life is worrying. A dead battery in an emergency could have serious consequences.

A short battery life could limit the use of the smartwatch with fall detection to certain activities or times of day to ensure that the battery does not run out during an important event or situation. This severely restricts independence.

Complexity of charging: Some older people may have difficulty charging the smartwatch correctly, especially if the charging cable or charging station is small or difficult to handle.

Inadequate fall detection: Not all falls by older people are detected. The accuracy of fall detection depends on the quality of the sensors and algorithms used in the smartwatch. These are mostly adapted to the movement profile of younger people.

Limited range: Smartwatches usually have a limited range, as they must remain close to the connected smartphone. If the user is outside the smartphone's range, making an emergency call may not be possible. Therefore, you should use the so-called cellular variant, which includes an integrated SIM card.

Complex operation: Some older people may have difficulty operating a smartwatch with fall detection and its various functions. Operating via the touchscreen and navigating through the menus can be challenging for older people.

Small font and symbols: The display of smartwatches with fall detection is limited due to their small size, which can lead to small fonts and symbols. Older people with impaired vision may have difficulty clearly recognizing the information on the display.

It is important to emphasize that the decision for a smartwatch with fall detection as an emergency call system depends on the individual needs and preferences of the user. For some older people, a smartwatch with fall detection can be a practical and effective option to use other functions in everyday life in addition to the emergency call function. However, a specialized emergency call watch or, better, an emergency bracelet, if a reliable and immediate emergency call connection without additional functions is the priority, may still be the safest choice.

Is an emergency call watch a better choice than a smartwatch with fall detection?

An emergency call watch is a special type of smartwatch that offers an integrated emergency call function. It has been developed to provide additional safety and support to older people, people with health problems, or other vulnerable individuals.

Typically, an emergency call watch has one or more dedicated emergency call buttons that are easily accessible. In an emergency, the user can simply press one of these buttons on the emergency call watch to make an emergency call. The emergency call watch can then automatically connect to predefined contacts (e.g., family members, friends, or an emergency call center) and send a notification about the emergency. Some emergency call watches can also transmit location information to ensure effective assistance.

The emergency call watch is generally focused on its main function, the emergency call, and offers fewer additional functions compared to a conventional smartwatch. This serves to make the operation and handling of the emergency call watch as simple and user-friendly as possible, especially for people who may be less familiar with technology.

Comparison between emergency call watch and smartwatch with fall detection

Whether an emergency call watch or a smartwatch with fall detection is the better choice depends on the individual needs and preferences of the user. Both options have their own advantages and disadvantages. Here are some points to consider when deciding between a conventional smartwatch and an emergency call watch:

Simplicity: Emergency call watches are often designed for a main function, namely the emergency call, and may offer fewer functions than smartwatches with fall detection. This can be an advantage for older people who want a simple and easy-to-understand solution.

Dedicated emergency call function: Emergency call watches usually have a special emergency call function that makes an emergency call to predefined contacts or an emergency call center at the touch of a button. This can be quick and efficient in an emergency.

Longer battery life: Since emergency call watches have fewer functions, they can offer a longer battery life, which can be advantageous for older people who may not want to bother with regular charging.

Support for relatives: The emergency call watch can also give relatives or caregivers of older people or vulnerable individuals a sense of reassurance, as they know that they will be notified in an emergency and can react quickly. In addition, many emergency call watches are equipped with apps for relatives, which provide a lot of information for retrieval.

No fall detection: As a rule, emergency call watches are not equipped with fall detection. If you don't want to do without it and want to use the advantages of an emergency call watch, you should take a look at an emergency bracelet.

Why is an emergency bracelet a better choice than an emergency call watch?

Similar to an emergency call watch, but specifically designed as an inconspicuous bracelet – the emergency bracelet with fall detection. Emergency bracelets, like emergency call watches, have been developed to provide additional safety and support to older people, people with health problems, or other vulnerable individuals. An emergency bracelet is typically designed to make the main function, the emergency call, as simple and user-friendly as possible, especially for people who are less familiar with technology, relying on long battery life and reliable fall detection.

An emergency bracelet offers similar advantages to an emergency call watch, including a quick emergency call, enhanced sense of security, easy operation, and the promotion of independence and self-reliance.

The decision between an emergency bracelet and an emergency call watch naturally depends on the individual needs, preferences, and requirements of the user. However, when making your decision, you should consider the following that speaks for an emergency bracelet:

Extremely simple operation: An emergency bracelet is designed for a main function, the emergency call. The operation and handling are particularly simple and user-friendly, especially for people who are less familiar with technology.

Fall detection specially developed for seniors: Unlike modern smartwatches, the fall detection is adapted to the movement profile of seniors and also detects gentler falls. Furthermore, the emergency bracelet automatically triggers an emergency call to private contacts or a professional 24/7 emergency call center after a fall, even if the fallen person is unable to press the button themselves.

Extremely long battery life: Compared to an emergency call watch, an emergency bracelet offers an extremely long battery life and thus no frequent charging cycles, which increases safety.

Water resistance and robustness: Many emergency bracelets are waterproof and fall-proof, making them suitable for use in various situations and environments. This is particularly important for active people who like to spend time outdoors. There is no display that could break in a fall.

Conclusion

All three options have one thing in common – they offer additional protection and security for older people or people with health limitations and promote their independence and self-reliance, allowing them to remain in their familiar surroundings longer.

Smartwatch with fall detection:

• Versatile smartwatch with advanced functions such as calls, messages, fitness tracking, etc.

• Integrated fall detection function to detect falls and possibly trigger an emergency call.

• Everyday use and integration with the smartphone, but possibly not specifically tailored to older people.

• Compromises in battery life and user interface could affect older users.

Emergency call watch:

• Simple and user-friendly watch with main focus on emergency call function.

• Quick emergency call with just one button press, often with location information.

• Limited functions and possibly longer battery life.

• Suitable for older people or people with little technology experience.

Emergency bracelet with fall detection:

• Combination of emergency call function and fall detection for additional security.

• Discreet and inconspicuous design, worn like a normal bracelet.

• Extremely long battery life

• Notification of emergency contacts or a professional emergency call center

• No mobile phone needed for use

• Location determination in an emergency

The best choice depends on the individual needs and preferences of the user. A smartwatch with fall detection offers more comprehensive functions, while an emergency call watch or an emergency bracelet with fall detection focuses on the main functions and offers simpler operation. It is advisable to carefully check the technical specifications and customer reviews to select the most suitable device that meets the user's needs.