Life Alert vs Apple Watch: Which is Best for Elderly Fall Assistance?
Did you know that Life Alert and the Apple Watch both provide help for seniors when they fall?
So which one might be better for you in your situation? We will break down the pros and cons of each for you.
Life Alert
Pros
Very simple to learn and use
Can be setup to alert family members when falls are confirmed
Cons
Cannot detect falls
Ongoing monthly fees and long-term contract required
Many seniors do not like wearing the necklace rendering it useless in the event of a fall
Apple Watch
Pros
Can detect falls
No monthly fees required
Calls 911 directly when fall is confirmed
Can message loved ones when fall is confirmed
Cons
Requires an iPhone and Apple account
Requires some initial setup and a comfort level with technology
Moderate learning curve
So which is the better option? Let’s look further…
Budget friendly winner? Apple Watch!
An Apple Watch that has fall detection can be newly purchased for as little as $200. Apple Watches 4 and later have the fall detection feature.
The best news is that this cost can be incurred once and for all. There are no monthly payments that are required.
On the other hand, Life Alert requires approximately a $200 startup cost in addition to a monthly service fee of around $50. Also, the use of Life Alert typically requires a long-term contract of around 3 years.
Over 3 years of use, the cost of the Apple Watch can be as low as $200 (depending on which Apple Watch you decide to buy). However, the cost of using Life Alert for 3 years would be around $2000!
Ease of use winner? Life Alert!
It doesn’t get much easier than the Life Alert system. Wear the necklace around your neck and push the simple button whenever you fall.
Despite the Apple Watch being designed to be just as simple as pushing a button as well, it can be a new and challenging task for some seniors. When a senior falls while wearing an Apple Watch with fall detection, it will vibrate, beep, and ask them to confirm that they are okay or to slide a button to the right to trigger a call to 911.
If your senior loved one already has an Apple Watch, then no problem! If they already use an iPhone, then maybe no problem as well! But if your senior loved one has never used an Apple product or is opposed to any technology, then Life Alert is likely the best option.
Best emergency help winner? Well, it depends…
Will your loved one have a problem wearing the Life Alert necklace? Will they have a problem wearing the Apple Watch? Simply put, both devices will be totally useless if they are not always worn.
In our experience, we have seen many seniors who have the Life Alert necklace, but they do not wear it. They just don’t like wearing the necklace. In these cases, the Life Alert system is totally meaningless despite paying for it!
Will your loved one be more comfortable wearing a watch instead? This is something to strongly consider and talk about with your loved one before making a decision.
One other thought to consider…
It would be nice if both devices magically did not require charging, but they do. Both the Life Alert necklace and the Apple Watch will require someone to regularly charge the devices. This is something to consider with your loved one. Are they able to reliably charge it on a regular basis?
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Only you can know what is best for your particular senior loved one. We hope this helps and we are here if you would like to talk further about it or have any other questions. Best wishes to you!
For more info on how the Apple Watch works, here is a great video that explains it further: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tgi9gS9vTuo
