Smartwatches or devices for monitoring falling and or GPS-tracking

[Grieta Thanburg]

Some background.

My dad unfortunately has a light form of epilepsy. He had it for years and had two brain operations to remove tumours. He goes into "autopilot" mode, remembers nothing and basically stands still for the duration and very confused after.

Recently, during this last year, it seems he started falling down when he gets these episodes. This week he fell and had to get stitches on the back of his head. Being on the older side, this is worrisome. My mother started escorting him around now, and he's always with friends that can help.

On the odd scenario where is alone (walking the dog), I want to suggest to my parents to get him a medical device or smartwatch that can send a notification to my mother if it detects that he is standing still in one place for more than say 2 minutes or fell.

Does anyone have any advice or suggestions for devices that could help, or had something similar to deal with?

 

[bwana]

Apple watches have Fall Detection which will contact emergency services and message your emergency contacts if it detects a fall.

 

[OnlyOneKenobi]

+1 for Apple Watch for the fall detection. There are also apps on the platform that claim to be specialised for seizures but will probably need a monthly subscription. For "standing still" it would probably require active monitoring of the "find my" app as I don't there there is a dedicated app which notifies you when someone is not moving around.

I have recommended it to family and friends for its safety \ health features but obviously it's an issue if they're not in the Apple ecosystem.

 

[soulie]

biggest problem for him is recharging the device constantly .you do get personal fall detectors but not sure about the monitoring side .

 

[Grieta Thanburg]

I'll look into apple watches. He already use my old iPhone so that's fine. This might be the best to at least alert my mother.

 

[soulie]

I'll look into apple watches. He already use my old iPhone so that's fine. This might be the best to at least alert my mother.

my mom had one many years ago that if activated either by button or fall it would activate the homes silent alarm or full alarm depending on connection .it also had a large panic button

 

[epah]

Apple Watch or nothing.

 

[Spacerat]

Got safetyangel.co.za for my mom on friend’s recommendation. Will see how it works. Mom is a technophobe and not remotely interested in iwatch.

 

[Grieta Thanburg]

Got safetyangel.co.za for my mom on friend’s recommendation. Will see how it works. Mom is a technophobe and not remotely interested in iwatch.

This looks pretty cool and a lot cheaper than Ape Watch, but does not seem to detect falling.

I'll read some review to see if it could work. Thank

Edit: I see it is listed with fall detection. I might give this a shot first as it's a lot cheaper. If it does not work I can go the Apple route.

 

[Spacerat]

This looks pretty cool and a lot cheaper than Ape Watch, but does not seem to detect falling.

I'll read some review to see if it could work. Thank

Edit: I see it is listed with fall detection. I might give this a shot first as it's a lot cheaper. If it does not work I can go the Apple route.

Yep those are my exact thoughts too

 

[DapperDanMan]

specialised for seizures but will probably need a monthly subscription.

No matter which road you take, there is bound to be a monthly expense. But some of the options bring solutions too.

Study Reveals How CBD Counters Epileptic Seizures - Neuroscience News

Cannabidiol, or CBD, blocks the ability of lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI) to amplify neural signals in the hippocampus. LPI weakens the signals that counter seizures, further explaining the value of CBD to treat epilepsy.

neurosciencenews.com

 

[DapperDanMan]

This looks pretty cool and a lot cheaper than Ape Watch

 

[marhsava]

Got safetyangel.co.za for my mom on friend’s recommendation. Will see how it works. Mom is a technophobe and not remotely interested in iwatch.

I need something for my SO grandmother, does this still work ?

 

[Spacerat]

I need something for my SO grandmother, does this still work ?

It does work. More bulky than an Apple Watch, and less features, but serves the purpose. Some aspects of it sucks like having to watch an ad when using the app, but way cheaper than iwatch

 

[RedViking]

Got safetyangel.co.za for my mom on friend’s recommendation. Will see how it works. Mom is a technophobe and not remotely interested in iwatch.

Any feedback on this?

Looking for something for my elderly mom that is not a smart watch. Needs to have it's main and dedicated function to detect a fall and send out an SOS to someone. It's small town so there are no emergency services nearby. Internet and mobile can also be unreliable so might need to work over radio as well.

This last time she fell she panicked and could contact someone on the phone and she couldn't get up. So the device must do all the work.

 

[Spacerat]

Any feedback on this?

Looking for something for my elderly mom that is not a smart watch. Needs to have it's main and dedicated function to detect a fall and send out an SOS to someone. It's small town so there are no emergency services nearby. Internet and mobile can also be unreliable so might need to work over radio as well.

This last time she fell she panicked and could contact someone on the phone and she couldn't get up. So the device must do all the work.

Works quite ok. It uses data connection to send GPS and status for tracking. When it detects a fall or impact it phones a programmed number. Had some false emergencies due to it being bumped hard but I think you can set sensitivity. But rather that than not knowing . User can also long-press a button to initiate emergency callout

 

[RedViking]

Works quite ok. It uses data connection to send GPS and status for tracking. When it detects a fall or impact it phones a programmed number. Had some false emergencies due to it being bumped hard but I think you can set sensitivity. But rather that than not knowing . User can also long-press a button to initiate emergency callout

Thank you for the feedback. Besides the device , does it require a separate subscription of sorts?

 

[Spacerat]

Thank you for the feedback. Besides the device , does it require a separate subscription of sorts?

There is no sub. You just have to load prepaid data once in a while. There is an app with which you set it up, track etc. The app experience is terrible because you have to watch an ad to use it, but at least you don’t need to use the app that often. The guy that sells them also doesn’t have great service but you don’t have to deal with him much.

 

[RedViking]

There is no sub. You just have to load prepaid data once in a while. There is an app with which you set it up, track etc. The app experience is terrible because you have to watch an ad to use it, but at least you don’t need to use the app that often. The guy that sells them also doesn’t have great service but you don’t have to deal with him much.

I saw this on Geewiz:

Fall Alarm with GPS Tracking (4G) - Peace of Mind for Seniors (Black)

SOS with Two-Way Speech: Hands-free with auto-answer. Fully Mobile: Works anywhere with a mobile phone signal. Fall Detection: Senses a fall and activates the SOS. Google Maps Location: Sends a Google Maps link via text. Geo-Fence/Safe-Zone Alerts: Notifies contacts if the wearer leaves a...

www.geewiz.co.za

Also looks like it has some , questionable, app:

https://www.geewiz.co.za/index.php?controller=attachment&id_attachment=2355

I would assume it is some Chinese thing and the app might or might not be supported in later Android devices ?

 

[Umzimbeet]

I saw this on Geewiz:

Fall Alarm with GPS Tracking (4G) - Peace of Mind for Seniors (Black)

SOS with Two-Way Speech: Hands-free with auto-answer. Fully Mobile: Works anywhere with a mobile phone signal. Fall Detection: Senses a fall and activates the SOS. Google Maps Location: Sends a Google Maps link via text. Geo-Fence/Safe-Zone Alerts: Notifies contacts if the wearer leaves a...

www.geewiz.co.za

Also looks like it has some , questionable, app:

https://www.geewiz.co.za/index.php?controller=attachment&id_attachment=2355

I would assume it is some Chinese thing and the app might or might not be supported in later Android devices as they are seldom maintained or in proper English.

The device on Geewiz looks like a device from ReachFar. The app works well and is understandable. Got the V51 on Bobshop for my mother which she wears on a lanyard. You can monitor the device from your phone and remind them to charge it. It calls you if there is a fall or the SOS button is pressed. There are 3 numbers it can call in succession.
I know someone that got a monitored service for their mother with a monthly subscription, it's the way to go if you can, it has helped their mother a couple of times already.