
Five tech gadgets that make life easier for the elderly: from an airbag for the hips to a medicine dispenser
- As seniors get more tech savvy, here are some gadgets that help them stay healthy and connected
- Gadgets include a phone with big glow-in-the-dark buttons and a voice activated assistant
Digital innovations can help maintain an old person’s health and independence, according to an article published recently on the World Economic Forum website. And seniors are getting more technically savvy – a 2017 Pew research showed that close to 70 per cent of Americans aged 65 or above use the internet. Here are five that help them stay fit, safe and in touch.

Handsets for seniors
If it is urgent, the user can get in touch with their family and emergency centre by pushing a red SOS button at the back of the phone. The operators are available 24 hours every day and will stay on the line until the emergency is resolved.
The phone is compatible with hearing aids and the battery keeps it running for at most five days of standby time or three to five hours talk time.

Smart voice-enabled assistants
These “digital assistants” control various smart home devices. The Echo hands-free speaker can answer questions, play music, make calls, set alarms, and check weather and flight information. Users with mobility problems can ask Echo to turn off a lamp and lock the doors before going to sleep. Seven microphones allow Echo to hear orders from any part of the home.

Helite’s Hip’Safe

Wearables
For now, the watch needs to be used in conjunction with an iPhone, and in one review it was noted that it should not be treated as a substitute, but a “supplement” for other protections.

Automatic medication manager
Studies revealed the elderly tend to forget to take medicines on time and sometimes mess up the dosage. This in-home medication manager can come in handy to keep track on the medication, especially for those who have bad memory.
When it is time to take the pills, the user will hear the sound and see blinking yellow light. Both the elderly and their carers will get a reminder from the app once a dose is more than 15 minutes late.
