Whether it’s a holiday gift or birthday present, you might be wondering if an Apple Watch is a good gift for an elderly family member. After all, there are health features and apps that can be quite useful. And if you wear an Apple Watch yourself, you probably believe these things could benefit someone in their older years. But would it really make a suitable gift for your parents or grandparent?
A lot that weighs on the answer to this question is knowing the individual you’re considering buying it for. Are they resistant to technological devices? Are they willing to learn new things? If you’ve already thought through these types of questions, but still aren’t sure, we’re here to help.
Let’s look at the pros and cons of buying an Apple Watch for a senior, what benefits they could gain, and which apps and features would help them the most. We’ll also provide some tips on setting up the device for your elderly loved one, allowing them to start using it more effectively before too long.
Buying an Apple Watch for the Elderly: Pros and Cons
Sometimes making a sound decision is a matter of listing out the pros and cons. This helps you see both the good and bad more clearly. Keep in mind that not all will apply as, again, you know your family members best.
Advantages of an Apple Watch for Seniors
The biggest Pros for buying the Apple Watch for a senior include the health and emergency features offered, beginning with the heart rate monitoring options.
ECG app
As of watchOS 5.1.2, Apple added the ECG heart rate monitor to Apple Watch Series 4. With this helpful built-in app, you simply hold your finger on the Digital Crown for 30 seconds to obtain a reading.
Once the reading is complete, you’ll receive the results as AFib, sinus rhythm, or inconclusive. You can tap to add symptoms if you’re feeling ill and all recordings are tracked in the Health App which can be sent to your physician.
Irregular Rhythm Notifications
You can also set up Irregular Rhythm Notifications on Apple Watch. The intent is to notify the wearer if five irregular rhythms are detected over a minimum of 65 minutes (Afib). This information is also recorded in the Health app.
Apple Watch also offers a helpful Heart Rate app so that you can get your heart rate whenever you like and record the data in the Health app. You can see your heart rate for resting, walking, or take a current reading. Plus, you can set up high heart rate notifications.
You can also gain access to your heart rate statistics from the Health app on your iPhone.
With Emergency SOS, you can enable calls in the Watch app so the user simply holds the side button on Apple Watch to make the call. Plus, you can set up emergency contacts so that when you call emergency services, those folks will also be notified.
Fall Detection works with Emergency SOS and can be enabled with a simple slide of the toggle in the Watch app. If Apple Watch detects a fall and no movement after that, you’ll receive an alert. If you don’t respond to the alert, Apple Watch will tap your wrist, sound an alarm, and call emergency services.
Easy Communication
Another wonderful feature and pro of purchasing an Apple Watch for someone in their golden years is the easy way to communicate.
You can send and receive phone calls and text messages right from the Apple Watch. So if your iPhone is on the other side of the room, you don’t have to even leave the couch. Tap to text or call whoever you like.
The Disadvantages of an Apple Watch for Seniors
Even though the Apple Watch offers some beneficial health and emergency features, it may still not be a perfect gift for the senior in your life. Here are a few considerations.
Small Screen
No matter how you look at the Apple Watch, it’s still a watch. So obviously the screen is not as large as an iPhone or iPad. This could make it tough to tap the things you need to without accidentally tapping something else. The Apple Watch does offer accessibility features such as Zoom that can help which can be found in the Watch app.
Learning Curve
While the Apple Watch is not difficult to learn or use, it still can be for someone who isn’t keen on technology. If your loved one struggles to do things like make calls or send text messages on their iPhone, you might consider the same difficulties they would experience with an Apple Watch.
Getting Nearby Help
Who currently helps your parents or grandparent if they’re having trouble with their iPhone, iPad, or computer? If they aren’t able to figure things out on their own, is there a go-to person to help them and if so, is it you?
The thing is, you may have to plan on helping them get used to the Apple Watch by showing them how to do the basics. And if you’re not nearby, for example, if you live in another state, then this won’t be easy for either of you. It’s just another thing to think about.
Tips for Setting up the Apple Watch
If you do decide that you’re going to give this gift a try, there are a few things you can do to help get everything set up in the beginning.
Accessibility Settings
As mentioned above, you might consider using some of the Accessibility options available for Apple Watch. For instance, you can enable Zoom and set the zoom level. Then, your loved one just double taps the screen with two fingers to zoom in.
Other helpful Accessibility features include VoiceOver, Bold Text, Grayscale, and a setting to Reduce Motion. All of these settings are in the Watch app under Settings > Accessibility.
Watch Faces and Complications
Try to get your parents or grandparent set up with a Watch face and Complications that they’ll find most useful.
Maybe you know that numbers are easier for them to read than a watch dial or that they really love Mickey Mouse. Try to pick out a couple of Watch faces and have them set up so they can just pick one or switch between them if they like.
For Complications, think about what they’ll use most. You can add them for the Heart Rate app so they can check that with a tap. And if they are always looking at the current weather or news headlines, pop those Complications on the face for them.
Go to the Watch app and select Face Gallery to set up the Watch face.
Notifications and Alerts
As you already know, almost every app seems to have a notification for one thing or another. And if you don’t control these, well, they get out of control, right?
Just like on your iPhone, customizing the notifications on Apple Watch is important. You don’t want to hear a ding or feel a tap for every little thing. Help out your loved one by customizing the alerts right off the bat in the Watchapp under Notifications. Just keep those enabled for the most important alerts your parent or grandparent would need or want.
Note that if your loved one uses Do Not Disturb, the feature will also be activated on their Apple Watch. So, they might not see your messages and whatnot.
How to Set Up an Apple Watch for Your Elderly Loved One: Additional Tips
Besides what we’ve mentioned above, you can also follow these tips to make your Apple Watch easier to use for the elderly loved one that gets it.
Buy an iPhone (Unless They Already Have One)
To use most Apple Watch features, the elderly person will need an iPhone. If they already have one, that’s great — but if not, consider buying them a new device. You will, of course, also need to set them up on that — so it’s worth keeping this in mind.
Set Up an Apple ID (If Needed)
You probably don’t want your elderly loved one’s Apple Watch to be tied to your Apple ID. Otherwise, it’ll be harder for them to make the most of their device usage. So, you should — if they don’t already have one — set up an Apple ID.
Go to appleid.apple.com to set up an Apple ID for the new Apple Watch user.
Download the Apps They Would Use
Along with the built-in Apple Watch apps and features, take a bit of time to browse the App Store for additional tools. Here are just a few you might consider downloading and helping your loved one set up.
Mango Health (Free): Receive reminders on Apple Watch for taking medication. The app offers additional features on the iPhone like drug interaction warnings, refill alerts, and a daily health diary.
Pillow Automatic Sleep Tracker (Free with IAP): Includes a record of sleep, heart rate analysis during the night, nap modes, sleep aids, and wake-up sounds for a complete Apple Watch sleep tracking package.
Headspace Meditation & Sleep (Free with IAP): This meditation and mindfulness app offers guided sessions, breathing exercises, and a heart rate monitor. This is a great app to check out for stress relief and relaxation.
Note that some apps will require you to also have the service on an iPhone.
Help Your Elderly Loved One Set Up an Apple Watch Passcode
The senior using your Apple Watch will need a passcode to ensure that they’re the only person who can access their device. Show them how to set up an Apple Watch code and change it if needed. You should also remind them to make a note of it so that they can always sign in.
Show Them Where the Essential Functions Are
While you can help your elderly loved one by setting up their Apple Watch, you still want to make it easier for them to use the device when you aren’t there. So, it’s worth spending a bit of time to show where the important functions — such as their app settings — are. That way, it’ll be much easier for the senior to customize their device.
Ensure That They Have Wi-Fi
A Wi-Fi connection is essential for using many of the main Apple Watch features, and it’s a good idea to ensure that your elderly loved one has access to this. If they already have an iPhone, they can use the same Wi-Fi network as the one that will already be on their iOS device.
Apple Watch for Your Elderly Family Member? It Might be a Good Idea
Apple Watches can provide huge benefits for your elderly loved ones, and it’s very much worth thinking about getting them one. An Apple Watch can help to track heart rates and keep on track with numerous other health aspects. On top of that, these devices also facilitate easier communication.
Hopefully, this information will help you decide if the Apple Watch is a good idea for your family members. And if you choose to make that purchase, the tips for getting the Watch set up for them should help too.
Please let us know what you decide and how it all works out! You can pop back over and leave a comment below; we’d love to hear from you!
Sandy worked for many years in the IT industry as a project manager, department manager, and PMO Lead. She then decided to follow her dream and now writes about technology full-time. Sandy holds a Bachelors of Science in Information Technology.
She loves technology– specifically – terrific games and apps for iOS, software that makes your life easier, and productivity tools that you can use every day, in both work and home environments.
Her articles have regularly been featured at MakeUseOf, iDownloadBlog and many other leading tech publications.
loved your article. I am presently preparing a talk for our technology club (used to be computer club). the title of my talk is Why are Seniors buying Apple Watches and should You? So your article will help me in my preparation. Two things to consider in future articles. The Watch/iPhone Mobility which gives people a lot of info too much for seniors but it does give you an overall walking steadiness rating. Second is the Find my persons I know some children of the elderly are tracking where they are. The elderly know they are being tracked and don’t mind. I was taking a friend to a baseball game in Arizona when his daughter called and asked him why he was in Arizona. I live in a retirement community and teach apple watch classes voluntarily to our community. I love my watch!!!!! Steve
All I want from an Apple watch is the time and a button to press in an emergency to contact the person I’ve selected as an emergency contact. I presently have an Apple I-phone 7+ which I love. My carrier is T-mobile. What prices am I facing, is it possible with the right watch and is it fairly easy to set up. I’m presently 80 yrs old and in fairly good health. Which smartwatch would cover most of these issues. Thanks
Thinking about this option for my tech limited mother.
I would like to pair it to my iphone along with my own watch I but don’t want her to have my information on it.
I would think a cell version would be better as she doesn’t have internet.
I don’t want her to have a code to unlock it.
It sure would be nice to have a bit more battery life., for example 3 days. Please reply and give your input
Thanks. I’m buying one for my brother who is alone. He recently fell and didn’t use his Life Alert due to the expense of the responders. He couldn’t reach his iPhone to call family or neighbors. For two days he lay there before throwing in the towel and pressing Life Alert. He was an electrical engineer and has Iphones so I think he’s more excited to get the iWatch than he’s showing.
Very informative piece! I’ll give them a whirl for my parents, but going to bookmark this page for reference when I don’t know what I’m doing setting them up. Thanks for the great information!
Thank you so much for this article. I’m trying to decide whether to purchase an Apple Watch for my 90 year old dad. I like the fall detection and heart monitoring, the SOS call feature, and that he’ll be able to call or answer calls even if he doesn’t have his phone with him. My concern is that he will unintentionally mess up the settings or change screens, and not know how to get back to where he should be. He knows the basics of his iPhone (and my how he loves Siri) but I wonder if this will be too finicky for him.
loved your article. I am presently preparing a talk for our technology club (used to be computer club). the title of my talk is Why are Seniors buying Apple Watches and should You? So your article will help me in my preparation. Two things to consider in future articles. The Watch/iPhone Mobility which gives people a lot of info too much for seniors but it does give you an overall walking steadiness rating. Second is the Find my persons I know some children of the elderly are tracking where they are. The elderly know they are being tracked and don’t mind. I was taking a friend to a baseball game in Arizona when his daughter called and asked him why he was in Arizona. I live in a retirement community and teach apple watch classes voluntarily to our community. I love my watch!!!!! Steve
All I want from an Apple watch is the time and a button to press in an emergency to contact the person I’ve selected as an emergency contact. I presently have an Apple I-phone 7+ which I love. My carrier is T-mobile. What prices am I facing, is it possible with the right watch and is it fairly easy to set up. I’m presently 80 yrs old and in fairly good health. Which smartwatch would cover most of these issues. Thanks
Thinking about this option for my tech limited mother.
I would like to pair it to my iphone along with my own watch I but don’t want her to have my information on it.
I would think a cell version would be better as she doesn’t have internet.
I don’t want her to have a code to unlock it.
It sure would be nice to have a bit more battery life., for example 3 days. Please reply and give your input
My mother lives in a rural area. Other health ministers have not worked. What do I need to have if I purchase an Apple watch for her…WiFi?
Thanks. I’m buying one for my brother who is alone. He recently fell and didn’t use his Life Alert due to the expense of the responders. He couldn’t reach his iPhone to call family or neighbors. For two days he lay there before throwing in the towel and pressing Life Alert. He was an electrical engineer and has Iphones so I think he’s more excited to get the iWatch than he’s showing.
Very informative piece! I’ll give them a whirl for my parents, but going to bookmark this page for reference when I don’t know what I’m doing setting them up. Thanks for the great information!
Thank you so much for this article. I’m trying to decide whether to purchase an Apple Watch for my 90 year old dad. I like the fall detection and heart monitoring, the SOS call feature, and that he’ll be able to call or answer calls even if he doesn’t have his phone with him. My concern is that he will unintentionally mess up the settings or change screens, and not know how to get back to where he should be. He knows the basics of his iPhone (and my how he loves Siri) but I wonder if this will be too finicky for him.