6 Ways To Use a Smartwatch as a Personal Safety Tool: A Guide for Seniors

(At Senior Tech Cafe, we believe in transparency and trust. Some of the links on this site are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them—at no additional cost to you. This helps support our work and allows us to keep sharing valuable information with you. Rest assured, we only promote products that align with our standards and that we genuinely think will bring value to you.)

Remember when watches just told time? Boy, those were the days! You’d wind them up, set the time, and that was that.

If you were really fancy, maybe you had one that showed the date. It might even have had a tiny light to check the time during Lawrence Welk.

Now these newfangled wrist computers (aka smartwatches) are buzzing, beeping, and practically doing your taxes.

But here’s the thing – while your grandkids might be using their smartwatches to count their dance steps or check Instagram (whatever that is), these fancy gizmos can actually be literal lifesavers for us more, shall we say, seasoned folks.

Think of your smartwatch as a tiny guardian angel strapped to your wrist. It’s like having a personal security guard, health monitor, and emergency contact system all rolled into one stylish package.

In this guide, we’ll walk through everything your Wrist-Mounted Wonder can do to keep you safe, healthy, and give your kids one less thing to worry about. (Though let’s be honest, they’ll find something else to fret over – it’s part of their job description.)

Don’t have a smartwatch yet?

Consider getting a refurbished one from our partner, Plug.tech. You’ll find incredible prices on Apple Watches, Samsung Galaxy Watches and Google Pixel Watches. All come with a one-year warranty and a 30-day money back guarantee.

We personally know the folks behind plug.tech and can confidently say they are a company you can trust.

Now, without further ado, here are 6 ways seniors can use a smartwatch as a personal safety device…

1. Emergency SOS: Your “Instant Hero” Button

Picture this: you’re out walking, minding your own business, when suddenly you realize you’re lost, or worse, you’ve stepped into a neighborhood where you’re more likely to find a tattoo parlor than a knitting circle.

This is where the Emergency SOS feature swoops in to save the day.

When activated, your watch can:

• Call emergency services (911) automatically
• Send your exact location to emergency responders
• Alert your emergency contacts with your location
• Display important medical information for first responders

And the best part? You don’t have to remember any phone numbers or fumble with a phone when seconds count.

Setting It Up:

(Warning: Tech companies love rearranging things. If the instructions below aren’t exact, the tech fairies have probably moved things around. Try searching for the setting on your device. If that doesn’t work, ask a trusted friend or family member for help, or do a quick web search for instructions using your device model and software version.)

For Apple Watch Folks:

1. Open the Watch appAn app (short for application) is a program that helps you do specific tasks on your smartphone, tab... More on your iPhone (that’s the one with the watch iconAn icon is a small graphical symbol used to represent an object, action, or concept in a digital int... More – clever, right?)
2. Tap “Emergency SOS”
3. Turn on “Hold Side Button”
4. Add emergency contacts:
   • Open the Health app
   • Tap your profile picture
   • Tap “Medical ID”
   • Hit “Edit”
   • ScrollScrolling is a fundamental action used to navigate through content on digital devices, such as compu... More to “Emergency Contacts”
   • Tap the green plus button to add people
   • Don’t forget to hit “Save”!

For Samsung Galaxy Watch Users:

1. Open the Galaxy Wearable app
2. Tap “Safety and emergency features”
3. Toggle on “SOS messages”
4. Add your emergency contacts:
   • Tap “Send messages to”
   • Add up to four trusted people
5. You can even add a custom message like “Help! This isn’t a test!”

For Fitbit Wearers:

1. Open the Fitbit app
2. Tap your profile picture
3. Select your device
4. Tap “Emergency Contact”
5. Follow the prompts to add your people

When to Actually Use It:

Let’s talk real scenarios here, folks:

• You’re in that poorly lit parking lot after bridge club, and something doesn’t feel right
• You’re having chest pain that doesn’t feel like your usual reaction to watching the evening news
• You’ve taken a fall and need help
• You’re lost on your “shortcut” to the new grocery store
• You feel unsafe in any situation
• You’re having a medical emergency and can’t speak

Pro Tip: Practice finding the SOS button with your eyes closed. It’s like a fire drill – you don’t want your first attempt to be during an actual emergency.

2. Fall Detection: Because Gravity is a Persistent Force

Remember when falling meant skinned knees and embarrassment? Now, it can mean automatic help is on the way, even if you can’t ask for it yourself.

Why It Really, Really Matters: Let’s be honest – we’re not as springy as we used to be. According to the CDC, one in four Americans aged 65+ falls each year.

But here’s the scary part: many people can’t reach their phone after a fall. Enter your smartwatch superhero!

How This Magic Actually Works: A smartwatch has sensors called accelerometers and gyroscopes, but that’s just showing off). These tech marvels can tell the difference between you enthusiastically agreeing with a game show contestant vs. you actually taking a tumble.

If you fall and don’t move for about a minute:

1. The watch taps your wrist and sounds an alarm
2. A screen pops up asking if you’re okay
3. If you don’t respond, it automatically:
   • Calls emergency services
   • Sends your location
   • Alerts your emergency contacts
   • Displays your medical ID

Getting It Set Up Right:

Apple Watch Users:

1. Open the Watch app on your iPhone
2. Tap “Emergency SOS”
3. Turn on “Fall Detection”
4. Choose between “Always On” or “Only During Workouts”
   • Hint: If you’re over 55, it’s usually on by defaultDefault refers to the pre-set option or setting that is automatically chosen if no alternative is sp... More, but check anyway!

Samsung Galaxy Watch Folks:

1. Open the Galaxy Wearable app
2. Tap “Safety and emergency features”
3. Toggle on “Hard fall detection”
4. Adjust sensitivity if needed
   • Start with “Medium” and adjust based on false alarms

Important Note: Keep your watch snug! A loose watch is like loose dentures – neither works quite right.

3. Location Sharing: Let Your Family Stop Worrying (As Much)

Remember when your kids started driving and you wanted to know where they were 24/7?

Well, the tables have turned! Now they’re the ones wanting to keep tabs on you!

Why Share Your Location?

If you’re out on a walk, exploring a new area, or just want peace of mind, location sharing can be your invisible safety net.

Plus, it’ll cut way down on all those “Where are you?” phone calls.

Setting It Up:

Apple Watch and iPhone:

1. Open the Find My app
2. Tap “People”
3. Tap “Share My Location”
4. Choose who gets to see where you are
5. Pick how long they can see it:
   • One hour (for short trips)
   • Until end of day (for longer outings)
   • Indefinitely (for ongoing peace of mind)

Samsung Users:

1. Open the Galaxy Wearable app
2. Tap “Safety and emergency features”
3. Select “Send location”
4. Choose your trusted contacts
5. Decide when to share:
   • Always
   • Only during emergencies
   • Manual control

Smart Times to Use It:

• Morning walks or exercise routines
• Road trips (no more “Are you there yet?” calls)
• Shopping trips (your kids can find you when they’re ready to carry the heavy bags)
• Vacation travels
• Any time you’re trying something new or going somewhere unfamiliar

Pro Tip: Set up a family group so everyone can see each other. It’s only fair, right?

4. Health Alerts: Your Body’s Dashboard

This one’s a biggie. Your watch can monitor your heart rate and even tell you if something’s not quite right.

It’s like having a tiny doctor on your wrist, minus the cold stethoscope and waiting room magazines from 1987.

This feature has literally saved lives by catching problems before they become emergencies.

Why These Stats Matter: Your body sometimes forgets to send you a memo when something’s wrong.

But a smartwatch can catch:

• Irregular heart rhythms
• Unusually high or low heart rates
• Poor blood oxygen levels
• Sleep problems
• Changes in activity levels

Setting Up Your Health Alerts:

Apple Watch:

1. Open the Watch app
2. Tap “Heart”
3. Turn on:
   • High heart rate notifications (pick your number)
   • Low heart rate notifications
   • Irregular rhythm notifications
   • Cardio fitness notifications
4. For Blood Oxygen (Series 6 and later):
   • Open the Blood Oxygen app on your watch
   • Follow the setup instructions
   • Enable background measurements

Samsung Galaxy Watch:

1. Open Samsung Health
2. Tap “Heart rate”
3. Enable:
   • Auto heart rate monitoring
   • Alert settings
4. Set your thresholds:
   • High heart rate (usually 120 bpm or higher when resting)
   • Low heart rate (usually 40 bpm or lower)
5. For Blood Oxygen:
   • Open Samsung Health
   • Tap “Blood oxygen”
   • Enable monitoring

5. Medication Reminders: Never Miss a Pill Again

Ever looked at your pill bottle and thought, “Wait, did I take this already?” (Yeah, I know, only EVERY day!)

With a smartwatch, you can say goodbye to that particular little nightmare. Set up medication reminders so you never have to wonder if you’re doubling up on your daily vitamins or, worse, skipping them entirely.

Your smartwatch can be like that nurse who always made sure you took your medicine on time – but without the scary shoes.

This little nudge keeps you on track. After all, nobody wants to play a guessing game with their meds.

Setting Up Your Medication Alerts:

Apple Watch:

1. Open the Health app on your iPhone
2. Tap “Browse”
3. Tap “Medications”
4. Tap “Add Medication”
5. For each medication:
   • Enter the name
   • Choose frequency
   • Set specific times
   • Add notes (like “take with food”)
6. Enable notifications

Samsung Galaxy Watch:

1. Open Samsung Health
2. Tap “Together”
3. Tap “Medications”
4. Add your medications:
   • Name
   • Dosage
   • Schedule
   • Special instructions

Pro Tips for Medication Management:

• Set reminders 15 minutes before usual meal times for medications that need food
• Use the snooze feature if you can’t take it right away
• Add notes about which medications can’t be taken together
• Keep your medication list updated – remove old ones, add new ones
• Share your medication list with family members who help with your care

6. Weather Alerts: Mother Nature’s Heads-Up

Weather isn’t just small talk anymore – it can be dangerous business.

Your smartwatch can warn you about everything from heat waves to hurricanes. And trust me, it’s more reliable than your knee that predicts rain.

When to Use It: Anytime you’re outside or planning an outing. Knowing you can dodge the weather gives you that little extra confidence. It’s like your own personal… without the green screen.

Setting Up Weather Alerts:

Apple Watch:

1. Open the Weather app on your iPhone
2. Tap the list icon (three lines)
3. Tap the three dots
4. Turn on:
   • Severe weather alerts
   • Next-hour precipitation
   • Air quality alerts

Samsung Galaxy Watch:

1. Open the Weather app
2. Tap the menu (three lines)
3. Tap “Settings”
4. Enable:
   • Severe weather alerts
   • Government alerts
   • Daily forecasts

Battery Tips: Keeping Your Safety Net Charged

All these safety features are wonderful – until your watch dies faster than a smartphone at a teenager’s party.

Keeping your battery juiced up is essential for making sure it can call for help if you ever need it. Here’s how to keep your electronic guardian angel alive and kicking.

Battery-Saving Tips:

1. Lower your screen brightness (yes, your watch will survive without looking like a mini-sun).
2. Turn off background apps that drain the battery.
3. Keep a small charger with you if you’re planning to be out for a while. Most watches charge fast, so you’ll be back up in no time.

Your New Safety Sidekick

Think of your smartwatch as that overprotective friend who always has your back – annoying sometimes, but you’re glad they’re there.

You don’t need to master every bell and whistle right away. Start with one feature, get comfortable, then move on to the next.

Some last tips to leave you with:

• Take it one feature at a time
• Practice using emergency features before you need them
• Keep your watch charged
• Update your emergency contacts regularly
• Share this guide with your friends (they’ll think you’re tech-savvy!)

The most important thing? Don’t be afraid to use these features. They’re not just fancy additions – they’re there to help keep you safe and independent.

And isn’t that worth a little time learning something new?

Remember, even Superman had gadgets to help him out (though I doubt he needed fall detection). Your smartwatch might not make you leap tall buildings in a single bound, but it can help you navigate this wild world with a bit more confidence.

Wait!! Don’t have a smartwatch yet?

Consider getting a refurbished one from our partner, Plug.tech. You’ll find incredible prices on Apple Watches, Samsung Galaxy Watches and Google Pixel Watches. All come with a one-year warranty and a 30-day money back guarantee.

We personally know the folks behind plug.tech and can confidently say they are a company you can trust.