About a third of people over 65 fall at least once a year. For those over 80, the number is even higher. Seniors living alone are particularly at risk, as no one can help them if they fall. This is especially true if they are no longer able to call for help. A watch with fall detection can change that. It automatically registers the fall and then places an emergency call. The One Button Phone also offers user-friendly operation for seniors and, thanks to its SIM card slot, can be used not only at home but also on the go. Read our blog article to learn why seniors have an increased risk of falling, what preventative measures they can take, and how a watch with fall detection works.

Seniors have an increased risk of falling.

A momentary lapse of attention, a medical condition, or an acute emergency can lead to a fall. Obstacles and the use of medication can also occasionally cause people to stumble.

Aging also contributes to reduced sure-footedness, primarily affecting people over 65. Declining muscle strength, heart disease, and blood sugar problems are more common in this age group. Parkinson's disease and dementia can also increase the risk of falls.

Furthermore, the consequences for older people are often more far-reaching. If their reaction time is also reduced, they are less able to break their fall. Reduced bone density can also significantly increase the risk of fractures.

Small fall with big consequences

If you're lucky, you'll escape with just a bruise or contusion from a fall. However, the consequences can also be more serious:

• Lacerations
• Skull fractures
• concussion
• Bone fractures

But that's not all. Anyone who has fallen and realizes they're no longer as steady on their feet may develop an acute fear of falling, which significantly impacts their daily life. Those affected are often caught in a vicious cycle, because while regular exercise can reduce the risk of falling, they are afraid to move. This is where a watch with fall detection, like the One Button Phone, can be a welcome aid. For many people, it's reassuring to know that they can call for help at any time, even if they fall.

Reduce the risk of falls in the home

You can take a number of measures to minimize the risk of a fall:

• Eliminate tripping hazards: Every home has places that can easily cause someone to lose their footing. Even if everything has gone well so far, you should walk through your living spaces and look for potential tripping hazards such as loose cables or slippery rugs and remove them.
• Adequate lighting: To ensure you can always see where you are going, all areas of your apartment or house should be well lit.
• Non-slip mats: Place non-slip mats in the bathtub and shower. Additionally, you should always have a bath mat on the tiles. With wet feet, the smooth floor quickly becomes slippery.
• Installing grab bars on the wall: As you get older, it can be increasingly beneficial to install grab bars in certain places around the house. This doesn't cost much but is very effective. For example, grab bars next to the toilet can make getting up easier. A grab bar next to the bed or for support in the shower can also be helpful.
• Integrate movement into your daily routine: Regular exercise can reduce the risk of falls. Strength training, walking, and targeted exercises train your body and give you more confidence when walking. The One Button Phone can also help you with this, as it has a built-in pedometer!
• Visit your doctor regularly: Attend all your preventative care appointments and ensure that your medications are always optimally adjusted, as this can also reduce your risk of falls.

However, no matter how well you prepare, there's no such thing as 100% safety. As people age, many simply become a little less steady on their feet and are more prone to missteps than before. Therefore, you should not only focus on prevention but also prepare for falls. A watch with a fall sensor is the perfect choice for this. Take the One Button Phone, for example. It offers excellent wearing comfort, so it will hardly bother you in everyday life. But if you do fall, the One Button Phone will be there for you and call for help. Furthermore, this senior-friendly watch with fall detection offers many other practical functions that you can use in the meantime.

Which watches have a fall sensor?

Classic wristwatches don't have a fall sensor. They simply tell the time. Modern smartwatches, however, can be different. These small electronic devices are true all-rounders, offering a range of functions. For example, you can use them to make phone calls or monitor your vital signs.

Unfortunately, smartwatches are often a mystery to seniors. Their operation and numerous functions can be overwhelming. That's why we offer the One Button Phone. It's a senior-friendly smartwatch with fall detection that can be used without extensive technical knowledge. Its central control is a large, clearly visible button, making it easy for many older people to use.

In addition, there are simple emergency call bracelets that offer an emergency button and fall detection. These are also usually very easy for seniors to use. However, compared to the One Button Phone, they often have fewer functions. With the latter, you can also make phone calls, count your daily steps, measure blood pressure and pulse, and set an alarm . So you're choosing a versatile everyday companion that's not only useful in the event of a fall.

The technology behind the fall sensor

Wondering how the watch detects that you've fallen? It uses various techniques, sometimes even combining several.

• Accelerometer measurement: Some watches are equipped with accelerometers. If they detect a rapid movement followed by stillness, they sound an alarm.
• Gyroscopes: They register twists and rotations. If an unusual movement pattern occurs that could indicate a fall, the emergency contact is dialed.

A watch with fall detection doesn't always trigger an alarm immediately. Some models ask you again whether you actually fell. They then start a countdown. If you're okay and can get up on your own, simply stop it. However, if you're unconscious, the countdown continues and an emergency call is placed.

With the One Button Phone, you also have the option to adjust the fall detection sensitivity, allowing you to better tailor it to your lifestyle and everyday needs. If you feel the watch triggers with every slight bump, you can reduce the sensitivity. Conversely, you can set a particularly high sensitivity for added peace of mind. If you don't want to use fall detection at all because you practically never fall, you can deactivate it and use the other features of the One Button Phone.

What happens after the fall?

Now you know how a watch with fall detection works. But of course, what's much more important for you is knowing what happens when you fall. Typically, it works like this:

• They fall down.
• The device registers the vibration or measures a suspicious movement pattern.
• Either a countdown starts or an emergency call is made immediately.
• The watch dials the emergency number. The One Button Phone even sends your location to the emergency contact.

Set up emergency contact

Some devices have 112 pre-selected as the emergency contact, so the emergency services are called immediately in the event of a fall. However, it may be advisable to set up your own contacts to avoid false alarms.

Speak with the people you choose beforehand. For example, you can ask your children or grandchildren if they are willing to be your emergency contact. It is important that you trust the person completely.

Ideally, she should live nearby so she can come and help you in an emergency. This is not only practical if you've fallen, but also a real advantage in other situations.

The benefits of a call cascade

You might be wondering what happens if you fall and your emergency contact is unreachable. The developers of the One Button Phone had the same thought and integrated a call cascade feature. This means the following:

• They provide multiple emergency contacts.
• The fall sensor is triggered and the watch calls the first contact.
• He is currently unavailable and will not be taking off.
• After a short time, the second contact is automatically called.
• With the One Button Phone, you can even specify a third person.

So you have three chances to reach someone. If someone has agreed to be your emergency contact, they will likely be aware of the situation and not simply put their phone on silent. However, there are always situations where someone is unreachable. Perhaps they might miss a call while sleeping, or they might be in an area with no cell service.

Why location data transmission is essential

If you choose a watch with fall detection, make sure it also offers GPS tracking. Imagine you fall awkwardly and lose consciousness. The watch will automatically send an emergency call, and your emergency contact will answer, but you won't be able to respond. The person you call might assume you're at home, but they can't be absolutely certain. You might have just gone for a walk and be two blocks away.

In this case, a senior-friendly smartwatch with GPS tracking is a real blessing. With the One Button Phone, it works like this: An emergency call is placed. In addition, the emergency contact receives a text message with your current location. They can then dispatch emergency services to the correct location. If they have the One Button Phone's family app on their smartphone, they can also actively request your location themselves and display it on Google Maps. This way, they also know where you are in other critical situations.

Watch with SIM card – stay safe even on the go

Of course, you won't spend your retirement years confined to your home. Occasionally, you'll need to leave the house to go shopping, attend doctor's appointments, or visit family. Perhaps you enjoy walks or frequently ride your bike. For all these activities, a watch with fall detection can provide a greater sense of security, as falls can happen even when you're out and about.

For the watch to make an emergency call outside your home, it needs a connection to the mobile network. This means it must have a SIM card slot. Not all smartwatches have this feature! Some models connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth and use it for making calls. However, these require another newfangled device, which costs extra and which you would then have to carry with you at all times.

A better option is a watch with fall detection that works independently of a smartphone. The One Button Phone falls into this category and comes with a Vodafone SIM card, so you don't have to worry about finding a mobile provider. Simply insert the card, activate it, and you're good to go. Of course, if you already have a SIM card or can use a plan from another provider, that's also possible. You can choose a contract or a prepaid card, giving you complete control over your spending. Very affordable mobile plans are available starting at around five euros per month.

The SIM card isn't just important for making an emergency call after a fall. You can also use it to make calls, whether you want to cancel an appointment or simply have a friendly chat. It's best to save the most important phone numbers of people in your social circle. You can only receive calls from people on your whitelist, so you don't have to worry about scammers.

A standard SIM card with a data and/or voice plan is perfectly sufficient. You don't need a special smartwatch plan. Incidentally, you can also rely on the One Button Phone abroad. The 2024 model works in almost all of our neighboring countries, provided there is an LTE/4G network with LTE bands 1, 7, 8, 3, and 20. However, if you opt for the slightly older 2022 model, you'll have to accept some limitations, as it's not suitable for countries without a 2G network. These include, among others, the Netherlands.

Test the One Button Phone thoroughly

For your own personal emergency watch with fall detection test, we recommend thoroughly trying out your chosen device. You'll quickly get a feel for how well the fall detection works. If you decide on our One Button Phone, you can try it for 30 days and return it after your extensive testing. We'll then refund the purchase price. However, if we've convinced you of the benefits of our senior-friendly watch with fall detection, you can simply keep it. There are no hidden subscriptions. You only need to arrange a mobile phone plan.

Tips for using a watch with fall detection

To help you get the most out of your new watch with fall detection and unlock its full potential, we have a few practical tips for you at the end:

• Regularly check that your emergency contacts are still up to date. If someone has moved away, for example, they must be replaced with a new contact.
• If you are right-handed, it's best to wear the watch on your left hand. This way you can easily operate it with your right hand. Left-handed people, on the other hand, should wear it on their right hand.
• Adjust the fall detection to suit your needs and raise or lower the sensitivity. Unfortunately, this isn't possible on all models, but the One Button Phone offers this feature!
• Charge the device regularly. Fall detection will not work if the battery is empty.
• Keep in mind that certain features, such as GPS tracking, can drastically reduce battery life. It may be advisable to disable these features. With the One Button Phone, the location can be actively requested at any time via the app, so continuous GPS tracking is not necessary.
• Familiarize yourself with the other functions of your watch with fall detection. They could significantly simplify your daily life. For example, the vital signs measurement feature of the One Button Phone allows you to conveniently monitor your blood pressure and pulse.