Ellen Phillips photo for ConsumerWatch column that runs every Sunday – Please use this photo from now on‘ Pill takers, rejoice. Mylively.com provides a senior medical alert watch. Just like the “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” devices, this attractive safety watch offers an emergency monitoring service. And you can place its accompanying sensors on pillboxes and refrigerators to check whether the watch-wearer has skipped his or her meds. ($50 for the device, plus $28-35 monthly.)
– Pocketfinder.com is well worth its $130 fee. A small GPS device, its Google maps let you track a loved one suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s from your smartphone.
– Getbsafe.com, a free GPS app, tracks a loved one when he or she goes out and sends friends and family an SOS if the person needs help.
– Somewhat like a FitBit but free, Moves tracks how many steps you’ve walked, run or cycled and how many calories you’ve burned. The app is always on (consuming battery power) so there’s no need to turn it on and off. (Moves-app.com)
– Myfitnesspal.com finds the calorie count for every food by brand and restaurant. Enter your exercise and the app tells you the extra calories burned while working out. Even better, it’s free.
– Mint.com keeps an eye on our accounts from one place while we’re out and about or traveling. The free app is the creation of Quicken and safely links to all our financial accounts, as well as provides a breakdown of spending for better budgeting.
-Billing itself as a “financial GPS,” Level Money tells you how much you’ve spent during the week and what’s left to spend. Additionally, this free app lets you track expenses by item (coffee, gas, etc.). All account info is locked down with the same 128-bit encryption that banks use.
– I expect most everyone is aware of the Blue Light Syndrome from devices, such as smartphones, iPads and televisions, among others. Exposure to high levels of this light can suppress production of sleep-inducing melatonin so experts advise avoiding TV, iPads and the like for two to three hours before bedtime. Blue light-blocking glasses are now available and really cheaply, too. Consumer Reports likes the Uvex Skyper (orange-tinted) glasses that cut out almost all the blue light. At about $8 a pop, I definitely plan to shop the web the moment I complete this column, starting with Amazon.com.