Telus has announced the launch of its Telus Health Companion on Apple Watch, a 24/7 emergency monitoring service available for a monthly fee.
The service leverages the LivingWell Companion national response service from Telus Health, along with the Fall Detection API in Apple Watch. The company says “this new service enables more Canadians with health issues or who may be at risk of falling to experience improved safety and peace of mind.”
“Supporting Canada’s vulnerable population that is at risk of falling or having a medical issue is fundamental at TELUS Health as we strive to deliver innovative technologies that put patients first,” said Juggy Sihota, vice president Consumer Health, TELUS, in a statement on Monday.
“Through collaborating with Apple, we’re proud to be the first in Canada to transform how personal emergency response is experienced. We value our role in helping Canadians, particularly those who are aging, to live independently while giving them and their caregivers peace of mind knowing that they are connected to support 24/7,” added Sihota.
When an Apple Watch user signed up to the Telus Health Companion service takes a hard fall, the Telus Health national Central Monitoring Station will be notified. The team will contact the customer to confirm if there is an emergency or not, while emergency contacts will be notified and further emergency support dispatched if required.
The service is geared towards older Canadians looking to live independently for longer, says Telus.
Those with a cellular Apple Watch Series 4 (with Fall Detection enabled) or newer can add the Telus Health Companion service starting at $30 per month.
Telus says new users can buy a cellular Apple Watch with the Telus Health Companion service starting at $54 per month, offering savings of $120 off an Apple Watch. The service also requires a post-paid wireless Telus plan with an iPhone 6s or later.
