Tech Giants Collaborate: Best Buy Health Joel Forces Union with Apple on Technological Devices for Senior Users
Best Buy Expands Health Services Offerings with Lively Health & Safety Tools
In a move to enrich and save lives through technology and meaningful connections, Best Buy Health has announced the release of multiple health and safety tools for older adults via the Apple Watch.
The retail giant, best known for its electronics and appliances, acquired GreatCall in 2018 for $800 million, a company that offered connected health and emergency response services to its aging population. With this acquisition, Best Buy Health has been strategically producing consumer health products, device-based emergency response tools, and virtual care services.
The latest addition to their health tech offerings includes the Lively Health & Safety tools, designed specifically for older adults. To access these services on an Apple Watch, users need the Lively app and a Lively Health & Safety Plan.
The tools include Urgent Response, which connects customers with agents in emergencies, Urgent Care that lets users speak to a registered nurse or doctor without an appointment, and the GreatCall Link app, which notifies loved ones in a crisis. The company also plans to roll out the Live Agent Assist feature, which calls a Lively Agent after detecting a hard fall and contacts family members if necessary.
However, the exact availability of the Live Agent Assist feature for Best Buy Health’s Lively Health & Safety Services on Apple Watch remains unclear. As of August 2025, there are no official public details or announcements specifying when this feature will be available. For the latest updates, it would be advisable to check directly with Best Buy Health, Lively, or official Apple communications closer to or after the Apple Watch Series 11 launch.
It's worth noting that Best Buy Health's Lively Health & Safety tools mark the retailer's latest foray into the healthcare services space, a trend also seen in other traditional retailers like Walmart, Rite Aid, and Walgreens.
At the time of acquisition, GreatCall had 900,000 paying subscribers. David Inns, Best Buy Health’s president of active aging, stated that the Apple Watch-based Lively Health & Safety tools would provide a greater sense of connection and independence for older adults, and added peace of mind for their families.
As Best Buy continues to expand into the healthcare services sector, it's clear that the company is committed to leveraging technology to improve the lives of older adults and their families.
- The technology-driven healthcare industry is not exclusive to Best Buy as Walmart, Rite Aid, and Walgreens are also venturing into this sector.
- Given Best Buy's recent acquisition of GreatCall for $800 million, the company is banking on technology to provide jobs in the health and wellness industry.
- The latest updates in healthcare technology from Best Buy include the Lively Health & Safety tools, designed for older adults and accessible via the Apple Watch.
- In the realm of finance, Best Buy's foray into healthcare services could potentially bring substantial returns, considering the growing market of medical-conditions and health-conscious consumers.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) is playing a significant role in the healthcare revolution, as demonstrated by Best Buy's Lively Health & Safety tools, which include fall detection and urgent care services.
- The ongoing advancements in space technology and science are expected to further enhance Best Buy's healthcare services, opening doors for innovative healthcare solutions for older adults.
