Canadian innovators develop wearable tech to help seniors live independently
New devices include a tremor-suppressing glove, a smart cane with fall detection and weighted vests to improve stability.
TORONTO — Canadian engineers and scientists are creating a new wave of wearable technology to help older adults overcome mobility challenges, manage chronic conditions and live more independently.
Mark Elias, CEO of Steadiwear, developed a wearable device called Steadi to suppress essential tremor, a neurological condition causing involuntary shaking that affects about five per cent of people over 60 worldwide.
Elias, who studied structural engineering, applied principles used to control earthquake vibrations in buildings to create a glove that uses magnets and springs to absorb hand tremors.
READ MORE: Families turn to digital tools to help seniors age at home
READ MORE: Seniors turn to tech tutors to handle digital world and avoid scams
“We see individuals who are able to get back to drinking a glass of water, eating comfortably, and really having their confidence in their own movements restored,” said Elias.
A controlled evaluation found the device helped seven out of ten users experience meaningful reductions in tremor amplitude compared to a placebo.
Elias said the product, first released in 2022 and updated in 2024, now has more than 5,000 users.
The Steadiwear team is working on another update that would place most components in the forearm for a more discreet design.
In Richmond Hill, Ont., engineer Floyd Lau developed a smart cane named Victor after his father, who experienced declining mobility before passing away in 2022.
The cane features an automatic flashlight for low light, fall detection that alerts caregivers, and a built-in GPS tracker.
“With GPS location, caregivers can also create a geofence for seniors who suffer from cognitive decline, such as dementia,” said Lau, who developed Victor through his company Amptek Technologies Inc.
“Caregivers will be notified when the senior is coming close to the edge of the geofence as well as going outside the geofence.”
Victor launched in early 2026.
At the University Health Network’s KITE Research Institute in Toronto, scientists are developing smart socks and leggings using functional electrical stimulation technology.
“The socks can monitor how much edema may be in the legs, then apply either electrical stimulation or compression to reduce edema in the leg,” said Azadeh Yadollahi, a senior scientist at KITE.
Leg edema, or swelling, affects about 20 per cent of older adults, according to a 2021 U.S. study.
Yadollahi said a colleague is developing leggings that can detect when a person is losing balance and activate electrodes to stabilize certain muscles to prevent a fall.
Shelagh Stoneham’s company, Power WearHouse, makes weighted vests that a study found improved posture and stability for 73 per cent of senior participants.
“This feedback prompts automatic postural adjustments, helping individuals stand taller, feel more rooted to the ground and move with greater confidence,” said Stoneham.
The study, released in Health Science Reports in November 2025, was done in partnership with Sheridan College’s Centre for Elder Research in Oakville, Ont.
Feedback led to design changes like adding an easy-to-grasp zipper pull for seniors with reduced hand strength.
Stoneham said the vests are designed to look like regular clothing so seniors are more likely to wear them during daily activities.
With files from The Globe and Mail
Isabelle Moreau is the editor of Novello Desserts and writes about family life and everyday living in Canada. The editor signs off on corrections and editorial standards.