Fitness trackers for seniors are a great way for those in their golden years to track their health. If you have a senior family member, they can also give you and the rest of the family peace of mind.
When it comes to fitness trackers for seniors, exciting developments are on the horizon too. This includes research that may lead to a wearable that could help detect Alzheimer’s up to 15 years before symptoms appear.
While you may think that this type of technology isn’t a good fit for seniors, many fitness trackers automatically connect with an app that relays important information to a doctor. This means the senior doesn’t have to do any manual data recording. So, even if seniors aren’t tech savvy, they can still easily use these trackers.
Please remember that the wearable only provides raw data. You should always get professional advice from a doctor before changing a diet and exercise plan.
Here are some fitness trackers that could help with specific conditions:
A Fitbit Is a Perfect All-Round Fitness Tracker for Seniors
If you’re looking for an all-around fitness tracker for seniors, the Fitbit Inspire 3 fitness tracker is a good option.
This wearable tracks a number of health data, including:
- Daily readiness score
- 24/7 heart rate
- Cardio fitness score
- Automatic exercise
- SpO2/blood oxygen
- Heart rate variability
- Resting heart rate
The Inspire 3 also has a 10-day battery life and a smart wake alarm. You can even use it to help with relaxing breathing sessions.
Turn to a Tracker for Seniors With Respiratory Conditions
Many seniors suffer from chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Fortunately, those who do can benefit from the Microlife Digital Peak Flow Meter for respiratory care. This device measures forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV one) and peak expiratory flow (PEF). These measurements help tell the wearer how well their lungs are breathing through constant airflow monitoring.
Additionally, this fitness tracker for seniors features:
- 240 memory settings, along with a date and time stamp
- A traffic-light style risk indicator linked to onboard tracking and analysis software
- Free washable mouthpieces
- A 2-year limited warranty
This device also meets American Thoracic Society standards.
Fitness Trackers for Seniors With Diabetes Include Continuous Glucose Monitors
Previously, anyone with diabetes would have to prick their finger to take a blood sample. But now there are fitness trackers for seniors that can take blood sugar readings without the pain of needles.
Consider the Freestyle Libra System for diabetes monitoring. It’s a continuous glucose monitoring system with a disposable sensor and a reader device. You can also link the device to a smartphone app to share information directly with family members, carers, or medical professionals.
Freestyle offers a starter pack with two sensors and access to their app. You use the app to scan the sensor and then you’ll get glucose readings directly to the phone. These readings will directly stream every minute, so the wearer can act quickly if an alarm indicates low glucose levels.
Always talk to your doctor before embarking on this level of tracking and keep in mind these devices are for people who have diabetes only.
Seniors Can Rely on a Heart Monitor to Check Heart Health
When you want to check on your heart condition, there are fitness trackers for seniors that let you do that at home.
The KardiaMobile EKG heart monitor is made by AliveCor and is designed to work alongside the Kardia app. This monitor allows you to take your ECG from anywhere in just 30 seconds and receive instant analysis on your smartphone.
This heart rate monitor can detect a range of conditions, including:
- Atrial fibrillation
- Bradycardia
- Tachycardia
- Abnormal heart rhythm
- Sinus rhythm (with PVC, SVE, and wide QRS)
Plus, it’s got features like unlimited EKG recordings with instant analysis, blood pressure monitoring, and weight tracking. Helpfully, you can store recorded EKGs on the device.
You can simply buy the device itself outright without additional tools. But, if you subscribe to the KardiaCare plan you also get:
- Free device replacement
- Cloud storage
- Medication tracking
- Personalized health reports
Meanwhile, the premium KardiaCare Plus plan includes everything in the other plans plus support from medical professionals and a blood pressure cuff.
Fitness Trackers for Seniors Can Help With a Range of Health Issues
From heart conditions to diabetes, there are fitness trackers for seniors that can help monitor a range of conditions.
So, if you’re concerned about your own health or are worried about a senior family member, take a closer look at the available options. And as always, speak with your doctor before you make any health-related decisions.
