Seniors are aging better than they ever have, and part of that reason is due to a willingness to commit to regular exercise routines. Engaging in low-impact and gentle exercise maintains strength and keeps the body functioning at its best. Using a fitness tracker helps seniors get the most out of their efforts by tracking their fitness data.
Fitness trackers for seniors are great for tech-savvy seniors, those who want to get a baseline on their vitals, and many provide safety features including a fall sensor. These features can be tracked by seniors and their children or caregivers who want to keep an eye on their seniors without being obtrusive. Another benefit of getting a fitness tracker for seniors is the fact that many can act as an emergency communication device without the need for a subscription.
Last, but not least, fitness trackers run for at least a week before needing a recharge. That means a senior can wear a watch for long periods of time and regularly keep in touch with their fitness data and alerts without worry. It’s also a benefit for adult children of seniors in that they don’t have to be concerned with their parents going without the watch for long periods of time.
The Benefits of Getting a Fitness Tracker for Seniors
A fitness tracker is a multi-purpose device that helps monitor physical health and strength for a better quality of life. Buying a fitness tracker for seniors and having them wear it helps them determine their personal health baselines. It also gives them access to information about their own body that’s more comprehensive than going to the doctor’s office. Here are some of the benefits of getting a fitness tracker for seniors.
Encourages exercise
Part of aging gracefully is staying in shape and maintaining strength. That doesn’t mean a senior needs to head to the gym and do a full weightlifting routine, but they should get regular walks and engage in activities that get them moving. Simple exercise routines go a long way towards maintaining fitness, preventing falls, and maintaining normal body functionality.
A tracker such as a Fitbit for seniors gives them a “reward” in the form of a record that shows they did something that day. It’s a simple premise, but it’s a way of encouraging a senior to step outside on a nice day and enjoy a walk. The tracker also helps them figure out a regular distance goal that’s right for them and have a visual that shows them what their body is experiencing.
Senses falls and can act as a medical emergency device
One of the unfortunate facts of aging is that the risk of a fall increases due to various health conditions. It’s not unusual for a senior to fall in their home and no one be the wiser for an extended period of time. Medical alert devices that call emergency services are available, but they typically have subscription fees, something seniors on a fixed income tend to resist.
Getting a tracker is a one-time cost and you don’t need a subscription unless there’s a desire to access more features. Many of them have a fall-sensing feature, GPS location tracking, and the ability to handle playing music and phone calls. These features typically require the use of a smartphone, but are otherwise free.
Easy to use
One of the challenges seniors face is understanding technology. They didn’t grow up with technology as part of their daily lives, and they tend to be more resistant to learning new things. Fitness trackers get around these issues by being simple and intuitive in their use. A senior doesn’t have to put a lot of effort into figuring out how the tracker works. All they have to do is swipe the screens or press buttons to get to the tracker they’re looking for. They get real-time data for the function they’re looking to track and don’t have to worry about how to collect it going forward.
Seniors can take their data collection a step further by uploading the information to an app on their computer or phone. The app makes it easy for them to read their historical health data, something that can be used to show their physician.
Improves eating and sleeping habits
Fitness trackers also work as sleep monitors and can be used to remind the wearer that it’s time to eat. Fitbits have excellent sleep tracking software, which makes getting a Fitbit for seniors a good idea. Simply program the Fitbit, or any other fitness tracker, to alert the wearer that it’s time to eat or go to bed. This stimulates the wearer to get up and take care of their needs at regular times throughout the day.
Seniors frequently fall off their habits due to a lack of stimulation or desire to take care of themselves. A fitness tracker helps overcome this by getting the wearer to think about their needs and the fact they need to be taken care of.
You can help your senior parents with their healthcare
Adult children with senior parents face the challenge of taking care of their senior parents’ needs, even though their parents still maintain a large degree of independence. In turn, their senior parents may resist their children’s efforts to actively monitor their activities or get them to use emergency alerts. Getting a fitness tracker for seniors serves to take care of the need to monitor a senior parent while helping them retain their independence.
The data collected by a fitness tracker is easily understood and can help you be your parents’ advocate for their healthcare. You can also see how active they’re being, make sure they’re taking care of themselves, and if you need to be more proactive in helping them with aspects of their lives. The GPS and fall detection helps you respond more quickly to an emergency situation no matter where they happen to be. A fitness tracker offers peace of mind for children of elderly parents.
Best Fitness Trackers for Seniors
The following list covers the best fitness trackers for seniors, their features, and what you can expect from different brands and price points.
Galaxy Watch4 ($199.99)
The Galaxy Watch4 delivers great value in comparison to the number of innovative features it contains. It has GPS fall detection, tracks sleep cycles, and counts steps and does a lot more. It also has an ECG monitor, body composition analysis that includes readings for body fat, skeletal muscle, water retention, and more. It also acts as a smartwatch and can be used for phone calls, notifications, streaming music, and texts. The Galaxy Watch4 also comes in two different watch face sizes. It’s one of the best fitness trackers for seniors due to its comprehensive suite of features.
Apple Watch 7 ($619.99)
The Apple Watch 7 is the most expensive of the group, but it makes sense for seniors whose devices are from the Apple ecosystem. The Apple Watch 7 can take an ECG, measure blood oxygen levels, and has irregular heart rhythm notifications. It also features fall detection and will call emergency services if needed. The phone features a cell phone connection along with GPS location, features that eliminate the need to carry a phone. The watch also contains the expected fitness tracking features, including movement and exertion. It’s also built to resist dust, cracking, and is waterproofed for swimming.
Refurbished watches cost about $300 less than new, and work as well as a brand-new device that’s just out of the box.
Amazfit Bip U Pro ($69.99)
The Amazfit Bip U Pro is a budget-priced fitness tracker that’s loaded with features that are great for a senior’s needs. It has GPS tracking, 60 sport modes, tracks blood oxygen levels, has a sleep monitor, and is waterproof up to 50 meters. It also handles phone calls, alerts, and messages, and can also be used for music. The watch is on the smaller side at 1.43″ square and is lightweight, making it comfortable to wear. In terms of its use, it’s one of the easy fitness trackers for seniors with its bright display and responsiveness. The watch also features Amazon’s Alexa technology, further helping a senior take care of their life.
Fitbit Inspire 2 ($99.95)
The Fitbit Inspire 2 is priced at the lower end of the range, but it’s one of the best Fitbits for seniors because it’s very user-friendly, has a long battery life, and an easy-to-ready display. The battery lasts for 10 days before needing a recharge, tracks activity, and also tracks sleep. The Inspire 2 features a slim design and simple display that’s touch responsive. A wearer can easily tap through the screens to find the data they’re looking for.
The only major drawback to finding the best Fitbit for the elderly is the fact the brand does not include emergency communication on any of its devices. That may change in the future, but it’s still one of the best fitness trackers for seniors due to its low-key profile and comprehensive data collection.
Wyze Smart Watch ($39.98) and Band Fitness Tracker ($32.99)
The Wyze Smart Watch is another affordable fitness tracker that’s great for seniors. Wyze offers both a smart watch and a fitness tracker that are similar to each other, but have different features in key areas. The watch connects to iPhones and Androids to receive smartphone features and functions, but also has the ability to collect blood oxygen levels, heart rate, monitor sleep, and even track sleep position. Wyze’s Smart Watch also connects to the manufacturer’s smart home products, enabling the wearer to see what’s going on at home while they’re out.
The Wyze Band Fitness Tracker is capable of doing many of the same functions as the Smart Watch, but features a slender design and also has Amazon Alexa connectivity. It can control a smart TV, keep the wearer on track for a nighttime routine, and play music. The Band Fitness Tracker connects with iPhones and Androids, and is capable of delivering alerts and notifications to the wearer.
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