Old age is plagued with seniors suffering from a host of disorders. However, by leading a healthy lifestyle, you can prevent illnesses. And if you’re planning on pursuing a regular exercise regime, pedometers or step counter are available as motivating tools to help you achieve your fitness-related goals. You can choose to wear these devices all day long or only when going for a walk. They help to track your heart rate and the number of calories you burn while exercising.
Fitness trackers perform a host of various functions. These include tracking sleep, monitoring heart rate, and counting burnt calories. All this, with their simple-to-use features and without being obtrusive. So, they are ideal for seniors who’re looking to monitor their health parameters, but without them having to deal with one more piece of complex technology.
As per a study conducted by JAMA Internal Medicine, you must take minimum 10,000 steps per day to remain active and, in turn, improve your health. To achieve this goal, a fitness tracker comes handy.
To count your steps, you have to wear smartwatches or fitness trackers on your wrist. However, to make the right choice in these devices, the Consumer Reports’ test advises on considering the following aspects.
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Best 7 Fitness & Activity Trackers for Seniors
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1. Garmin vívofit Fitness Band
Garmin vívofit Fitness Band is a long-lasting fitness and activity tracker that can be used by seniors and teenagers alike. Garmin vívofit Fitness Band comes fitted with a powerful battery that should last at least a year even if you are using it 24×7. This fitness band will track your health even when you are sleeping. Before going to bed, all you have to do is to change the Mode to – Sleep and it will automatically track – hours of sleep, movements, and more. Since this fitness tracker is 100% waterproof, you don’t have to take it off every time you take a shower which is quite convenient.
Garmin vívofit Fitness Band will inspire you to stay active. It will automatically track and alert you if you stay stationary for more than an hour. A Red Move Bar will start flashing on the screen. Additionally, 15 minutes of inactivity can trigger another series of alerts. Now, if you want to customize the alert system, you will have to walk a few steps.
Garmin vívofit Fitness Band sports a cool and stylish finish. It is comfortable to wear for long hours. Garmin vívofit Fitness Band monitors your activity levels closely for a few days and then it will come up with a personalized fitness goal every morning to keep you inspired. It will you know how many calories you have burnt after participating in a specific physical activity. It also monitors your heart rate.
2. Fitbit Charge HR Wireless Activity Wristband
Fitbit Charge HR Wireless Activity Wristband is another reliable activity tracker that can be donned by elderly people to stay fit and active. Fitbit Charge HR Wireless Activity Wristband tracks almost everything like – total distance covered, total calories burnt, number of steps you have climbed, and more. If you wish you can get Fitbit Charge HR Wireless Activity Wristband connected to your PC or smartphone.
Fitbit Charge HR Wireless Activity Wristband will monitor every single heartbeat with meticulous efficiency. You will get to know how many calories you have burnt so far and whether or not, you need to make any changes in your exercise routine to meet your fitness goal. Don’t forget to turn on the Exercise Mode to track workouts and once it is done, you check every single detail of that workout session on your smartphone. Get it synched with your phone and you will be able to see notifications right on this Fitbit Charge HR Wireless Activity Wristband given the smartphone is nearby.
3. Samsung Galaxy Fit E 2019 Fitness Band
Samsung Galaxy Fit E 2019 Fitness Band is a highly reliable fitness tracker that encourages elderly people to become active. This Samsung Galaxy Fit E 2019 Fitness Band is highly resistant to vibration and solar radiation. Its water-resistant interface makes it ideal for outdoor use. Bright AMOLED Display makes it easy to read. It comes loaded with a powerful battery that can outlast your extensive workout sessions. The best thing about this Samsung Galaxy Fit E 2019 Fitness Band is that you would not have to deal with those annoying disruptive battery discharge. With this Fitness Tracker, you will be able to customize your fitness goal. Samsung Galaxy Fit E 2019 Fitness Band is extremely durable and can even withstand thermal shock with meticulous ease and perfection.
4. Huawei Band 4 Pro – Smart Band Fitness Tracker
Huawei Band 4 Pro – Smart Band Fitness Tracker features a bright and intuitive AMOLED touch screen. Huawei Band 4 Pro – Smart Band Fitness Tracker is ideal for those who are suffering from heart diseases. Powered by its AI algorithm and powerful processing chips, it will be able to monitor your heart beats fairly accurately. If your heart starts beating faster than the set limit, it will alert you immediately making it vibrate incessantly. It can even track your sleeping pattern and that too without causing any disturbance. It can even monitor Blood oxygen saturation in your blood that might come handy if you develop any ailment.
Huawei Band 4 Pro – Smart Band Fitness Tracker comes standard with a powerful Built-in GPS. You will be able to view how much you have traveled or how many meters you have run after analyzing the GPS data later. Looking for sports guidance from a true professional? Well, you don’t have to approach a sporting Guru anymore because Huawei Band 4 Pro – Smart Band Fitness Tracker comes fitted with an algorithm developed by FIRSTBEAT that guide you through issues like training effects, recovery time, etc. Huawei Band 4 Pro – Smart Band Fitness Tracker can track your sleeping pattern and all four stages of the sleep. You will get recommendations from this fitness and activity tracker to sleep better.
5. MorePro Blood Oxygen SpO2 Fitness Activity Tracker
MorePro Blood Oxygen SpO2 Fitness Activity Tracker allows you to have a close look at your heart anytime you want. All you have to do is to put your finger on the sensors for 30 seconds and it will display the result almost instantaneously. It has got a slim look but its HD screen makes reading texts easy. 1.14-inch IPS Color Screen lets you see notifications in the sun and you can always make changes in the brightness settings. MorePro Blood Oxygen SpO2 Fitness Activity Tracker is waterproof and that means, you don’t have to take it off while participating in water sports. You can use the sleeping monitor to track daytime sleep. It tracks your blood pressure and heart rates. Try in-app reports to get a clear picture of your health. The battery of MorePro Blood Oxygen SpO2 Fitness Activity Tracker boasts long battery life and when charged fully, it can last for 5 days at a stretch. It is compatible with all smartphones under the sun. It even allows you to share your health record with your friends and family members.
6. YoYoFit Fitness Tracker
YoYoFit Fitness Tracker has got two different modes – Static and Dynamic modes to track your heart rate. Make changes in your workout routine by measuring and analyzing the oxygen level in your blood and blood pressure. YoYoFit Fitness Tracker is powerful enough to track every single step, calories burnt, distance covered, and more. It comes fitted with a built-in 3D sensor and GPS. You can get this fitness tracker connected with your phone to get a clear view of the tracking trajectory. It has got 4 different sports modes like – climbing, cycling, running, and walking. To charge it, you just first need to pull off the band, and then you will charge it via a USB charger. YoYoFit Fitness Tracker flaunts an ergonomic design and it is extremely lightweight too. When synced with your phone, you will get SMS notifications and call alerts in it which is convenient for all of us.
7. Willful Fitness Tracker
Willful Fitness Tracker has got 14 different training modes to suit the needs of different people. It is powerful enough to accurately track details like –
- How many calories you have burnt so far?
- How many miles you have walked?
- How many steps you have climbed etc.?
Equipped with an HR sensor, it can accurately calculate heart rate. It breaks down sleep into three segments – awake time, light sleep, and deep sleep and then monitors your sleeping pattern based on these segments. Willful Fitness Tracker is completely waterproof and that means, you can keep this on your arm while swimming or taking a bath. 0.96-inch LCD color screen offers clear views and making reading texts a treat. The battery of Willful Fitness Tracker is powerful enough to last long. It sends alerts if it finds you spending time stilling ideal and doing nothing. Once charged, you will 7 days of working time.
Tracker Or Watch: Which To Choose?
If you’re wondering whether to opt for a tracker or smartwatch, then you must consider the different aspects of both gadgets. The wearables should be able to count steps, monitor heart rate and pace, and send alerts when you receive emails and text messages. Some watch models can also make payments via a cash register.
Best Fitness & Activity Trackers for Seniors – Buying Guide
If you require help in choosing fitness trackers for seniors, the following considerations may come handy.
1. Heart Rate Monitor
You can avail trackers that are wearable on the wrist and monitor your heart rate. Heart rate monitors are helpful to control the intensity of your workouts. Elderly individuals are not advised to overexert themselves and take intervals between bursts of activity. The monitor issues notifications when to stop.
2. Tracking Sleep
Fitness trackers are designed to track sleep. Many seniors do not rest enough. And this function can help to record whether they are well rested or not and the hours they have rested for.
Many seniors also suffer from sleep apnea, so they may consider buying a mouthguard or sleep apnea pillow.
3. Display Size
One of the most common problems that seniors suffer from is vision troubles. Due to farsightedness, carrying around a small screen all day long serves no purpose for them. Instead, they must go with the bigger display screens for easy reading.
4. Easy-to-Use and Portability
Normally, the easy-to-use feature is given importance when designing fitness devices. Hence, a host of such trackers are available in wrist or band designs while the rest only have to be strapped on or clipped on to your dress rather than carrying them around all day.
5. Long Battery Life
Most activity trackers are gadgets that do not have long battery life. So, users are left wanting for more. As such, the general recommendation when shopping for fitness trackers for seniors is efficient battery life. So, make sure that the fitness tracker you’re choosing for your loved one does not run out of battery soon and require charging at frequent intervals – to get value for your investment in such gadgets that is.
6. Durability
Seniors who are above the age of 50 years tend to have accidents periodically. And during such accidents, their gadgets get damaged. However, if you go with durable trackers, the possibility of them getting damaged is far less.
Plus, the devices must come with removable and replaceable parts (like the frame). Then, you can only replace the damaged portions and save on expenses.
7. Water Resistance
The water-resistant qualities of fitness trackers make for an important consideration – especially, in the case of seniors. This is because some elderly persons suffer from memory problems and can go for a shower while forgetting to remove their fitness trackers. And as a result of water seeping in, their devices could start malfunctioning.
Apart from that, you want an added assurance that your gadget will continue working if you accidentally spill water over them and not have to visit the repair shop often. So, always opt for durable fitness trackers.
