Is Fitbit Good for Seniors? Pros & Cons

By Maurice

Fitbit is one of the most popular and trusted brands when it comes to fitness trackers. They tend to be fairly easy to use and are made from high-quality materials, so they’re quite durable. Many athletes—professional and amateur—use these gadgets to keep track of their exercises.

With that said, a Fitbit can also be used by seniors who wish to monitor their heart rates and other elements like sleeping patterns. Some Fitbit trackers even come with other features like monitoring the level of oxygen in the blood, GPS tracking, and storing music.

This article will look at the pros and cons of Fitbits, how suitable they are for seniors, and what to keep in mind when buying one.

Pros & Cons of Fitbit for Seniors

free fitbit for seniors

There are several reasons to want a Fitbit, as well as a few drawbacks to keep in mind. These gadgets can be a little bit expensive, so it’s a good idea to know as much as possible before you commit to buying one.

Here are some of the pros and cons to consider while shopping:

Pros

Impressive Tracking

With a Fitbit, you can track a lot of data quite easily. Users can monitor all their exercise activities, such as how far they’re walking or running, and how fast their heart is beating.

But there’s more to the Fitbit than that. You can also track your sleeping habits for a good understanding of the effect your sleeping has on your health. The quality and length of your sleep can be recorded, and for seniors, this can be important health information.

Additionally, it’s possible to help achieve weight goals when using the Fitbit Food Plan that is available on the gadget’s app. This will log their daily food intake and determine how many calories were eaten. Then, the app will monitor how many calories the user burns a day based on how active they are throughout the day.

Multi-Functional

There are even more features offered by Fitbit gadgets, as surprising as that might be (this explains the price tag!).

Senior folks may want to keep track of their stress management as well as the wellness of their body and mind. Fitbit has an app that can measure and enhance sessions aimed at calmness, including meditation and breathing techniques.

Socialization

Fitbit makes socialization possible on their devices, and this can be a great pleasure for seniors. Family and friends can compete with and motivate each other to maintain healthy lifestyles thanks to the socialization of the app.

Other benefits include the versatility of the Google Assistant, the built-in GPS, the ease of use of the ECG, and the brightness of the screen, which makes it easy to see at all times.

Cons

All things must be balanced, which is why we have to look at the drawbacks of Fitbit trackers as well. Fortunately, there aren’t many.

Tracking Errors

Nothing man-made is perfect, and Fitbit devices can also malfunction. Sometimes, these gadgets can miss tracking information or add inaccurate information that messes up the user’s monitoring.

Connection

To work properly, Fitbit devices must be connected to a computer or smartphone. This can be a hassle for some users.

Tips to Find the Best Fitbit for Your Needs

Fitbit devices can be very useful, but they can also be a bit on the expensive side, so it’s important that you make an informed decision when buying a new one.

The following tips are meant to serve as a little buying guide that will help seniors buy the right Fitbit for their needs that also falls within their budget range.

Keep in mind that not all trackers/devices have the same features and you may pay more for a Fitbit with all the cool features you’re looking for.

Durability

When it comes to technological devices, it’s important that they are made with high-quality materials so they can be durable. No one wants to replace a smart gadget within a few months of purchasing it, after all. However, the more durable the Fitbit, the more expensive it’s going to be.

User-friendliness

It is important that while you’re shopping for a new Fitbit, you take a close look at its interface. The interface must be easy to use or you will have difficulty with the device while you use it. Choose a device that makes visibility easy and is easy for seniors to work with, especially when it comes to the technology it uses.

Comfort

If you are buying a Fitbit to use for daily exercise, you should make sure it’s going to be comfortable to wear for long periods. Fortunately, Fitbits are designed to be wearable, so they’re comfy, in most cases. There may be some models that aren’t as comfortable for you, however, so examine the device before buying it.

Features

The features of Fitbit devices are what make them so popular and admired. They come with fitness trackers, have impressive processors, and have built-in GPS capabilities. The more expensive models have other features as well, like sleep trackers and stress management apps. Consider what features matter to you so you don’t pay for something you won’t use.

Conclusion

Fitbit devices can be quite useful when it’s important for you to track and monitor data during your exercises. Because they’re packed with additional features, these gadgets are quite popular with seniors, though they can be quite expensive. Before buying yours, make sure it has all the features you need and want so you don’t buy a device that won’t meet your requirements.