According to the Journal of JMIR Mhealth U health, “Exercise trackers encourage Physical Activity, which is suitable for older persons since it protects against aging-related ailments (e.g., heart rate).”

“We investigated the variables that support and prevent long-term activity tracker usage using the transtheoretical paradigm of behavior change, with an emphasis on the maintenance stage and relapsing. We saw the use of activity trackers as a healthy health habit.”

The Role of Staying Physically Active for The Elderly

Age-related declines in physical activity increase the risk of chronic illness, falling, functional impairment, and loss of independence. Physical activity is a preventive factor for noncommunicable conditions, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, and some cancers.              

Physical activity is also linked to better mental health, a delay in the onset of dementia, enhanced quality of life, and overall well-being. Physical activity has well-established health benefits. Higher levels and more frequent physical activity have been linked to lowered risk and better health in several crucial areas. 

Why Is It Important To Track Elderly Activities?

According to Academic and Industry Research, activity trackers have been found to improve physical activity through continuous monitoring of activity progress, motivating messaging, social support, and many other empirically tested behavioral change strategies.

Activity trackers are a terrific way to monitor your fitness and other aspects of your lifestyle. These fantastic devices are gaining popularity among fitness enthusiasts and athletes, but elders may also benefit from them. Fitness trackers are a great technique to help people age gracefully while also keeping seniors healthy and active. Over the past ten years, activity trackers have become increasingly popular; now, most individuals wear one every day.

Given how well fitness trackers have assisted people in increasing their activity levels, it is easy to understand their popularity. It is crucial for the elderly to maintain a good level of physical activity to reduce the chance of developing chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes, stroke, and obesity.

Elderly Activity Trackers

Smartwatches and fitness trackers are two examples of wearable technology becoming more widely used to motivate people to achieve their health objectives. Mobile trackers may alert users when they have been inactive for too long, check heart rates, and keep track of how well they slept. The options include the following:

  •   Health Monitoring for Seniors

Several fitness tracker manufacturers are available, and each offers varying levels of tracking. Some are created with the health of older folks in mind. These senior-focused monitors can notify caregivers of unexpected or frightening shifts in inactivity, improving the quality of in-home care provided to seniors.

Health Monitoring for Seniors with activity trackers

  •       Sleep Tracking

According to a study, sleep appears to have a significant influence on both physical and mental health. Numerous fitness trackers can measure your sleep and provide information on when you went to bed, when you woke up, how often you woke up during the night, and how long you spent in deep sleep.

  •   Motivation from a Group

Fitness trackers are inherently personal, but they also have a social dynamic in which users of the same tracker brand compete against one another for the number of steps walked in a specific time or the number of calories burned over a week. This group motivation benefit can motivate seniors to stay more active.

Why Use Activity Trackers For Elderly Activity Monitoring?

  •       Enhances eating, sleeping, and other behaviors. Seniors may measure much more than just physical activity using sophisticated activity monitoring systems for elderly care. Many versions have a heart monitor feature that may display how physical activity affects heart rate. The amount and quality of sleep your loved one gets are also measured via trackers. Others can assist users with tracking calories, water intake and additional items.

  •       Tracks development throughout time. Seniors may review their accomplishments and evaluate how they've developed since fitness trackers for seniors store your data and offer progress reports. Seniors may find this a significant motivator to keep going and create new objectives.

  •       It drives people to exercise. A wearable fitness tracker for seniors has the beautiful ability to make exercise into a game. Seniors can attempt to improve daily on their "score." If other family members use trackers, it can become competitive.

Setting and Tracking of Goals

Activity trackers may meet you where you are by customizing your goals and tracking your progress toward achieving them. Additionally, because senior fitness trackers record data, seniors may review their accomplishments and see how far they've come. That might be a strong motivation for elders to continue and set new objectives.

Self-Accountability

Fitness trackers maintain tabs on your advancement against your most potent foe: you. By providing you with messages, they encourage you to work out more today than yesterday, increase your calorie goals, or walk another mile. Seniors may be able to live independently for a more extended period by gradually increasing their fitness goals in the long run.

Inspiring Physical Activity

Research in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health states that even without specific feedback, employing the best activity trackers for the elderly can favor nursing home residents' physical activity behavior.

Inspiring Physical Activity in Elderly

Several investigations have shown that in this aspect that interventions to encourage walking, such as activity monitors, can enhance physical activity behavior in elderly and inactive community residents.

Conclusion

Therefore, a good activity tracker should have all the above-mentioned features. To choose the best, you should:

Think about pricing and features: The wearables we evaluate measure steps, monitor behaviors like heart rate and pace, and alert you to messages and emails. Smartwatches and specific trackers also do these things. 

Effortless Use: You ought to consider how easy it is to use the product. Search for devices with good ratings for comfort, ease of use, and simply to navigate the menu and apps, use tracking features, calendars, messaging, and screen readability. 

It should use smartphone technology to give family members and caregivers the information they need without jeopardizing the loved one's care or well-being. By monitoring vital signs and necessary activities, it should have an early warning system for any future health issues in seniors. If something goes wrong, the system alerts specialists or the client's family so that prompt care can be given.