- In-depth health tracking
- Automatic fall detection
- Incident detection
- 7-day battery life
- Sleep tracking
- Amazon Alexa built in
Bottom line: Apple Watch 5 tracks heart rate and more
The Apple Watch 5 is a heart monitor, calorie and step counter, sleep tracker, time-teller, and loved-ones-caller—all in one wrist-sized device. If you can measure it, Apple Watch 5 can probably track it. And while the newest Apple Watch will take a bite out of your wallet, its features are pretty sweet.
This device is part smartwatch and part fitness tracker. If you want a simple way to track your health or help a loved one do the same, it’s a versatile and high-tech choice.
Best heart rate monitors for seniors
Compare heart rate monitors
| Price |
| Battery life |
| Step counter |
| GPS tracker |
| Waterproof |
| Calls emergency contacts |
| Interchangeable watch bands |
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Best overall
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Best for step counting
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Best for all ages
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Budget pick
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| Apple Watch 5 | Garmin Forerunner 35 | Fitbit Versa 2 | Letscom Smartwatch |
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| $429.00 | $99.00 | $199.95 | $35.99 |
| 18 hours | 7 days | 6 days | 10 days |
| Yes ✓ |
Yes ✓ |
Yes ✓ |
Yes ✓ |
| Yes ✓ |
Yes ✓ |
Yes ✓ |
Yes ✓ |
| Yes ✓ |
Yes ✓ |
Yes ✓ |
Yes ✓ |
| Yes ✓ |
Yes ✓ |
No X |
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| Yes ✓ |
No X |
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No X |
| View on Best Buy | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
Info current as of 07/10/20. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Amazon.com price as of 07/10/2020 at 3:14 p.m. (MT). Read full disclaimer.
Our approach
Your heart rate is an indicator of your overall fitness and cardiovascular health. As we age, our chances of heart attack, stroke, coronary disease, and heart failure increase.1 So we picked fitness trackers and heart monitors with features that make tracking heart rate easy (and even fun) for seniors.
Qualities like large displays, messaging, comfortable or interchangeable bands, and expanded health-tracking capabilities were all at the top of our list.
We also browsed through consumer reviewers and expert opinions. Accurate readings, pricing, consumer interest, and smart tech capabilities were other qualities we put under the magnifying glass. To find out more about how we select our best picks, take a look at our methodology.
Heart monitor for seniors reviews
While these aren’t the only heart rate monitors we looked at, these are our favorites. We’ve also included additional monitors that didn’t make it into the ranking—take a peek to see if they meet your needs.
Apple Watch 5
Whether you’re watching your heart rate for fitness or medical reasons, the Apple Watch 5 provides straightforward and accurate heart reporting. In addition to resting heart rate readings and sedentary alerts (reminders to move around), it can track sleep quality and dietary data.
Its large screen makes all this information easy to read. The display is also customizable, so you can make sure your screen layout works for you. To change the screen and make adjustments, just swipe on the watch face. There aren’t any buttons to fiddle with, making it easier to control for anyone with arthritis or stiff hands.
Our favorite senior-friendly feature is its automatic fall detection, a feature typically found in medical alert systems. We didn’t see this feature in any other fitness tracker or heart monitor we researched. If you fall at home or while out on a walk and can’t get up, the Apple Watch 5 will notice and call one of your emergency contacts. You can speak to the contact directly from the watch to get help.
Unfortunately, all these cool features don’t come cheap. The Apple Watch 5 is expensive (over $300). Compared to the other heart monitors on our list, it’s more expensive and runs out its battery in 18 hours. That said, it’s a pretty cool gadget with tons of health-focused apps and features.
Pros
- Automatic fall detection
- Variety of health-focused apps
- Calling and messaging
Cons
- Expensive
- Short battery life
Garmin Forerunner 35: Best for step counting
Whatever your step goal, having a step counter can make your exercise much more fun. The Garmin Forerunner 35 is our pick for heart rate monitors that count steps. It shows your steps, heart rate, and time on a large, clear screen and has several different sport modes (looking at you, swimmers and cyclists).
But our favorite feature of the Forerunner is the incident detection and assistance failures feature that acts as a panic button. If you find yourself injured or in need of help, you can send your location to an emergency contact from your Garmin heart rate monitor.
While it’s not a replacement for a medical alert system, it’s a good choice if you’re wanting more activity-focused features.
About step count
Pros
- Panic button
- 7-day battery life
- Step and activity tracker
Cons
- No health apps
- Cannot respond to messages
Fitbit Versa 2: Best for all ages
For almost a decade, Fitbit has been the name in fitness trackers. It’s a great pick for people of any age and fitness level to monitor their vitals and activity levels.
While the company has several choices of devices, we picked the Fitbit Versa 2 because of its large screen and health monitoring. It tracks sleep, steps, calories burned, heart rate, and has a sedentary reminder to keep you moving.
The Fitbit Versa 2 doesn’t have an emergency call button or fall detection like our top two choices, but it’s still feature rich. Like the Apple Watch 5, you can connect it to your phone. So you can call your spouse with the grocery list while you’re out on a walk.
Its built-in Alexa assistant can also connect to your home devices, set timers, and walk you through workouts when you download activities and skills.
You can even connect Fitbit Pay to your debit card and pay for things by tapping the watch (and impress the grandkids at the same time).
The Fitbit Versa 2 has a six-day battery life, but we recommend charging it every couple of days to keep it going.
Also check out: Fitbit Charge 4
Pros
- Built-in Amazon Alexa
- Interchangeable bands
- Large screen
Cons
- Pricey
- No emergency contacts
Letscom Smart Watch: Budget pick
Let’s face it. A lot of these heart rate monitors and fitness trackers aren’t exactly cheap. That’s why we included the Letscom smartwatch. As one user said, she was looking for “champagne on a beer budget” and found it in the Letscom Smart Watch.
At under $50, it’s super affordable and a great starter device for anyone beginning a fitness routine or tracking their heart rate. (It’s never too late to get started, right?)
The Letscom Smart Watch has a large text screen with simple icons and controls, and not too many extras to get in the way of health tracking. Like the big brands, it tracks your heart rate, calories, and steps, and sleep patterns to give you a clear picture of your total state of health.
You can program different activity modes based on what kind of exercise you’re doing. Plus, it connects with Bluetooth headphones so you can play some tunes to get you moving.
As far as messaging goes, it’s more of a pager than anything. You’ll get alerts that you’ve received messages like texts to your phone, but you won’t be able to respond. If you can’t get to your phone, this may be an issue.
Pros
- Under $50
- Large screen with simple icons
- Plays music
Cons
- No messaging or emergency features
Other Heart Monitors to Consider
If you want a standalone heart monitor, you don’t need to wade through piles of activity and fitness trackers to find one. We chose a few of our favorite heart monitors designed with medical monitoring in mind.
AliveCor Kardia Mobile
The AliveCor Kardia is a pint-sized EKG device that monitors your heart rate. To get your measurements, hold the device between your fingers and thumbs. You should get a reading within 30 seconds.
The device itself is screenless, so you’ll have to download the app to your mobile device. But from your phone, you’ll be able to see a personal six-lead EKG that will let you know how your heart’s doing. If you have an irregular heartbeat or heart issues, information like this can help inform your doctor about treatments to help you stay healthy.
Polar H10 Heart Rate Monitor Chest Strap
If you want more accurate fitness-based heart rate readings, consider the Polar H10. This chest strap attaches directly to your chest (just under your heart) and uses electrical signals to read your heartbeat.
It connects to health and fitness apps like Fitbit and can provide you with in-depth data about your workouts or daily activity. The only issue is it may take awhile to get used to because of its placement, but you can expect accurate readings from this device.
SonoHealth Portable EKG heart rate monitor
SonoHealth’s portable heart rate monitor takes EKG and ECG readings. It’s a pocket-sized device that you can press to your chest, legs, hands, or wrists to get measurements almost instantly.
You can sync it to your phone to keep a record of all these measurements to help with detecting arrhythmias and other heart issues. Much like the Kardia, these readings can help your doctor improve your treatments for heart health.
Final word on heart monitors for seniors
Heart health is crucial to living a long healthy life. Even if you’re over 65, it’s never too late to take the steps towards improving your heart. Heart monitors come with fitness trackers that count your steps along with your heartbeat or as medical-grade EKG or ECG monitors.
If you’re currently experiencing heart problems or have heart disease, consult your doctor before starting any new habits.
Heart monitors for seniors FAQ
What’s the difference between a fitness tracker and a heart monitor?
It all comes down to specialization. Both devices can measure your heartbeat, but fitness trackers measure other things like your step count, calories, and even sleep patterns. Heart monitors can be fitness trackers or medical devices with in-depth EKG or ECG readings.
What is the standard resting heart rate?
The standard target heart rate varies as we age. When exercising at 50% to 85% intensity, 60-year-olds should have a target heart rate of 80 to 136 beats per minute (BPM). People who are 65 should have a target heart rate of 78 to 132, and those in their 70s should aim for 75 to 128 BPM.4
What are the different types of heart monitors?
Home heart rate monitors come in two styles: classic chest strap or wristband tracker. Chest straps use an electrical pulse to read your heart rate, while wristbands use optical technology.
Although wristband monitors are the most popular choice, chest straps offer more accurate continuous heart rate information. However, they tend to be expensive and less comfortable. We recommend a wristband heart monitor for aging adults since they’ll be more comfortable to wear all day.
Sources
- National Institute on Aging, “Heart Health and Aging” Accessed July 10, 2020.
- Harvard Health Publishing, “ Do You Really Need to Take 10,000 Steps a Day for Better Health?”Published November 2019. Accessed July 10, 2020.
- American Heart Association, “All About Heart Rate (Pulse)” Published July 2015. Accessed July 10, 2020.
- Markus MacGill, Medical News Today, “What Should My Heart Rate Be?”, Written November 2017. Accessed July 10, 2020.
Disclaimer
*Amazon.com list price as of 07/10/2020 3:59 (MT). Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
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