Fitbit for Seniors: Reviews and Costs
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June 26, 2024
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A Fitbit is a personal smartwatch companion for older adults who want to monitor and track their health habits. What’s more, Fitbit models like the Charge 5 and Fitbit Sense feature advanced features like built-in GPS, stress management, and sleep tracking. For seniors who want to monitor their heart or don’t want to miss important calls, a Fitbit can be a helpful device for accomplishing this, in addition to helping you meet daily health and fitness goals.
In this review, I’ll go over two products I tested: the Fitbit Charge 5 and Fitbit Sense, two of the latest versions of the Fitbit family that track your well-being and heart health.
Pro Tip: Looking for more affordable smartwatches for daily use? Read our guide to senior smartwatches.
Pros and Cons of Fitbit
Fitbit Pros
- Heart rhythm monitoring: You can easily monitor and analyze your heartbeat using the ECG-compatible app on both the Fitbit Sense and Fitbit Charge 5 models. The ECG test measures the activity of your heart and checks for atrial fibrillation. This test is vital for older adults who want to know their heart’s rhythm and monitor the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other heart conditions.
- Extensive health metrics: A Fitbit device makes it easy to track your steps, oxygen levels, and skin temperature directly on your Health Metrics dashboard when you upgrade to a Fitbit Premium membership.
- Sleep tracking: Fitbit devices allow you to monitor your sleep habits for a more restful sleep. All you have to do is wear your Fitbit smartwatch to bed and see the insights in the app when you wake up.
- Voice assistants: Fitbit devices have built-in Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice assistant technology to help you get the information you need right away. Whether you need the current temperature, check an upcoming appointment, or control your smart home devices, you can use your voice to speak into your Fitbit smartwatch.
- Compatibility with Android and iPhones: The Fitbit app is compatible with most smartphones and tablets, including iPhones and Android phones.
- Warranties: Fitbit offers a one-year limited warranty on devices and accessories. It also offers an extended warranty or protection plan that you can purchase after the manufacturer’s warranty expires.
Fitbit Cons
- Premium membership: To access more advanced features, you may need to upgrade to Fitbit premium membership. Additional features include advanced sleep and stress insights, daily readiness scores, and nutrition inspiration. Fitbit memberships start at $9.99 per month or an annual fee of $79.99.
- Affordability: Although Fitbit offers a variety of models, their devices tend to be on the expensive side. For example, the Fitbit Sense starts at $299.95.
Fitbit Smartwatches vs. Trackers
Fitbit offers both smartwatches and health tracker devices for seniors. Fitbit smartwatches are great for older adults who want to monitor their well-being and health. Tracker devices, on the other hand, are great for staying on top of your fitness goals and answering call and text notifications directly from your smartwatch. Both devices help older adults lead healthier lives while being updated about their health on a daily basis.
I’ll go over some of the key features, models, prices, and the ideal scenarios they might be ideal for in the chart below.
FYI: Since Fitbit devices are not outfitted with fall detection, I’d recommend looking into a medical alert with fall detection if you need this feature.
Fitbit Smartwatches for Seniors
| Model | Price | Features | Ideal For |
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| Fitbit Sense | $299.95 |
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Older adults who want to track their sleep habits and health. It’s also great for stress management. |
| Fitbit Versa 3 | $229.95 |
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Older adults who are frequently on the go and enjoy streaming music. |
| Fitbit Versa 2 | $119.95 |
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Seniors who want a hands-free experience and a smartwatch that provides reliable 24/7 heart rate and sleep tracking insights. |
Fitbit Trackers for Seniors
| Model | Price | Features | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fitbit Charge 5 | $179.95 |
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Seniors who want a phone-free experience when they’re on the go and effective stress management tools. |
| Fitbit Luxe | $99.95 |
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Great for seniors who want accurate health metrics to track heart rate, oxygen, and skin temperature. |
| Fitbit Inspire 2 | $99.95 |
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This device is great for older adults who are looking for a user-friendly tracker with longer battery life. |
Using My Fitbit Charge 5
Unboxing
For older adults who are on the go and looking for advanced health smartwatches, the Fitbit Charge 5 comes with several impressive fitness and health features. After unboxing my Fitbit Charge 5, I received three main items:
- A Fitbit Charge 5
- An Infinity band
- A charging cable
Overall, unboxing my Fitbit Charge 5 was easy and took only a few minutes to complete. Once I downloaded the Fitbit app, I was ready to get started on the unique health and fitness features from my device.
Installation
Installing the Fitbit Charge 5 was quite simple, even for a smartwatch beginner like myself. First, I used the magnetic charger to give my Fitbit Charge 5 a full charge. In the meantime, while that was running, I downloaded the Fitbit app on my iPhone. Within the Fitbit app, I clicked on “Set up a device” and added my new Fitbit Charge 5.
Once I successfully paired and set the Fitbit Charge 5, I received a pop-up notification and permission request for turning on Bluetooth. After granting permission, I accepted the “Privacy and Your Fitbit Device” disclaimer. This told me a little bit more about what my particular Fitbit model can do, such as tracking steps and other health metrics such as SpO2. I accepted the terms and tapped on “Charge your Charge 5.”
Then I had some software updates to install. This took about 40 minutes. Once this was complete, I was ready to use my Fitbit Charge 5.
Daily Use
I was pleased with the long-lasting battery life of this device, as a two-hour charge gave me about a week of battery life. I also appreciated the crystal-clear resolution of the touch screen, which is two times brighter than the previous Fitbit Charge 4.
Some of the standout features of this device included getting heart rate metrics through the Fitbit ECG app. This helps check your heart for atrial fibrillation and you can easily share these results with your doctor. Another handy feature was this device’s phone call abilities. With the Fitbit Charge 5, I was able to get instant notifications, such as calls from loved ones, calendar reminders about upcoming appointments, and social media messages from apps like Facebook and WhatsApp, directly to my wristband.
I also liked that I could check my workout progress with a built-in GPS that showed the distance I walked or hiked without using or constantly pulling out my phone. With a flexible infinity band for workouts or daily wear, the Fitbit Charge 5 is a great companion for older adults who want to be in control of their health and fitness habits.
Using My Fitbit Sense
Unboxing
Inside the box for my Fitbit Sense, I found:
- The Fitbit Sense bracelet
- A charging cable
- A 6-month Premium membership trial
From there, I was given a set of instructions on how to set up the device and download the free Fitbit app to use in tandem with the device. I made sure I put the Fitbit Sense on its respective magnetic dock for a full charge. In the meantime, I downloaded the Fitbit app and set up my Premium trial account.
Installation
Installation was just as simple as the other Fitbit models I've tested. Once my Fitbit Sense was fully charged on the magnetic dock, I took it out and placed it on my workstation table. Since I had already downloaded the Fitbit app on my iPhone, it took less time to install and go over the device.
From there, I went into the Fitbit app and clicked on the top left corner of the home screen and clicked on my profile/name. I clicked on “Set Up Device” and added Sense to the list of new devices. Once my iPhone was connected to my Fitbit, the Bluetooth connection was established. I was then prompted to either purchase or decline a Fitbit Protection Plan.
The remaining steps and process was similar to the earlier Fitbit I tested, the Fitbit Charge 5. After I followed the instructions for the remaining installation steps, I was ready to use my device.
Daily Use
I could really see myself using Fitbit Sense on a daily basis. With smart health tools like their skin temperature sensor to over 20 fun exercise modes with real-time stats, the Fitbit Sense is like your personal health and fitness coach. The device is so lightweight and comfortable that I often didn’t even realize I was wearing the Fitbit over my wrist.
I was also impressed that the device is water-resistant—up to 50 meters. So, if I were to drop it in the shower or go swimming, it would still be intact while tracking my movement progress. I appreciated the fact that it took me just 12 minutes to get a full charge for over six days, which is quite impressive.
Along with health and fitness smart features, I liked how this particular device lets you take calls without reaching for your phone when connected to Bluetooth. What’s more, I was able to fold my laundry and enjoy a light yoga session with some soft music playing in the background once I downloaded my Pandora and Spotify apps to my Fitbit Sense.
Keeping track of my sleep cycle was a breeze; I was able to get personalized insights on my REM sleep and obtain a daily Sleep Score through the Fitbit app and on my wrist. The only downside is that in order to get an accurate reading, you’ll have to wear the Fitbit Sense over your wrist every night. This might be uncomfortable for older adults who don’t like to wear a large smartwatch every night. Still, I appreciated the unique features because it helped me figure out how to get better sleep and recognize any patterns that disrupted my sleep.
What’s more, the Fitbit Sense also came equipped with All-Day Daily Tracking. I was able to track the progress I made in relation to the number of steps I climbed getting to work or going for a walk around the park with a friend. It showed the number of calories I burned and whether I was meeting my goals for the day. Overall, I appreciated the user-friendly features of the Fitbit Sense, and especially the built-in voice assistant feature to avoid pulling out my smartphone every time I wanted to see a text alert or check my appointments.
For seniors who want contactless payment options, answer calls through their wrist, or simply want a smart device to help them track the number of steps they’re taking per day — the Fitbit Sense is a great option.
Bottom Line
Overall, Fitbit has many smart features that make it a great choice for helping older adults stay on top of their health, sleep, and fitness goals. Although the wristband might be tiresome or tedious for some seniors to wear at night or on a daily basis, it can be easily adjusted or swapped out for another band. What’s more, a Fitbit provides helpful health insights such as heart rate, sleep habits, SpO2, and location just by tapping your screen.
While the high price points or opting for Premium membership to access more advanced features might deter some older adults from purchasing a Fitbit — it’s still well worth the technology. Unique features such as stress management, exercise tracking, and sleep tracking and other health and fitness tools prove to be a main selling point for the Fitbit.
If you’re concerned about your sleep habits, or need some nutrition or wellness inspiration to stay motivated, then I’d recommend getting the Fitbit Charge 5 or Fitbit Sense. These devices can also be a great alternative for seniors who want to easily navigate and check their messages instantly just by looking at their wrist instead of taking out their smartphone.
I’d recommend Fitbit for:
- Sleep Tracking: With my Fitbit devices, I was able to get personalized sleep insights and a Sleep Score that helped me better understand ways to get a better night’s sleep. What’s more, I was able to find out if I was snoring or if there was an ambient sound that might have prevented me from getting good quality sleep for the night.
- Water-resistant: If you enjoy swimming or forget to remove your smartwatch when you’re in the shower, you can rest assured that your Fitbit device is water-resistant up to 50 meters. This means you can track laps in the pool or wear it when you’re going swimming at the beach without the device getting damaged.
- Long battery life: I appreciated the long battery life of the Fitbit devices I tried on. I was able to go without charging my Fitbit for over six days. This was great because I didn’t have to charge it often like my smartphone, which requires daily charging.
- Accurate health metrics: It was great receiving real-time health metrics on heart rate, skin temperature, and other neat features that I could easily share with my physician. I was amazed at the device’s level of accuracy and ability to track SpO2, or the level of oxygen in my blood simply by wearing the smartwatch on my wrist on a daily basis.
I wouldn’t recommend Fitbit for:
- Affordability: Fitbit is a competitor of Apple Watch and other smartwatches on the market. It’s also on the higher end of the spectrum in terms of pricing, with the new Fitbit Sense priced at $299.95. I’d recommend looking at Medical Guardian smartwatches or Medical Alert Systems with Bluetooth features if you’re looking for advanced monitoring and an affordable price range.
- Compatibility: When you receive a text message on your Fitbit, you can only send outgoing “Quick Replies” if your device is paired to an Android phone. If you have an iPhone, you may not be able to take advantage of this feature.
Fitbit Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the easiest Fitbit for seniors?
Fitbit Inspire 2 is a great device for seniors. It’s user-friendly and features 24/7 heart rate monitoring and up to 10 days of battery life.
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Is a Fitbit covered by Medicare?
Original Medicare does not cover medical alert systems, but you might want to inquire about Medicare Advantage plans. They might provide coverage for certain tracking or medical alert devices.
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What is the best fitness tracker for seniors?
There are several fitness trackers on the market for older adults. You might want to look into a variety of Fitbit models such as the Fitbit Sense or the Apple Watch.
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Does any Fitbit have fall detection?
No, Fitbit does not have fall detection.
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Does Fitbit have a medical alert system?
Fitbit devices do not have a medical alert system.
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Can you call 911 on your Fitbit?
There are some smartwatches that allow you to contact 911. You may be able to do so if your device has built-in voice assistant and Bluetooth connectivity.