Generally speaking, elderly people have lower oxygen saturation levels than younger adults.
Therefore, they have to monitor blood oxygen levels closely to avoid potential issues that might become a problem. Having a doctor keep track of your oxygen saturation is important.
Moreover, it’s advisable to have an at-home pulse oximeter, so you can always be aware of your health.
The market for such devices is greater than ever, and it can be difficult to choose the right one for you. We’ve reviewed the best pulse oximeter for the elderly to help you choose your best option.
Comparison Chart
Wellue Fingertip Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor with Alarm, Batteries, Carry Bag & Lanyard for Wellness Use PC-60FW Bluetooth
Pulse Oximeter Fingertip – Lovia Automatic Digital Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor for Pulse Rate and SpO2 Level, LED Display Oximeter & Heart Rate Monitor
Finger Pulse Oximeter Fingertip, Portable Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor for Heart Rate and SpO2 Level, Pulse Ox,Oximetro, O2 Monitor Finger for Oxygen,(Purple)
Best Pulse Oximeter for Elderly Reviews
Wellue Overnight Oxygen Saturation Tracker
One problem with pulse oximeters is that your hands have to be warm enough to get the results. Also, if you’ve got thinner fingers, the unit might not be able to give you the numbers.
To address these issues, Wellue has gone a step further and manufactured a pulse oximeter you can place on your finger. Appearance-wise, it looks very high-tech and modern.
Plus, unlike some other ring pulse oximeters, this one doesn’t have any annoying cables.
This Wellue ring is significantly more expensive than other pulse oximeters for the elderly. That said, the price is justified by its innovative functions.
You can wear this device all day or night to monitor your heart rate and oxygen saturation. The battery will last for up to 14 hours with continuous use. And when it’s dead, it just takes two hours for it to recharge fully.
This tracker also has an app both for Android and iOS users, which has different options. It can give you a graphic representation of your results.
What’s more, it can show you the history of your previous results or display real-time oxygen levels. This is useful because you can take the readings to your doctor’s.
If your oxygen levels are too low, the ring will vibrate and send a notification to your app. And if you’re wearing it at night, the vibration will gently wake you up.
That said, it also helps bring up your oxygen levels to allow you to breathe normally. Similarly, if there are issues with your heart rate, you can also set up the ring to notify you of this. But don’t worry, you can choose how strong you want the unit to vibrate.
For people with sleep apnea, the alarm function is excellent; their oxygen levels can drop down, especially if they tend to sleep on their backs. By wearing this handy unit, they’ll be alarmed if anything untoward occurs.
In a nutshell, although it’s an expensive product, this Wellue ring has unique features and is, therefore, excellent value for money.
Pros
- Innovative design
- Has an app
- Alarm system
- Good battery life
Cons
- Doesn’t work well in direct sunlight
- Expensive
Facelake® FL400 Pulse Oximeter with Carrying Case
This pulse oximeter is one of the cheaper models on the market. It comes with a case so you can take it with you even when you’re traveling.
It works by inserting your finger inside the device. There is an ‘On’ button, which you should press and then wait for the unit to calibrate.
Since there aren’t many other annoying buttons, it’s user-friendly and great for the elderly. Within a couple of seconds, your heart rate and oxygen level results will be displayed on the screen.
However, some users have complained of the difficulty of seeing the results because the display is upside down. This can be a problem, especially if you’re used to measuring your oxygen levels on your own.
But if your wrists and fingers are still quite flexible, this won’t be an issue. You just need to turn your hand and bend a finger which is inserted into the device. That way, you’ll be able to see the numbers clearly.
The accuracy and reliability of this unit are good: it gives a standard deviation of ± 2%. Because of that, it’s a much-needed device for every older person.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- User-friendly
- Good readings
Cons
- Upside-down display
Lovia Pulse Oximeter Fingertip
This compact, lightweight pulse oximeter is one of the fastest on the market. It gives you your heart rate, pulse strength, and oxygen saturation levels within eight seconds. These are displayed on a big LED screen, which works great in a bright environment, too.
The numbers are large and red, which is great for older people who have problems with their sight. Furthermore, you can press the button to rotate the results and read them in landscape mode if that’s easier for you.
Another practical feature of this product is that it’s got a low battery indicator. This is a handy function as you can buy spare batteries in advance and have them on hand.
What’s more, the battery life is fantastic. The device can run continuously for up to 30 hours. The unit also shuts off on its own if there isn’t any activity for a couple of seconds, preserving the battery life.
Since it comes with a strap, you don’t have to worry about losing this device. That said, you can always carry it with you, just in case you need to measure your oxygen levels.
When using the device, keep in mind that the manual says it’s accurate within a 95%-100% range for oxygen saturation.
Pros
- Excellent battery life
- Big LED screen
- Low-battery indicator
- Automatic shut-off function
Cons
Hard to remove the battery case
Amemo Finger Pulse Oximeter Fingertip
If you’re looking for an FDA and CE unit that’s inexpensive, then this Amemo pulse oximeter is the right choice; it’s one of the most budget-friendly options out there. It comes in a fun purple color and is said to measure your oxygen level and heart rate within 5-8 seconds.
The finger chamber is suitable for various finger sizes, and we know how bothersome it can be when it’s either too big or too small.
Luckily, this one is suitable for everybody. The big display shows the numbers clearly. Therefore, you won’t have any issues seeing them. Plus, it works amazingly in direct sunlight, which can sometimes be an issue for pulse oximeters.
The unit has an alarm, which will notify you if your blood oxygen levels or heart rate are lower than usual. It also shows a plethysmograph that tracks potential changes in your blood volume.
In addition to having heart rate and oxygen levels on the screen, this is also an important function, which helps you monitor your overall health.
The manufacturer states there’s a standard ± 2% deviation of accuracy, which is pretty normal for at-home pulse oximeters. Finally, this pulse oximeter is backed up with a 2-year warranty, which isn’t typical for these kinds of units; generally, they have a 1-year warranty.
Pros
- FDA and CE approved
- Budget-friendly
- Gives results fast
- Has a 2-year warranty
Cons
- Heart rate results can be inconsistent
- Doesn’t have a two-direction display
Innovo Deluxe iP900AP Fingertip Pulse Oximeter
Older adults looking to purchase an inexpensive pulse oximeter with almost clinical accuracy should consider this Innovo Deluxe device. You can use it immediately because it comes pre-packed with batteries.
The finger chamber is very soft, unlike with some other units; this makes it an overall very comfortable unit. It’s also made of high-quality silicone, which prevents any potential allergies.
Within five seconds, you get results on a large screen. And we know how it’s important for the elderly to have a pulse oximeter with a big display.
Moreover, it’s multidirectional, allowing you to read the results in six different modes. Rotate them to the left, right, or upside down if someone else needs to read the numbers, too.
In addition to showing heart rate and oxygen levels with precision, this unit has a plethysmograph. This allows you to have a visual representation of your heartbeat, which if consistent, means everything is great with your blood flow.
There are also alarm and auditory functions. You can set them up to warn you if your readings are too low. Finally, the device feels sturdy and reliable, as it’s made of good-quality materials.
Pros
- Soft and hypoallergenic finger chamber
- Reliable and good-quality
- Multifunctional display
- Has plethysmograph
Cons
- Possible malfunctions after a couple of months
Final Verdict
As you get older and start experiencing issues with your oxygen levels, you should keep track of any changes. This will put your mind at ease and help you monitor your health closely.
And with at-home pulse oximeters, you can even do this on your own.
As you may have realized, there are many devices on the market, each with its own unique features.
In our opinion, the best pulse oximeter for the elderly has to be Wellue Overnight Oxygen Saturation Tracker. Although it’s high-priced, the excellent features such as an app and vibration mode make it worthwhile. Plus, you can wear it on your finger at all times.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for something more affordable, consider getting a Lovia Pulse Oximeter Fingertip. It’s got an excellent battery life and displays your oxygen level, and heart rate on a big LED screen in less than 10 seconds.