According to current research findings, regularly weighing yourself can help you maintain a healthy weight or keep up with your weight loss goals.
But, maintaining a healthy weight becomes even more challenging with advanced age. With the above in mind, getting a suitable bathroom scale for your elderly loved one makes a lot of sense.
However, given the wide selection of bathroom scales available and the unique needs of seniors, choosing the correct scale can be pretty challenging.
So, we created this detailed guide to the best bathroom scales for seniors to help you with this daunting task.
Top 3 Things to Know About Bathroom Scales for Older Adults
- Look for large, wide platforms that are flat on the ground for better balance and stability.
- Other helpful options include large displays with bold, easy-to-read numbers and a talking feature.
- Our top pick is this Taylor Electronic Talking Scale because it has a large easy-to-read display, a stable base, and the talking feature.
Why Might Older Adults Need A Special Bathroom Scale?
Weight Management Issues
One of the main reasons why older adults need to own and use bathroom accessories like bathroom scales is because weight management becomes a more significant challenge with advanced age.
For instance, obesity is a leading cause of type 2 diabetes among the elderly. On the other hand, abnormally low body weight can also lead to a variety of health issues in seniors.
Balance Issues
Many aging seniors develop balance issues as the years pass. Seniors are also more prone to slip and fall accidents. As such, they may not be able to use regular bathroom scales – especially those with narrow or slippery platforms.
Hearing Or Visual Deterioration
Deteriorating hearing and eyesight may result in your elderly loved one being unable to use regular bathroom scales as they may not be able to read from the tiny screens.
As you can see from the above, seniors need special bathroom scales to keep track of their weight and adequately manage their health.
What Features Should Seniors Look For When Shopping For A Bathroom Scale?
- Extra Large Platform: Such a platform will ensure that the user can stand on the scale steadily, regardless of whether they have large feet, a wider stance, or balance issues.
- Extra Large Display: Given that many seniors have deteriorating eyesight, an extra large display is a must-have feature in any bathroom scale meant for their use.
- Talking Feature: To help seniors with poor eyesight get their weight measurement from the scale, some products come with a talking feature that reads out the weight in a loud and clear voice.
- Ease Of Use: Seniors are more likely to use a bathroom scale regularly only if it is easy to use. Automatic on and off and one button push to switch between pounds and kilograms are good examples of some of the features that make a scale easy to use.
- Accuracy: While some scales can detect weight variations of up to 0.01 kgs, others may be less accurate. Pick the most accurate scales for those looking for the most accurate weight readings.
Best Bathroom Scales For Seniors And The Elderly
1. Taylor Electronic Talking Scale
1. Taylor Electronic Talking Scale
The Taylor Electronic Talking Scale is an excellent option for users with impaired vision. This scale comes with a clear LCD that shows the user’s weight.
It can also be programmed to read out the weight in a loud and clear voice in several languages, including English, German, Spanish, Greek, and Croatian.
The Taylor Electronic Talking Scale is an excellent option for seniors for many reasons. For starters, it comes with an extra large display that is easy to read, as well as a talking feature. The scale also sits low to the ground, making it an excellent option for seniors with mobility and balance issues.
On the flip side, the display is not backlit and may be hard to read in low light conditions. Plus, the talking option isn’t loud enough for seniors with severe hearing loss.
If you need a sturdy bathroom scale suited to users with impaired vision and balance issues, be sure to consider this product.
My Weigh XL – 700 Bathroom Scale comes with an extra wide platform, large display, and talking feature. Most importantly, this product is designed for seniors who weigh up to 700 lbs or 320 kgs.
This product is an excellent option for aging adults. It has an extra-wide base which makes it easier for individuals with balance issues to stand on the scale steadily.
The large display and talking feature make it easier for users with eyesight issues to read or listen to a readout of their weight. Last but not least, this is a sturdy product that can be used by seniors whose weight is on the higher side.
However, the accuracy seems to be off on these scales by a factor of 2 pounds.
For those looking for a simple, accurate, and compact scale that is also easy to use, this INEVIFIT bathroom scale is definitely worth your consideration.
This scale features a sleek and compact design with a sturdy tapered glass platform with rounded corners. Thanks to its elegant and sleek design, this scale will be a great addition to any bathroom.
So, why should you consider buying this scale for your elderly loved one? First, this scale comes with an extra large display that is easy to read.
Furthermore, the scale displays consistent weight readings, to the nearest 0.2 pounds or 0.1 kgs – thanks to the highly accurate auto-calibrating sensors. This scale also has an automatic on and off feature for effortless use.
On the downside, unlike most of the products listed here, this product does not have a talking feature.
Another excellent talking scale, the Extra Wide Glass Talking Digital Scale, is not only affordable but also easy to use. The scale features a clear tempered glass top and a sleek design that goes well with any bathroom.
An excellent option for seniors, this scale comes with an extra large display that is easy to read. For visually impaired people, the scale also comes with a talking feature that reads out your weight in a loud and clear voice.
Thanks to its extra wide platform, this scale can be used by people of all sizes without any issue. Lastly, the scale comes with an automatic on and off feature; users can switch between pounds and kilograms with a single push of a button, making this product relatively easy to use.
However, unlike some of the options on this list, this product does not have a backlit display for better visibility in limited light.
5. Etekcity High Precision Digital Body Weight Bathroom Scale
Are you looking for a highly accurate bathroom scale that is easy to use and read? This Etekcity Precision Digital Bathroom scale is precisely what you need.
A simple floor scale, this product comes with a sturdy tempered glass platform that is extra wide to accommodate users with wider feet comfortably.
To ensure accessible and effortless use by seniors, this product also comes with a backlit extra large LCD. The scale displays your weight for up to ten seconds after you step off to make it easier for you to read and note the measurement.
To ensure that users get more than just a simple weight measurement, this scale also gives you a visceral fat and metabolic age measurement if you enter your body measurements.
However, this scale does not have a talking feature like most options described here.
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Alternatives To Bathroom Scales
If your older loved one is unable to use a bathroom scale due to mobility issues, for instance, consider using one of the following alternatives:
Chair Scales
A chair scale is an excellent alternative to traditional bathroom scales. To measure their weight, your elderly loved one would have to simply sit on the chair.
Wheelchair Platform Scales
For seniors who use wheelchairs, a wheelchair platform scale might be the most practical option. The user would have to roll their wheelchair onto the platform to measure their weight.
However, since the reading includes the weight of the wheelchair, these scales are more suited to measuring the weight fluctuations of the wheelchair user.
Medical Beam Scales
Like wheelchair platform scales, You can slip medical beam scales under the wheels of a senior’s wheelchair or bed. These scales also measure the user’s weight and their bed/wheelchair.
Hoist Scale
These scales typically hang from the ceiling, and the patient/elderly person in question sits on a sling. These scales make highly accurate measurements while taking up minimal space. However, some seniors may not be willing to sit on a sling to have their weight measured.
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Tips For Using A Bathroom Scale
Place The Scale On A Flat Hard Surface
I recommend placing your scale on a hard flat surface to ensure accurate readings. Good examples include concrete, hardwood, porcelain, or ceramic tile.
Softer flooring, such as carpet, vinyl, and linoleum, among others, can lead to slight variations in the readings obtained from the scale.
Create A Weighing Schedule
If you want to get the most accurate weight readings from your scale, be sure to use it on a rigid schedule. You can use the scale on a weekly, bi-weekly, or even daily basis.
Furthermore, you need to use the scale at the same time each day – because your weight normally fluctuates by between 1 and 4 pounds throughout the day. The best time to weigh yourself is in the morning, before breakfast.
Properly Calibrate The Scale
If you don’t want the scale to give you fluctuating readings during use, be sure to give it time to recalibrate every time you move it.
Even if you are simply sliding the scale out from under the counter, give its internal parts some time to reset. You should also try standing still for at least 3 seconds when using the scale to give it time to take the correct reading.
Summary And Final Recommendations
As you can see, there are different types of bathroom scales for seniors and several alternatives for seniors with more specific medical requirements. After reading the above guide, you should be able to choose the best option for your elderly loved one.
