MORE VIDEOS
Explore more

Normal Vital Signs — Older adult (65+ years)

With age, resting heart and breathing rates change little, but two things do change: blood pressure tends to run higher and is managed to an individual target, and the fever response weakens — an older adult can be quite unwell with an infection while the thermometer shows little or nothing. Clinicians therefore watch the trend from that person’s own usual readings, plus changes such as new confusion or weakness.

Vital signNormal range — older adult (65+ years)
Heart rate (awake, resting)60–100 beats/min
Breathing rate12–20 breaths/min
Blood pressure — systolic90–140 mmHg
Blood pressure — diastolic60–90 mmHg
Oxygen saturation (SpO2, room air)95% or higher
Body temperature96.8–98.6 °F (36.0–37.0 °C)

◆ Good to know

Blood pressure often runs a little higher with age and targets are individual — what matters is the person's own trend and their clinician's target for them. Body temperature often runs lower too, so a fever may show as a rise of about 2°F (1.1°C) above the person's usual reading rather than a fixed number.

Measuring at this age

  • Blood pressure is often checked sitting and then standing, because a drop on standing is a common cause of dizziness and falls.
  • Keep a note of the person’s usual temperature — a rise of about 2°F (1.1°C) above their own baseline can be a fever for them.
  • New confusion, unusual weakness or reduced urine during an illness matter as much as any number — report them promptly.

Fever at this age

A temperature of 100.4°F (38.0°C) or higher is a fever. Thresholds, measuring methods and warning signs by age are covered in the fever guide — and any fever in a baby under 3 months old needs medical care the same day.

The full eight-band chart is on the vital signs by age hub, and as a printable wall chart.

← Younger: Adult (18–65 years)All ages chart
Please note: This page is patient education, not medical advice. Normal ranges are guides for a person who is awake, resting and measured correctly — a single reading outside the range is not a diagnosis. Abnormal readings in someone who is unwell, breathing with difficulty, unusually drowsy or simply worrying you warrant medical care — seek it promptly rather than re-checking at home.