What is a normal heart rate for the elderly?

A normal heart rate for the elderly is often the same as it was in youth and varies by activity level. It is common for an elderly person's heart rate to take longer to increase with exercise and take longer to slow down after exertion, according to MedlinePlus.

Adults, including the elderly, who are athletic may have a heart rate as low as 40 beats per minute, while moderately active adults may have a heart rate of 60 to 100 beats per minute, according to the American Heart Association. Vital signs may or may not change with age, depending on overall health condition.