The normal respiratory rate for older adults is 12 to 20 breaths per minute. The respiratory rate of the elderly is basically the same as that of normal adults. If the respiratory rate is more than 24 breaths per minute, it belongs to rapid respiration, which is mostly seen in patients with fever, anemia, hyperthyroidism and respiratory distress; if the respiratory rate is less than 12 breaths per minute, it belongs to slow respiration, which can be seen in patients with overdose of sedatives and increased intracranial pressure. Elderly people, whether breathing too slowly or too fast, are abnormal, once found that the respiratory rate has obvious changes, should go to the hospital in a timely manner to conduct relevant examinations, to clarify the cause of the disease, and standardize the treatment under the guidance of the doctor, so as not to delay the condition.