Ways to Help Your Senior Exercise
As seniors age, maintaining an active lifestyle becomes more important than ever, with studies showing that physical activity is the number one contributor to longevity, even if a person doesn’t begin until their senior years.
Regular exercise isn’t just about living longer, it has real health benefits such as enhancing flexibility, balance, and range of motion.
It also helps to both lose and maintain a healthy weight by increasing metabolism and helping build muscle. People who exercise also tend to have better immune and digestive function, better blood pressure, and lower chances of developing diseases such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and more.
For some seniors that may have cognitive impairments or mobility issues, creating and implementing a regular physical fitness plan can be easier said than done.
Here are a few ways that you can help your senior parent or loved one fit exercise into their elderly care routine at home.
Walking
Walking is a great way for seniors to get a low-impact workout in which requires no equipment other than comfortable and proper footwear, and can be done most times of the year both indoors and outdoors. Make sure that your senior knows to watch out for uneven terrain, slick surfaces, and knows to take breaks as needed. A perk of hiring professional elderly care services is that a caregiver can keep your senior company during activities such as walking as well!
Yoga
Long stretching moves combined with purposeful breathing can help improve flexibility, strength, and balance, and can be tailored to the individual needs and mobility restrictions of your senior. Yoga can be done at home with the help of step-by-step guides that can be found online.
Swimming
The great thing about water activities is that it reduces the stress and strain on the joints of the body, making it an excellent choice of exercise for seniors.
Weights
Studies have shown that strength training is one of the best ways to fight frailty and weakness that can be associated with aging. Strength training, sometimes referred to as weight lifting or resistance training, is one of the most effective ways to keep muscles healthy and build bone which preserves strength, independence, and energy. Talk to your senior’s doctor or therapist about how they can incorporate strength or weight training into their exercise routine a few times each week.
Chair-bound exercises
If your senior at home has mobility issues that prevent them from walking, there are exercises that can be done from a seated position, such as in a chair at home. A physical therapist can show you repetitive moves that can be done so that your senior can still receive the benefits of regular movement.
Always discuss health concerns with your senior’s medical care practitioner prior to starting any new exercise regimen, and look for signs that show that your senior may need to rest or take longer or more frequent breaks.
Are you or a loved one considering hiring Home Care Services in Saratoga Springs, UT? Please talk to the friendly staff at December Rose Senior Care at Home. Providing Home Care in Highland, Utah and Surrounding Communities. 801-427-ROSE (7673)
source:
Helpguide.org/1
Helpguide.org/2
Cdc.gov
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