Home Care: As we start to age, our bodies tend to slow down and we become more sedentary.
The increase of health problems, decrease in strength and overall lack of motivation can impact your senior’s physical activity levels over time. A regular exercise routine can help your seniors retain their physical and mental abilities, as well as regulate their mood and energy levels. Home care can assist your senior to incorporate exercise into their daily routine with dignity, respect, and enjoyment, whilst allowing them to maintain control over their lives.
As the saying goes, “It’s not about putting years in your life, it’s about putting life in your years.”
What Are the Benefits of Exercise for Seniors?
Regular exercise has a range of health benefits for all age groups that don’t just cover the physical side of life. Studies have shown that a good exercise routine for your senior is essential for improving their overall quality of life, mood and energy levels as they age.
Some benefits of exercise for your senior are:
- Reducing the impact of illness and chronic disease Exercise has been proven to help reduce the symptoms of many age-related diseases such as heart conditions, Alzheimers, diabetes and osteoporosis.
- Maintaining mobility and flexibility As we age, our flexibility and mobility decrease due to the stiffening of ligaments and degradation of cartilage in our joints. Incorporating regular stretching into your senior’s routine helps keep mobility and joint flexibility into their later life.
- Boosting self-confidence Endorphins produced during exercise are critical in mitigating conditions like depression and anxiety in your senior.
- Improving sleep quality As humans age, we tend to sleep less; good-quality sleep is essential for overall health. Doing regular exercise three to four times a week can help your senior sleep more deeply and wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the day.
- Improved brain function Many seniors in-home care suffer from cognitive decline and memory loss. Exercise can help boost creativity, multitasking and mental acuity for your senior, making them feel more in control and alert.
What Are Some Ways to Encourage Your Senior to Exercise?
Starting an exercise routine can be daunting at any age, let alone when we are older. The reduction in hormone production and muscle degradation means that many seniors will feel discouraged from exercise, as they can’t do the same activities they could when they were younger.
Seniors shy away from exercise as they get older for a number of reasons. Here are some ways to encourage your seniors to begin incorporating regular exercise into their routine.
- Start small. When considering an exercise routine for your senior, you must consider their individual situation and how best to work with it. Home care allows your senior to work with an experienced caregiver who knows and understands their needs and preferences.
- Participate with them. Many seniors may be embarrassed or intimidated by the idea of going to a gym or exercising in front of others. By attending classes or even going for walks with them, your senior will feel more confident and willing to participate for the long term.
- Make it a social activity. If your senior isn’t exercising, there’s a high chance that they also aren’t getting enough social interaction. Reach out to other seniors in the area to organize walks or other forms of gentle exercise that will help your senior feel good and meet others with the same goals.
- Support them with a good diet. Supporting a good exercise routine with the right diet can have a major impact on your senior’s energy, fitness and mood. Aim for a diet rich in leafy greens, legumes, and good-quality sources of protein.
- Keep them motivated. Tell your senior about the benefits of exercise and why it is so important for them. Show them activities and daily tasks that they can do by themselves to give them independence.
Home Care: Conclusion
Encouraging your senior to exercise can be a difficult task, but the benefits are undeniable. Our experienced home care experts can motivate your seniors to exercise in a way that suits them, and help them live their lives to the fullest. Call us today to learn more about what we can do for your loved one!
Amelia Home Care provides traditional Home Care in Manhattan, NY, along with virtual caregiving and remote patient monitoring. Our service area includes; Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, and Westchester County. Call today (929) 333-3955.
Sources
https://www.healthline.com/health/everyday-fitness/senior-workouts#stretches
We proudly provide non-medical home care services to individuals with disabilities, injuries, difficulties with mobility, or illnesses. Our team is composed of highly trained and competent staff members who are dedicated and experts in delivering home care services in the comfort of our client’s home.
Through our personalized care plan, we can give you the needed care services that are all intended to cater to your unique personal and health needs. With us, we ensure around-the-clock services and supervision to help you achieve optimum health and wellness.
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