Regular exercise is needed by the body at all ages. In old age, it is even more important to exercise to maintain a healthy physique. Routine exercise reduces mortality and reduces chronic diseases. Your senior is more prone to infections and health issues, as the immune system weakens with old age. However, you can help them by introducing regular exercise into their daily life.
For seniors, it is not necessary to do an intense workout; a light physical activity like walking, fast dancing, or aerobics is sufficient.
Physical activity is beneficial, but if not done with proper care, it can be dangerous too. To get visible results, you need to be consistent with your seniors. If you find it hard to take out time from your busy work life, hire home care assistance to take care of your senior’s health and exercise. You can use the following guide for yourself or brief your hired caretaker. As with any change to your senior’s healthcare routine, consult with their physician before beginning any exercise regimen.
1 - Start Slow
Always remember to start a new routine slowly, step by step. Usually, this reduces the risk of injuries and also gives your body time to adapt. Over-exercising can lead to sprains and cramps. Introduce your senior to exercising with low-intensity activities like walking or dancing.
2 - Guide Them
Make sure your senior does a short warm-up before beginning to exercise. Wearing proper fitness clothes and shoes is also vital to make sure your senior is comfortable and their skin can breathe. Guide your senior to cool down after exercising to bring their heart rate and body temperature back to normal.
3 - Set A Goal
Set a milestone for your seniors that will motivate them to exercise regularly. While the goal for older adults is to stay fit, you can set personal goals according to their current health conditions. For example, if your adult is suffering from joint pain or backache, introduce them to exercise that will help in reducing their problems. Once they start to see an improvement, it will drive them towards more such goals and a healthier body.
4 - Hire A Home Care Assistant
Suppose you want your seniors to exercise daily but are afraid of letting them do it alone or without any guidance. You can rely on home care assistance. Simply hire a home care assistance provider who will help your elderly to exercise and keep track of their progress. This way, you can ensure a safe and secure environment for your seniors!
Conclusion
People tend to lose their adaptability and flexibility with old age, but it’s never too late to improve. With proper risk management and guidance, you can improve the health of your senior by introducing simple cardio exercises such as aerobics, cycling, dancing, or jogging, etc.
You can motivate them by being good company or doing an exercise they enjoy together. Don’t forget to take care of their meals with exercise; the body needs a proper diet too!
If your senior’s health and mobility is declining, consider home care assistance. Home care assistance will help your senior with everyday tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and washing clothes. It can even help keep them motivated to exercise! Call us today and see if home care assistance is right for you!
Sources:
- https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/staying-motivated-exercise-tips-older-adults
- https://familydoctor.org/exercise-seniors/
- https://scrubbing.in/encouraging-the-elderly-to-exercise/