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Author: Home Helpers Home Care

Regular exercise has huge benefits for aging adults, but it isn’t always easy for seniors to get moving. Exercising consistently can improve sleep, reduce health issues, and improve moods and stress levels for aging adults. The exercise doesn’t have to be complicated to get these benefits, either. Senior home care providers can do a lot to make it easier for seniors to develop routines that support being more physically active, especially after talking with their doctors.

Keep Limitations in Mind

Everyone has their own limits when it comes to exercise. Seniors need to start out with a trip to their doctors so that they fully understand their boundaries when it comes to exercise. If seniors experience significant pain after exercising, they need to talk to their doctors. As seniors move more, they may find that they can adjust their limitations. This happens over time, however, as seniors become stronger and build their confidence.

Warm Up and Cool Down to Avoid Injuries

Skipping cool downs or warm ups is particularly dangerous for aging adults. Properly stretching and getting muscles ready to move helps seniors avoid injuries and gives them a chance to ease into the exercise they’re doing. Creating a routine that supports properly warming up and cooling down makes it tougher for seniors to forget or skip all of that.

Modify Exercises to Promote Safety

Especially in the beginning, seniors may not be able to do a specific exercise perfectly right from the beginning. Using a lighter weight when doing strength training or doing fewer repetitions can help. Starting from the very beginning with any exercise means being patient with themselves, so seniors can benefit from choosing simple exercises that allow them to build up to more complicated ones as they get stronger.

Look for Ways to Keep Exercise Fun

If exercise isn’t fun, seniors aren’t going to want to keep up with it. Instead of punishing themselves with exercises that are boring, trying something new and changing things up lets seniors stay entertained and stick with moving more. Home care providers can offer a lot of support with this, especially if seniors want to go to exercise classes in person and need someone to do the driving for them.

Boost the Social Aspect

Exercising alone is something that many people just don’t enjoy. Combining exercise with social engagement meets a variety of needs for seniors all at once. Exercising with other people can make the time go more quickly and help seniors feel more secure as well. Senior home care providers can be great social companions for aging adults during exercise. If something happens, they can respond quickly and get seniors help.

Exercise has physical and mental benefits that are tough for seniors to get in other ways. The trick is to move consistently and safely to prevent accidents and injuries. Senior home care providers can offer aging adults the support they need to be confident tackling a new exercise program and having a great time all at the same time.

If you or an aging loved one are considering senior home care in San Jose, CA, please contact the caring staff at Home Helpers today (408) 317-4969.