Home care from a dedicated caregiver is a fantastic way to make sure that your senior loved one is getting regular exercise. Exercise is critically important for seniors, and it’s something that most seniors don’t get enough of. The CDC recommends that older adults get at least 30 minutes of physical activity 5 days per week. Seniors who can’t exercise that much because of physical limitations or illnesses should exercise as much as they can.
There are many reasons why seniors don’t get the exercise they should. Some people just don’t like exercise, which is understandable. Others may have mobility issues that can make it challenging to be more active. And other seniors may not want to exercise alone. Home caregivers can be the activity partners that seniors need to get more active. A home care provider won’t cancel on a plan to go for a walk at the last minute the way a friend might. And a senior care provider will encourage your senior loved one to be more active throughout the day as well as motivating them to get some healthy daily exercise. Some of the ways that a caregiver can get your senior parent off the couch and into activities include:
- Going for a walk around the neighborhood.
- Taking a walk to the park.
- Gardening in the back yard.
- Getting your parent to a senior center for some activities.
- Going to community pool for a swim.
- Helping them do chores around the house to get them standing and walking regularly throughout the day.
- Taking them shopping or to walk around the mall in bad weather.
- Playing golf with them.
- Taking the dog for a walk
Exercise Keeps Seniors Healthy
The benefits of exercise for seniors are significant. Regular physical activity can help seniors stay mobile. It also improves circulation. Exercise also helps seniors stay flexible and improves balance, which can help them avoid falls. Falls at home are one of the biggest dangers that seniors face, so engaging in regular exercise that can help prevent falls is one way to protect your senior loved one’s health as they get older.
Exercise also helps seniors maintain a healthy weight. Diabetes and other diseases can become worse in seniors that don’t have a healthy weight but it can be difficult for seniors to lose weight. Getting exercise daily can help seniors who have diabetes or other chronic illnesses manage their symptoms. Exercise combined with a healthy diet can help seniors who struggle with their weight lose weight and gain energy.
There’s also a link between depression and inactivity. Depression symptoms can improve when someone gets regular exercise, such as walking a few times a week. Seniors who exercise will lower their risk of developing depression. Those seniors who have depression may be able to decrease their symptoms without taking more medication by adding more exercise to their daily routine. A home care provider can exercise with your aging parent to motivate them to get the exercise they need.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/older_adults/index.htm
https://familydoctor.org/exercise-seniors/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/depression-and-exercise/art-20046495
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE IS CONSIDERING HIRING HOMECARE IN MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT HOME HELPERS TODAY (408) 317-4969.
