Your mom or dad may enjoy exercise, in the form of square dancing, which is a social activity for seniors and yet can also be great exercise as well. When your mom or dad Do-Si-Do they are up on their feet or sitting upright in a wheelchair swaying and moving to the beat.  Dance is one of the most popular activities among elders for exercise and social entertainment.

Exercise Through Square Dancing

If your mother or father needs to burn calories, this form of dance is an excellent opportunity to do so. During a half-hour dance session, an average of 200 -400 calories are burned. What better way to have fun and lose unwanted inches? Dancers actually take more steps in a half-hour square dance session than they do in a typical day’s entirety as it gets the heart pumping and the lungs working.

Your loved ones can forget their troubles (and aches and pains) when they Do-Si-Do to the music. Square dancing is a mind and body experience that is shared not only with a partner but with a group where individuals connect.

Research indicates that square dancing protects against dementia as your loved one uses multiple mental and physical skills. Mentally challenging activities significantly reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.  In this case your mom or dad must listen and concentrate on the instructions of the caller who provides them direction while moving to the beat and staying in time with the other members of the group.  The more active your parent is, the less likely they are to experience depression and experience chronic illnesses. So let’s promenade left!

Help from a Caregiver

Caregivers can also help seniors incorporate square dancing into their daily schedule! By driving them to their appointments and cooking healthy meals afterwards, your loved one can get a great work out and enjoy the perks of home care.

Give us a call at (239) 337-4263 for more information on how our caregivers can help your loved one stay active and healthy.