Exercise is important for everyone, especially senior citizens. Senior citizens need to work on many things including balance, flexibility, strength, and endurance. However, they often won’t do these things on their own. If you don’t have the time to make sure your elderly loved one is getting these things in through exercise, it might be time to hire a home care provider to help out. Your senior loved one should always consult with their primary physician before starting any exercise routine.
Balance and Flexibility
Two of the most important aspects of exercising as a senior are balance and flexibility. Your loved one can be encouraged to improve their balance by strengthening exercises such as yoga. Tai chi is another great exercise to improve balance. By improving their balance, they are much less likely to fall down. They should also improve their flexibility. This can be done through yoga, everyday activities, and other strength-building exercises. With more flexibility, senior citizens can move around better and take care of themselves better, as well.
Strength
As previously mentioned, strength training or resistance training is something that can be beneficial to senior citizens. Not only will it help with balance and flexibility, but it will help your elderly loved one to feel and be stronger, as well. It is important, however, that senior citizens take it somewhat easy when they are doing strength-training exercises such as lifting weights. Their body isn’t as strong as it used to be and that should be mentioned to them. They should also always have a partner with them when they are doing these exercises to prevent injury. If you can’t be with them, maybe a home care provider can be.
Endurance
Building endurance is another great way for senior citizens to stay in shape. They should do endurance exercises such as aerobics for 30 minutes, 5 days a week. Walking is a great way to build up endurance. This is easy for most senior citizens to do because it isn’t tough on their joints. They can walk daily – around the block, downtown, or down their road. They can go to walking trails or just walk in their yard. Walking can literally be done anywhere. Swimming can be great for endurance, too. There is little risk of injury when it comes to swimming and it will work out their entire body. If your loved one is experiencing joint pain, swimming can help to relieve that pain, as well.
These are some of the best ways that seniors can exercise. If you can’t be around to help them out as much as you would like to, home care providers can be there to assist them throughout each of these exercises.
Sources
https://go4life.nia.nih.gov/4-types-of-exercise/
If You Or An Aging Loved One Are Considering Hiring Homecare in St. Pete Beach, FL, Please Contact The Caring Staff At Assisting Hands Home Care Today! 727-748-4211.
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Becky Moultrie is Owner and Administrator of Assisting Hands Home Care Serving Pinellas. Guided by a motto to Do Good with Love, she’s well positioned to do just that at Assisting Hands. She has a passion for helping families keep seniors and those who are diabled happy and healthy at home. She serves on a number of boards in Pinellas County including the Pinellas Park Gateway Chamber and Better Living Seniors (BLS), leading the Membership Committee. Annually, she hosts a Silver Santa Party, collecting donations for nearly 100 low income seniors in the county. She attends Blessed Sacrament Church, Seminole where she is an Ascribed Member of the Rosminian Order. When not busy Doing Good in the community, Becky is at home with her husband David & their 4 children, tending to their beehives and digging in the garden.
