Encourage seniors to exercise to improve health

Seniors may sometimes believe that decreased physical ability is an inevitable result of aging. However, according to the National Institutes of Health's Senior Health department, staying active will not only allow older individuals to stay healthier, they will also be able to enjoy a better lifestyle. As such, caregivers using the best home care software should encourage their patients to exercise.

Caregivers should remind patients that aging does not mean a decreased quality of life. The NIH stated that one of the healthiest things that seniors can do is to stay active. In fact, when it comes to exercise, even moderate levels have their benefits, including a better sense of independence. Furthermore, the group noted that those with diseases and disabilities may be able to improve their health through exercise.

Find a good routine
Exercise routines will range from patient to patient, depending on ability and willingness. Ask the older person to speak to their doctor about good exercises they can do in their spare time. Their primary care physicians will be more familiar with their health and may be able to recommend exercises that are especially beneficial for conditions they may have. Once you know which routines are the best, encourage the patient to take them up. 

For older individuals, fall prevention exercises are important for health and safety. There are many techniques that patients can use to improve their strength. Remember to keep an eye on the patient and provide assistance if necessary. 

If a patient is adverse to the idea of exercising for any reason, remind him or her that even something as simple as a leisurely walk has benefits. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pointed out that walking is a moderately intense activity that can have significant health benefits for older individuals. Encouraging patients to exercise daily will help guide them to a healthier lifestyle.

Alternatively, if the patient enjoys the company of others closer to their age group, look for local senior community centers, which will likely offer weekly exercise classes. Bringing patients to these locations will take the responsibility of leading the exercises out of your hands, and give them plenty of others to socialize with. Additionally, senior community centers often offer various activities and events that can engage patients. 

Home care does not have to mean staying at home. Daily exercising has many results that will benefit seniors and their family members and caregivers.

Top 3 Balance Exercises for Seniors

Improve your balance dramatically with these three moves:


Box Step Ups

Helps with: Walking up stairs
Equipment required: A stable, elevated platform. If you don’t have one readily available (a wooden box will do), learn how to make one here.
The basics: This is a very straightforward exercise. Start by facing the box, and step up onto it with your left leg, followed by your right, so that you are now standing on top of the box. Now step your left leg back down, followed by your right. Repeat this movement 10 times, and then switch so that you’re starting with your right foot. If you’d like more of a challenge, load a backpack with heavy things like bags of flower and waterbottles. Slowly add more weight to the backpack and add more repetitions.

Before you know it, you’ll be a super senior stair master with impeccable balance.

Split Squats

Helps with: Stabilizing your knee joints
Equipment required: None
The basics: Stand with your legs shoulder-width apart. Now, step your right leg back about 3 feet, keeping your balance in the middle of both legs (where your torso is). Next, slowly lower your right knee to the floor, ensuring that your left knee points out directly in front of you, forming a 90 degree angle, and your right knee hovers just over the floor (or touches). Come up slowly. Repeat 10 times, and switch legs. If you’d like more of a challenge, fill up two 1 litre water bottles and hold them in each hand while performing the exercise.

If your forward knee wobbles, do not lower yourself all the way to the ground, but rather, part way, and work up to lowering it all the way.

One-Legged Balance

Helps with: Overall balance
Equipment required: A chair
The basics: Holding onto a chair back, pick up your right leg and balance on your left. If this is easy, try using only one hand to hold on to the chair back. If this is easy, release a few fingers. If it’s still easy, try using no hands. See how long you can hold it for. Repeat on your right leg. If you can, kick the free leg back and grab your heel with your hand, giving yourself a quadricep stretch (that’s the big muscle at the front and outer side of your thigh).

When you’ve mastered this, you can try lifting your leg to the side, and to the back as well, to build up great overall balance.

So go ahead and give these balance exercises for seniors a try – we promise that if you do them consistently at least four times a week, for about three weeks, you’ll start to see immense improvements!

Source: superseniorfitness