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Health & Fitness

Take a Dive Into Maintaining Your Health

Physical activity is good for everyone. For older adults, low-impact exercising is most beneficial and safe on the body. One of the best gifts that you can give your loved one is motivating them to exercise. Let’s take a look at the types of activities that you can offer and encourage:

Yoga and Pilates
The potential health benefits of yoga for seniors include:

·         Stress Reduction- Focusing on balanced and deep breathing, yoga can become a form of meditation and will reduce stress levels.

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·         Balance & Coordination- Improving balance and coordination is important because they will reduce the risk of falling.

·         Staying Focused- The meditative qualities of yoga can work as a memory booster, good for aging individuals and people who are beginning to see the signs of memory loss.

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·         Flexibility- The more we age, the less flexible our joints get. If flexibility is worked on, then mobility becomes easier and can help reduce the risk of pulling a muscle and other injuries that could dramatically affect a senior.

Walking
Taking the dog for a walk, retrieving the mail from the mailbox, or even simply walking around the house are all examples of normal behaviors that can ultimately have a positive effect on your body. Benefits include, but are not limited to:

·         Independence- In order for your aging loved one to maintain his or her independence, walking is imperative.

·         Strength & balance- Maintaining mobility by walking helps with muscle strength, muscle memory and coordination.

·         Maintain healthy blood pressure- Studies show that walking can significantly reduce high blood pressure for those who have developed high blood pressure. There are also decreased risks in many other health conditions like diabetes, colon cancer and heart disease.

Water Aerobics & swimming
Take a dive into maintaining your health with low-resistance water aerobics or swimming. The physiological and social benefits of aquatic fitness include:

·         Increased metabolism & endurance- A healthy metabolism can help you live a longer and healthier life. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, metabolism slows by two percent per decade starting at age 30 because of limited activity.

·         Ligament & joint mobility- If you or your aging loved one has muscle, bone or joint issues, then aquatic fitness might be the right kind of fitness to get involved with. The warmth, buoyancy and low-resistance of the water ease pain as well as relaxes problematic areas. Therefore, aquatic fitness can drastically help those with arthritis.

·         Strength and endurance- Studies show that on average, participants in aquatic exercise increased their strength by 27% in the quadriceps, 40% in the hamstrings, and about 10% in the upper body region.

·         Social interaction- Take a class with a friend, or attend group classes for water aerobics which can enhance your personal connection with others.

Chair Aerobics
Try a chair aerobics class and be able to sit down for the duration of the exercise session. This is especially beneficial for those that have a difficult time walking. Benefits include:

·         Strength- The session typically involves resistance bands and light-weight dumbbells and can improve overall strength.

·         Ligament & joint maintenance- Exercises in the chair can involve targeting problematic areas such as weak ankles, knees, elbows and shoulders.

Tai Chi 
Originally developed by the Chinese for training in self defense, Tai Chi is now widely used as a graceful form of exercise. Tai Chi sessions involve slow, grounded and flowing movements with deep breathing. Similar to yoga, Tai Chi can help improve mental capacity especially for those with signs of memory loss. Other benefits include:

·         Balance & Coordination- Tai Chi requires your mind and body to work together through meditative breathing and mental imagery which can help with coordination and focusing on balance. Balance and coordination are significant benefits that can also reduce the risk of falling.

·         Lower body strength- The flowing movements in Tai Chi are done lower to the ground, with knees slightly bent and legs apart, ultimately improving strength in hips, legs and ankles.

·         Fight stress- Everyone can get stressed out, especially when dealing with the changes your body makes as we age, and taking a Tai Chi program can help fight stress levels because of the focus involved. Stress isn’t always bad, but research shows that high stress levels can take a toll on mental and overall health.

Everyday Chores
Everyday chores can have a positive effect on both mental and physical health for everyone, including the elderly. Responsibilities like house cleaning, yard work and taking out the trash are just a few things you and your aging loved one can do to boost overall health.

·         Strength & mobility- The more you move, the better off you are. House cleaning and yard work can help build upper body muscle, and taking out the trash can also help because of the walking involved.

·         Discipline- If you stop doing these necessary activities, and then your home may become an unfit place to live. Discipline is key to a healthy character and a healthy life.

·         Independence- If you or your aging loved one is living independently, these everyday responsibilities are inevitable. Continue these activities to prove competency and illustrate the ability to lead a healthy life. Once it becomes unsafe, it might be time to look into senior.

Remember that it’s never too late to start exercising. If you can walk, take action and improve your health with even something as little as taking a walk to get some fresh air. Younger people tend to create exercise regimens, while most assisted living facilities have implemented some sort of exercise program into their activity calendar- and so can you! Any age is the right age to start being active. Do your chores, take a walk and/or choose to get involved with an activity that interests you. Challenging yourself is important for the quality of your life. If you feel that you or your aging loved one may benefit from a more robust and professional program to help with mobility and overall health, talk to your Doctor to see if physical therapy might be a good option for you.

Related Links: 

Fall Prevention – Safety Tips for Seniors
Signs That Your Loved One is No Longer Safe Living Independently
Healthy Aging Should Only be Recognized in the Month of September

 

Rick Graffagna

Assisted Transition

Local Owner and Placement Director

630.246.2579

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