Creative Fitness and In Home Senior Care
February is Heart Month so we need to take the time to make a Healthy Heart Pledge. We need to make the efforts to eat better, exercise more and attempt to reduce stress in our lives. Reducing daily stresses is very important for heart health; along with eating cleaner, less processed foods, and incorporating exercise into a daily routine. Exercising doesn’t have to be strenuous to have benefits. Even a stroll around the neighborhood, or around the local mall, is enough to get the heartrate up. Exercising also releases endorphins that will boost mood; a good mood is good for everyone. Seniors can benefit from more assistance around the house with in home senior care. With help with daily routines such as light housekeeping and meal preparation, time can be spent with friends and family instead of worrying about tedious chores.
You don’t have to pay for a gym membership to work on your fitness. Some exercises can even be done in your home! Use soup cans for weights. Take a look at your surroundings and figure out how you can turn everyday activities into heart-healthy exercises. About to take a ride in the elevator while out? Opt for the stairs instead! Parking at a shopping center? Try picking a spot a little further from the entrance. Every little bit counts!
Play children’s games. Go outside and play a game of kickball with the kids. Kickball allows you to run, jump, and kick your cardio fitness into gear. Some of the best cardio exercises require these types of moves. You’ll get all the benefits of several exercises in one game of kickball. Hopscotch is another child’s game that will give you a cardio boost without feeling like too much work. Hopscotch is a low impact way to get cardio into your fitness. It requires hopping to do the game. Your legs get a good workout and so does your heart.
When we think of a heart, we tend to think of love. One way to show love for someone is to spend time with them. Time spent together is the most precious gift that can be given to a loved one. Time spent with family and friends can greatly reduce stress and this is so important for heart health. One way to incorporate the Healthy Heart Pledge is to prepare a home cooked meal together with fresh vegetables and lean meats. In many cases, the act of preparing food together can be just as rewarding as sitting down around the table together. Take this time to really enjoy each other’s company. This can be something done together just once a week. Sometimes that is all one needs to feel rejuvenated and feel a boost in mood for the entire week ahead.
If you would like to learn more about the many benefits of caring and consistent in home care for seniors and professional dementia and Alzheimer’s care, call Senior Helpers to speak to an elderly care specialist today 805-687-7777! Senior Helpers of Santa Barbara provides a wide range of services including Alzheimer’s and dementia care, care for Parkinson’s Disease, companionship, personal assistance, and so much more to all areas of Santa Barbara, Goleta, Lompoc, Santa Ynez, and Carpinteria, California.