Support for Strong Seniors and Professional In-Home Care

The long sought-after secret to feeling better and living longer is staying active.  Finding a workout routine that works for your aging loved one and helping them stick with it can pay big dividends.  Regular exercise helps older people stay independent and may even prevent diabetes, heart trouble, arthritis pain, anxiety and depression.  Regular physical activity can improve an elderly loved one’s quality of life in so many ways.  Doing something your senior loves to do is a great way to stay motivated.  Over exerting themselves or participating in an exercise program that they don’t really like can make them feel exhausted and very likely cause them to discontinue the activity altogether.  If your loved one enjoys swimming or if dancing gets them excited, remind them to do what they enjoy.

When it comes to our aging loved ones, the right workout is crucial.  You don’t want to push them too hard, but it’s important to get them moving.  Here are some tips on senior work outs:

When beginning a regular exercise routine, remember to begin slowly.  Start with exercises that your senior loved one is already doing comfortably.  Starting slowly makes it less likely they will injure themselves.  Starting slowly also prevents soreness.  Walking is an excellent activity to start with.  Whenever possible, join in.  Your aging loved one isn’t the only one who should be working on their fitness.  Join in!  Motivation is crucial when it comes to getting more active, so encourage your clients by working out by their side.

Whenever possible, break up the exercise and workout routine.  You don’t have to get all of your physical activities in at once.  Take time outs and break up routines into smaller segments.  This will help keep seniors from getting tired of one activity, as well as help mix up their routine. 

Make working out fun for your aging loved one.  We said it last month, but we will say it again.  Working out does not have to be a downer.  Even sitting in a chair can be transformed into a workout routine with the right creativity and motivation.  Senior Helpers of Santa Barbara can be there to remind your elderly loved one to move more often.  They will also be there to encourage your loved one and keep them motivated.  A walk around the neighborhood is bringing on fresh air, sunshine and helps spark conversation. 

You are never too old to start exercising.  In fact, exercise only gets more important with advancing age.  Research shows that no matter what your age, you stand to gain improvements in strength, balance, bone density and mental clarity through exercise.  No matter our age, it’s important to keep exercise in mind.  Working on your fitness not only improves your physical health, but also your mental health.  Working out, even on a minimum level, can greatly decrease stress and anxiety levels.

Senior Helpers of Santa Barbara can be there to assist an elderly loved one and help keep them on an active routine.  Support for strong seniors and professional in-home care is available to all areas of 805-687-7777.  Call Santa Barbara, Goleta, Lompoc, Santa Ynez, and Carpinteria, California for more information!