Taking care of your senior parent can be a difficult but rewarding task. One important factor that is often overlooked when it comes to senior in-home care is exercise. For seniors, getting sufficient physical activity helps prolong an independent lifestyle, prevent numerous health concerns, and improve overall well-being. However, many seniors find it hard to start home exercises due to limited mobility or energy levels. Caretakers, however, can help encourage their senior loved ones to exercise.
The Importance of Exercise for Seniors
Regular physical activity is essential for seniors, as it can help improve their overall health and fitness. Exercise helps with balance, flexibility, muscle strength, and aerobic endurance in older adults. In addition to promoting physical well-being, exercise can also improve mental performance and help relieve depression symptoms in many seniors.
Tips for Helping Senior Parents Exercise at Home
Exercise safety is always a priority when it comes to seniors. Caretakers can help ensure that their senior parents exercise safely and correctly by following these tips.
Find the Right Exercise Program
There are a lot of home exercises out there that can benefit seniors. Look for an exercise program that will allow your loved one to get active without putting too much strain on them, based on their physical capability. Don't be afraid to try out different routines until you find your ideal solution.
Make Exercise Part of a Senior's Daily Routine
By creating daily habits such as yoga, stretching, and light strength training activities, you can make fitness a part of the routine in caring for your senior loved one. Making exercise part of a senior's daily routine also helps ensure that it remains a priority, which increases the odds that they will meet their goals.
Work Out Together
Exercising together creates bonding experiences between caregivers and seniors while also providing moral support. Furthermore, working out with your senior loved one can provide the encouragement they need to keep pushing forward.
Adjust Exercise Programs If Necessary
It's important to adjust exercise programs periodically so that progress continues without injuries. You may also want to pay careful attention to your senior loved one's progress, since, as your loved one gets stronger, you may want a deeper challenge.
Make Exercise Fun
Doing something enjoyable adds motivation and encourages seniors who might otherwise find exercising dull and unappealing. Creating games out of home exercises or engaging in things seniors find fun can help encourage them to get started.
Set Realistic Goals
When setting fitness goals, it's important to carefully consider your loved one's current fitness level and set realistic, safe goals. Setting achievable goals can help encourage your senior loved one to keep exercising, rather than getting discouraged.
Do You Need Help Motivating a Senior Loved One to Exercise?
When you act as the primary caregiver for your senior loved one, you may find that you need more help with your loved one's exercise routine. An in-home caregiver can make it easier to motivate your senior and keep up with those key goals.
At Senior Helpers Greenwood & South Indianapolis, we provide care for seniors in Indianapolis, Greenwood, Columbus, Martinsville, Franklin, and Marion County, including help maintaining a steady exercise routine. Contact us today to learn about our in-home care options and how they can benefit your family.