Is it Time to Talk to Your Elder about an Exercise Plan?
Many aging adults are shocked to learn that they really should be exercising, at least a little bit. Exercise can pay off big for your elderly family member, particularly in terms of improved balance and strength.
Elder Care Havertown PA – Is it Time to Talk to Your Elder about an Exercise Plan?
Clear it With Her Doctor
Before you and your senior put any exercise plan into motion, it’s a good idea to clear the idea with her doctor. Her doctor can let you know how much exercise is right for your senior and what types of exercise might be best for her. In some cases, your senior might benefit from physical therapy to start out.
It’s Never Too Late
Hearing her doctor recommend exercise can help your elderly family member to get past the idea that she’s long past being able to benefit from any sort of exercise. The truth is that it really never is too late to start adding more activity into every day. It can only benefit your senior.
Make the Plan about Being More Active
Instead of focusing on specific exercises or mastering a sport, it might be best to focus on the idea of becoming more active. Lots of people spend more of their day sitting than ever before and that makes being active a little more important. Pick some activities that are easy for your elder to do, such as walking, and go from there.
Go Slowly
This isn’t a race at all. Your elderly family member doesn’t have to try to beat any records or anything like that. In the beginning, she might feel slow and awkward with her chosen exercise. This is perfectly normal and fine. As she builds strength and stamina, she’ll naturally pick up speed. It’s also possible that your elderly family member is comfortable going slowly all the time and that’s okay, too.
Increase Activity Gradually
Along with going slowly, it’s important for your senior to be okay with smaller amounts of activity at first. She doesn’t need to walk a mile just yet, for instance. Maybe walking to the end of the street and back is enough for right now. As she walks more often, she can gradually increase the distance that she’s walking without straining herself.
Having someone with her when she exercises can help your senior to feel more secure about the idea. If you can’t exercise with her, consider hiring elder care providers. They can cheer her on and be there for her when she needs a little extra support.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Elder Care Services in Havertown PA, please contact the caring staff at True Direct Home Health Care today.
Doc, as he is called by everyone - staff, patients and clients - first experienced home health care and hospice care while as a colleg student at King's College as he cared for his mother every day while she first battled COPD and then lung cancer. It was during this time that he came to understand that caring for a patient was more than just clinical expertise.
"Admittedly, my strongest attribute is my communication skills and the simple fact that I love to help people. Even the smallest thing you can do for someone really can mean so much to them long term. In fact, it could change them forever. That's what providing quality personal home health care should be all about."
In his spare time, he cooks for homeless shelters and children's music and arts events. He also is highly involved in his local youth sports soccer academy as a coach and Board member.
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