4 Ways Elderly Care Can Help Seniors Move More

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that to stay healthy, people over the age of 65 should strive for exercising about 150 minutes per week. That’s 30 minutes per day on 5 days of the week.

Exercise helps to keep muscles, bones, and joints strong and healthy. It also is an important part of reaching and maintaining a healthy weight. If your older family member needs to exercise more, it can sometimes be difficult to include more movement in their day or continue to be physically active. This can be especially true for older adults with mobility problems or cognitive issues.

One way to help your aging relative to move more is by asking an elderly care provider to help them to work on the goal. There are many ways an elderly care provider can include more physical activity in the older adult’s day, including the 4 things listed below.

#1: Going for Walks

Walking is a safe and effective form of exercise for most older adults. However, some seniors may be unsafe walking on their own because of balance problems or other mobility issues that increase the risk of falling. Others may have cognitive problems that could result in them becoming lost. An elderly care provider can walk with the senior offering an arm to lean on to prevent a fall and ensuring they don’t get lost.

#2: Exercising with Videos

Some seniors like exercising at home using online exercise videos or DVDs. However, they may not feel comfortable exercising when they are alone because they might fear an injury or health problem. When an elderly care provider is present, it can alleviate those fears. The senior knows that if something goes wrong, they have the help they will need. This can make them exercise more often because they feel comfortable doing so.

#3: Dancing

Dancing is a fun form of exercise that can get the heart pumping and involve all parts of the body. It’s also a great form of exercise for seniors with cognitive issues, like dementia, because it includes the enjoyment of music. Elderly care providers can play familiar music that the senior may have danced to when they were younger and dance around the living room with them.

#4: Transportation to Classes and Gyms

If your older family member likes taking structured exercise classes or using equipment at a gym, an elderly care provider can help them continue to do so even after it isn’t safe for them to drive. An elderly care provider can be scheduled to pick the senior up on the days of their classes and transport them to the exercise facility.