When my aging mother came to live with us, my husband I did a lot for her. Sometimes it was quicker and easier for us to take in the washing, put the dishes away than it was for her to help out, also we wanted to look after her and show her some love. However, after a while we noticed she was becoming physically weaker, the small tasks we were doing for her were giving her less incentive to remain active and she wasn’t as inclined to keep her body moving.
With the warmer tones of spring just around the corner, my mother and I are going to get out and about a bit more and get our bodies moving. I have discovered one of the best ways to help your aging parent stay motivated to exercise regularly is to offer to exercise with them. Physical fitness benefits you both in helping maintain a healthy weight and lower risk for conditions like heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and cognitive decline.
I have put together a list below of some of the ways that we will be remaining active. I hope it helps you get out and about a bit more with your ageing parent or loved one.
Getting out into nature with a beautiful hike in the mountains is refreshing and rejuvenating. Spending time in nature has not only been shown to help lower stress levels and boost attentiveness but to motivate older adults to stick with exercise more than they might with other fitness activities. The lower-impact intensity of hiking is easier on older joints, but still builds muscle and bone density, and strengthens the heart.
Take part in a charity walk
Do something beneficial for your health and your community by registering for a charity athletic event where the proceeds go to an organisation you care about. Helping others or raising awareness for a cause is just the extra motivation your parent might need to do something active and fun outside, and charity events like these can so easily become a family affair, getting other relatives and grandkids in on the fun too.
Try yoga
Something about the rebirth of nature with spring makes yoga seem like an even more perfect exercise to try this season. The calming, flowing movements, deep breathing, meditation, and mindfulness components all combine into a recipe for strength-building and stress-relieving exercise for you and your loved one. You may even be able to find an outdoor class that takes yoga practice right into a natural setting.
Fly a kite
Get the grandkids in on the action with a day in the park for picnicking and flying kites! The great hand-eye coordination skills required with flying kits as well as the fresh air and sunshine make for loads of outdoor health-boosting fun. Make sure to pack healthy balanced foods for a spring picnic like fresh fruit, quinoa salad, and veggie-packed sandwiches.
Volunteer with animals
What better encouragement to keep up with daily walks than with a furry friend who needs his own outside time? Getting your parent, a puppy probably isn’t the best idea, but offering to walk a neighbour’s dog together or volunteering at an animal shelter walking dogs may be. This activity is a triple threat in that your mom or dad can get exercise, they receive the added bonus of feeling good about helping others, as well as get to spend time with animals, which has been shown to provide therapeutic relief to seniors.
Go swimming
One of the most beneficial low-impact exercises for seniors, swimming places minimal stress on the bones and joints while giving the body a serious cardio and aerobic workout. Great for building up muscle and burning calories, many pool activities including swimming, water aerobics, and pool running are possible for seniors. As the nicer weather of spring arrives, take your parent outside for a swim in a nearby watering hole or outdoor pool.
Smart Spring Fitness Reminders
Staying safe while you stay fit is a must, especially as the warmer temperatures of spring beckon you and your loved one outdoors. Don’t forget these important fitness reminders:
- Exercise aids arthritis pain – while arthritis pain can be limiting in a sense, essentially “walking it off” can help. Physical activity boosts blood flow and helps relieve inflammation as well as loosen joints. When needed, orthotic aids like arthritis gloves or knee braces (visit this URL) can provide more support and compression to help your loved one stay active.
- Sun protection is a must – heading out of the house for more outdoor adventures with your parent? Don’t forget hats, sunglasses, and sunblock. Skin cancer is a prevalent reality, even for older adults, so being smart about sun protection when spending time outside is a must.
- Stay hydrated – did you know that as people age their sense of thirst actually diminishes? Even if your ageing parent doesn’t feel thirsty, they may be on the brink of dehydration. Staying hydrated regularly plays an important role in their overall health and well-being, as well as attentiveness and mobility.
- Be careful of falling – with roughly 25% of seniors experiencing a fall, many of which land them in the hospital with a hip fracture, it’s important to gauge risk factor for falling, especially when exercising. The benefits of staying active (i.e. preventing heart disease, diabetes, and dementia) far outweigh risk for falls, however, be a good judge of the severity of a hiking trail or slickness of a recently rained on field when heading out with your parent to exercise.
What are your favourite springtime activities to do with your mum or dad that benefit their health too?
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