You know how much better you feel when you work out regularly, and your elderly loved one can feel the same benefits. Research shows that exercise helps older people live longer, healthier, happier lives. Here are some tips and tools to help you develop an effective exercise strategy for your Verona senior.
An Exercise Strategy Will Keep You On Track
It’s clear that an exercise strategy is an important part of healthy aging. Research has shown that it has benefits ranging from improved strength, reduced risk of falling, and even improved cognitive function, mood, and sleep habits.
A regular exercise program that includes cardiovascular workouts, strength training, flexibility, and balance training will fight many of the problems that impact older people’s independence. Exercise protects muscle mass, strength, bone density, and flexibility, helping people live longer independently.
To get the most out of an exercise program, it’s best to have a clear plan to keep you on track. It takes a little while for exercise to become a habit, and a concrete plan is a good way to support that process.
How to Build an Effective Exercise Plan
When anyone is starting a new exercise program, it’s a good idea to talk to their doctor first, and that’s especially true for elderly people. Once you have the all-clear, the next step should be finding a fitness trainer who is familiar with the needs of the elderly. Even if you’re only able to work with a trainer for a few sessions, they can help design a program that’s safe and effective.
With the input of a trainer, you’re ready to create an exercise strategy for your loved one. To help you, David York Home Healthcare Agency has created a packet of worksheets that you can download from our “free downloads” section of our website. Look for the Exercise Worksheets Booklet. You can fill out this packet along with a fitness trainer or healthcare professional. It includes:
Physical Fitness Goals
- Short Term Goals: Write down 2 or 3 ways to incorporate exercise into the daily routine, such as planning a walk after dinner or starting the day with a gentle stretching routine.
- Long Term Goals: List 2 or 3 results you hope to see from the exercise program, such as increased strength or energy.
Specific Workout Activities
- List the exercises you want to accomplish regularly.
- Write down how many times per week and for how many minutes each will be done.
- Work with a professional to ensure the exercises address all these issues:
- Increased Mobility
- Endurance
- Upper-Body Strength
- Lower-Body Strength
- Balance
- Flexibility
Workout Routine Monthly View
- Fill out the chart to schedule the activities in your loved one’s exercise plan.
Track Their Progress
- Fill out daily and weekly forms to keep track of how many minutes your loved one exercised, how they felt during and after exercise, and any progress they’ve observed.
Tips for Success
It can be hard to change habits, and incorporating an exercise routine is no exception. But the results are worth the effort, so encourage your loved one to keep trying. Here are a few tips to make it a little easier:
- No matter your age, it’s not too late to improve your health with exercise.
- It doesn’t have to be strenuous and exhausting. Movement is exercise, and choosing to move more, in different ways, will make you stronger.
- Start slow. 30 minutes of exercise a day is enough to see changes. You can even break that time up into 15-minute or 10-minute segments and still get the benefits.
- Be patient. It may take a while to see results, but consistency is key.
- Change things up. Varying workouts keep your routine interesting and effective. New exercises challenge your body and brain in different ways.
- Don’t overdo it. You’ll get more out of moderate, regular exercise than you will by pushing so hard you can’t continue.
David York Home Healthcare Agency Helps Seniors in Verona
At David York Agency, we understand the many challenges and risks faced by the aging and elderly and are dedicated to providing care to support them through all of those ups and downs. At David York Home Healthcare Agency, extraordinary service is what sets us apart from other companies in Verona that provide in-home healthcare services.
DYA provides direction as to how to manage the total care of your senior loved one. Whatever your care needs, we are there for you, always striving to exceed your expectations. For more information about David York Agency’s qualified, compassionate caregivers, contact us at (908) 373-5300. A free phone consultation can help you determine what services would meet your needs. We aim to provide you and your loved one with the assistance they need. If you’d like to hear more from us, please like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn.
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