Dutiful Daughters™
April: Spring Chickens: Time to Get You and Your Loved One Moving

We all know that exercise is good for us, but we don’t always think about how good exercise is for our elderly loved ones. We might be concerned with their physical limitations or medical conditions, or we might just not want to push activities that they may not enjoy doing. The truth is, with a good exercise program, your loved one’s quality of life will improve, both physically and mentally.

When we think of exercising, we usually think of aerobic activity, like walking or jogging. But exercise is much more than a step class, and can be adapted to any fitness level. The easiest way to increase physical activity slowly is through lifestyle modification. This involves including more physical movement in your daily routine, such as using the stairs instead of taking the elevator, parking further away in a parking lot when shopping, or even mopping or vacuuming your floors faster. Little changes in your daily routine can add up to big results in strength and conditioning over time.

Another important way to increase physical activity is through resistance training. Resistance training can be done twice a week and is beneficial for even the oldest members of our population. It is especially important to develop lower body strength because it can help improve balance and increase bone mass. Both of these improvements can help prevent falls and debilitating hip fractures, which are major concerns in the elderly population.

Traditional aerobic activity is the third main component to a more physically fit elderly person. But it is not limited to jogging or step classes. Swimming or water aerobics and even dancing can provide the right amount of aerobic activity, and be a pleasurable addition to the daily routine. Nontraditional forms of exercise like tai chi, yoga, and Pilates are all easy on the joints and provide excellent conditioning.

Exercise in the elderly is not a dangerous undertaking. It can help improve heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and even mental conditions like depression. It is always recommended to start an exercise program by talking to your doctor. If your loved one is sedentary and has been for some time, a round of physical therapy might be needed to bring his or her fitness level to a point where regular exercise can be enjoyed. The key is to start slowly and build up slowly. Pain is never a normal part of exercise.

Be sure to help your loved one find an activity that appeals to him or her. Your father might enjoy weight training alone much more than a water aerobics class. You and your mother might both benefit from a Pilates class together, with its slow, graceful movements and relaxing music. The key is to find activities that your loved one enjoys so that he or she will continue to participate in them. Marathon television viewing is not exercise, but strolling about the pond, breathing in fresh air, and taking in the scenery could do a world of good.

Remember, encouraging exercise in your loved one is more believable if you practice what you preach. There is no better way to motivate your elderly family member to move that by doing it yourself. The health benefits are for everyone, and you too should take the time to take care of your body.

National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers