6 Tips for Aging Adults to Maintain Fitness at Home

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Simple Ways Seniors Can Stay Fit at Home in Des Moines, IA

Exercising helps aging adults build muscle strength, maintain a healthy weight, and stave off various conditions like heart disease, depression, and diabetes. For seniors who prefer to work out in private, family caregivers can help their older loved ones develop at-home fitness routines. Below are some of the ways seniors can stay fit without leaving the house.

1. Stand More Often

Instead of sitting down and watching television, your loved one should try to stand for five or ten minutes while watching the news, a film, or a TV show. Your loved one can sit down when he or she needs to take a break. However, your parent should stand at least a few times during the day, even if he or she is merely talking on the phone, browsing social media, or doing some brain game exercises. Standing keeps the mind active and helps with physical fitness.

2. Do Wall Push-Ups

Pushing up against a wall is simple, but it can have a significant impact on blood flow, heart rate, and muscle tone. When going to the kitchen or navigating other areas of the house, your parent can stop and push up against the wall. Wall push-ups are a great way to build shoulder and chest strength and stave off strains, broken bones, and heart disease. If your loved one needs assistance with exercising at home, consider hiring a professional caregiver. Elder care professionals can be a wonderful boon to seniors. Whether they require around-the-clock supervision or just need assistance with exercise and household tasks a few days a week, seniors can enjoy a higher quality of life with the help of trusted in-home caregivers.

3. Ride an Exercise Bike

Going outdoors may be challenging for seniors during the cold months or for aging adults who have health conditions that increase the need to stay indoors. However, your loved one can continue to enjoy bike riding by purchasing a stationary bike for his or her home. Your parent can ride the exercise bike in the morning, afternoon, or early evening to build muscle strength, lower the odds of aches and pains, and enhance his or her posture. These are health benefits that reduce the risks of slips, falls, and spinal injuries.

4. Perform Yoga

The movements involved in yoga can increase balance, prevent falls and head traumas, and reduce back pain. Your loved one can do yoga in the comfort of home as long as he or she has a mat and a level spot on the floor. Staying fit also includes mental health, and the techniques used in yoga can relax your loved one’s mind and enhance his or her mood. Yoga can also boost energy levels and lead to better sleeping patterns. If your loved one needs help exercising or managing daily tasks, consider hiring a professional caregiver. Des Moines respite care professionals can assist seniors with a wide array of daily tasks, offering family caregivers the chance to focus on other personal responsibilities or take a break to prevent burnout. Whether it’s for a few hours a day or a few days a week, respite care is the perfect solution for family caregivers who are feeling overwhelmed.

5. Do Leg Lifts

These exercises can be done while standing or sitting, providing less complexity for seniors who prefer chair workouts. Aging adults can even do this activity while lying in bed. Leg lifts can help your loved one lose weight in the legs and strengthen his or her abdominal muscles.

6. Dance

Although dancing may seem more like fun and less like an exercise, the physical movements increase muscle endurance and motor fitness and lead to greater flexibility, coordination, and agility. Your parent can dance alone or with others inside the home. The physical movements involved in dancing can also boost heart and lung health. Some seniors have health conditions or other limitations that make it difficult to exercise and handle daily activities without assistance. There are a variety of age-related health conditions that can make it more challenging for seniors to live independently. However, many of the challenges they face can be easier to manage if their families opt for professional elderly home care. Des Moines families can rely on expertly trained caregivers to keep their loved ones safe and comfortable while aging in place. Call Home Care Assistance at (515) 264-2438 to learn more about our flexible and customizable senior care plans.

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