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People become less and less active as they age. This can happen due to an ageing body, which comes with its own issues such as joint pains, stiffness, body aches or years of tiredness from working long hours in a job. Injuries and other health conditions can aggravate the whole issue.
However, it is most important that seniors stay active. Regular exercise can help them with flexibility, strength, balance, endurance and overall make them feel healthier.
Often, seniors are reluctant to stay active or they find doing the same exercise every day quite boring.
That’s why, in this article, we have covered various ways in which you can make exercising fun for the senior you care for.
Being active can have a range of benefits for older adults – for the short-term as well as the long-term.
Being active improves the quality of sleep for seniors. It helps regulate blood pressure as well as reduces feelings of anxiety.
In the long term, remaining active can be immensely impact on the following aspects of a senior’s life:
To start with, let’s look at some fun physical activities for seniors:
Walking outside is one of the best ways to get moving, not only because it provides exercise but also helps them get fresh air as well as boost the natural ‘feel good’ endorphins. However, walking alone can increase the feeling of loneliness. Encourage your senior to walk in a group so that walking becomes an enjoyable activity for them. Many communities have senior citizen walking clubs. If you have something like this available, encourage them to join it. If they are reluctant at first, accompany them for the first few days till they feel more at ease.
Group classes for activities such as yoga can be a social way to improve flexibility and balance, which can be key to preventing falls. If there’s an opportunity for such classes nearby, sign them up for it. You can also look at chair yoga classes or water aerobics programs. Water aerobics is a very good alternative for people suffering from arthritis.
An excellent way of going outside and staying active is gardening. Digging, planting and weeding can help them relax. And once the flowers bloom or the vegetables are ready to be picked up, it gives them a sense of accomplishment.
Spending all their time at home can be boring for seniors, especially if they have lived an active life. Even if your senior lives in a vibrant community, getting away once in a while can be a breather. Plan a getaway once in a while either with the whole family or with your senior’s friends. You can include your senior’s favourite activity such as visiting a natural park, taking a very easy hike, a visit to the museum, watching a play or others.
You can sign your senior up for volunteering services to make them feel like they have done something meaningful in life. This can be a great opportunity to stay physically active too.
Being active not only involves physical activity but mental agility as well. Here are some activities that can help with this aspect:
If your senior loves reading, then they would love to get an opportunity to share their thoughts about their favourite books with others. Book clubs are a great way to remain mentally sharp and alert and are an important component of remaining socially active.
Retirement is a great chance to unleash creativity, especially for those who never got a chance to do so due to their professional and personal commitments. Working long hours all your life or managing a household leaves little time and space to engage in hobbies that you love. If your senior loves art, then sign them up for art classes. Even those who have never pursued art before may find it liberating to express themselves. While painting and crafts are a good option, you can look at other alternatives such as pottery, knitting, sewing and embroidery and others.
Music is therapy both for the body and for the soul. Music is believed to help patients with dementia. Take your senior for music programmes and let them soak in the magic. If your senior likes to engage in some music-related activities such as playing an instrument or vocal activities, then you can sign your senior for classes or group activities. It will not only help them feel good but also feel a sense of accomplishment when they learn something new.
When one becomes older, the life lived becomes something to treasure. Pondering the moments spent with loved ones becomes more enjoyable as one ages. Why not make an activity out of it? Encourage your senior to create a scrapbook of photos and mementoes gathered over their lifetime. They can also journal interesting stories and important life lessons which can be a great treasure for the entire family.
Staying active can be immensely beneficial for a senior’s physical and mental health. It can help them live a longer life with greater independence. If your senior is not in the habit of staying active, starting can feel daunting.
Start slow and build up on activities rather than starting many things at once, which can make them overwhelmed.
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