Objects in Motion, Stay in Motion
Newton’s first law of motion is true for everything and everyone – and seniors are no exception. If you want to continue to maintain your mobility, you need to keep moving! Here are a few easy exercises to help keep you fit and mobile from our team of home health aides at UMC HomeWorks.
Benefits of Exercising in Your Senior Years
Active seniors see many benefits from regular exercise. Despite any preconceived notions, just 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day is more than enough for you to reap the benefits below.
- Better balance – Falling when you’re young usually isn’t a big deal, as we bounce back quickly even if we fracture or break something. Unfortunately, falling can be much more serious when we’re older. Physical exercise helps improve balance, prevent falls, and makes day to day life easier and safer.
- More energy – Being active releases endorphins that counteract the effects of stress and even help reduce pain. This can help you sleep better at night and feel more lively during the day. Having more energy also means you don’t get tired as quickly when you’re having a walk, playing with the grandkids, or have a jam-packed day.
- Better sleep – The tiredness we get from being physically active is a good kind of tiredness, where our body is flooded with happy endorphins and ready to relax. This helps improve sleep quality and can prevent insomnia, which is a very common issue for seniors.
- Disease prevention and management – Physical exercise helps prevent and manage a wide range of health conditions that affect seniors, from diabetes and heart disease to high blood pressure, cholesterol, depression, anxiety, and osteoporosis. If you do have any of these conditions, talk to your doctor first to get some guidance on the right way to exercise to get the most benefit.
Exercises for seniors to do at home
What’s even better is that you don’t need to join a gym to get fit! Here are some of the best exercises you can do right in the comfort of your own home.
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- Resistance band workouts – Using a rubber resistance band, you can exercise almost any area of your body for a simple and inexpensive workout. These are best used for leg presses, tricep presses, bicep curls, isometric exercises, and lateral raises. If that sounds complicated, we promise it’s really not! Here’s a useful exercise video to guide you.
- Pilates – Yes, pilates isn’t just for youngsters – in fact, it was first developed as a physical rehabilitation practice for injured soldiers. It focuses on building up your core strength – that’s your torso, thighs, and shoulders – to keep your core strong and prevent injuries while you move. Sometimes these classes use a large ball or resistance band, but you can also just use a yoga mat, like in this useful pilates video.
- Walking – Not only is going for a walk free, but it also has the advantage of fresh air, and nature too! Make sure you have good quality, supportive shoes, and an outdoor walking stick if you need one. It’s also a good idea to walk with a group, as it’s a great way to make friends, get to know different trails in your area, and explore the neighborhood.
- Swimming and water aerobics – Working out in the pool is a great way to stay cool – and your joints will love it too. It’s the best low impact workout for your body and exercising gently will give you good results. Swimming helps improve muscle tone, range of motion, lung health, and more. And if you don’t have a pool at home, you can always visit a loved one or use your local gym.
Home health aides for seniors in New Jersey
Looking for at-home support for your senior loved one? The United Methodist Communities HomeWorks program is designed for seniors who want more assistance in daily life, while still enjoying the comfort of home and the community they grew up in.
To find out how we can help you live an abundant and independent life as a senior through at-home care, please contact us today to learn more about our home health aide services or visit our website at:
