For young people, it’s much easier to stay fit. Our bones and muscles can take the strain of workouts, and when we do pick up an injury, our bodies can repair themselves pretty quickly. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for the older generations. Here are some alternative ways to make sure the older members of your family remain fit and healthy in their later years.
Find somewhere that can support them throughout the day
One of the biggest causes of reduced fitness in the elderly can be isolation. If your loved one is left alone for long periods of the day, they could be tempted to merely sit around and watch TV rather than get up and stay active. The problem could be even worse if they’re living with conditions like dementia. If they’re struggling with memory loss, they could have problems washing, dressing or even feeding themselves. Without the right nourishment throughout the day, there is no way any individual of their age could have enough energy to live an active lifestyle.
If you’re worried about how to look after a loved one living with a condition like dementia, often the best thing to do is find a care facility that can provide them with the right level of support. Not only will facilities provide them with practical support, like cooked meals throughout the day, they can also help them and the rest of your family through the emotional aspect of the illness.
Make sure they get regular walks
When it comes to staying fit, it’s highly unlikely that somebody in their most senior years will be able to run a marathon anytime soon. For most, it would also be a struggle lifting heavy weights or completing any high-intensity workouts. Instead of sending them to the gym, simply encourage them to go out for regular walks throughout the week. Not only will it help them burn calories and remain at a healthy weight, it can also help with things like reducing the risk of high blood pressure, cholesterol and high blood sugar levels. It also has many mental health benefits as well. If they’re reluctant to go for a walk regularly, ask them to go for a walk with you. They’re more likely to go if they see it as a good way of socializing with a loved one rather than just exercising.
Check on any aches and pains
As our loved ones get older, it’s completely normally and very much expected for them to develop aches and pains in different bones and muscles. Although this is part and parcel of being older, it doesn’t mean that they should have to live with it. If your loved one is in pain, make sure you contact a health professional to see what can be done to reduce the pain. This could be something as minor as giving them exercises to complete to work on the problem area, to something more serious like having an operation. Whatever the problem, it’s important to get it sorted sooner rather than later as if it prevents them from moving around it could cause them to develop other health problems.