It feels like a frustrating irony. The health of your elderly parents isn’t what it used to be and you know exercise helps keep people healthy. Yet the very ailments which your parents suffer from seem to make exercise next to impossible.
In fact, all you have to do is adjust your assumptions and sort out programmes of exercise which are suitable for elderly people. When we think of exercise, images of jogging, aerobics and pumping weights pop into our minds. Quite obviously this sort of approach isn’t suitable for your octogenarian mother, but there are plenty of alternatives which are.
Benefits of Exercise for the Elderly
We all know the benefits of exercise: keeping weight under control, improving muscle tone, decreasing the risks of heart disease and even cancer. However, we probably aren’t aware of benefits which are particularly important to the elderly:
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Improved Balance. Simple balance exercises such as standing on one foot or walking from heel to toe can significantly improve balance in the elderly. Combine this with the benefits of improved muscle tone and the risk of falling can be greatly reduced.
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Better Sleep Patterns. Regular exercise makes it easier for the elderly to get to sleep at night as well as to stay asleep until the morning.
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Combats Depression and Keeps the Mind Alert. Exercise can stave off depression – a common problem in the elderly – and also helps guard against dementia.
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Better Posture & Coordination. Exercise improves the way people carry themselves, helping mobility and making it easier to carry out a range of physical tasks through better coordination.
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Helps Joints. Strengthening the muscles around joints, such as the knee, helps protect against degeneration.
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Natural Mood-Enhancement. Exercise makes the body release chemicals called endorphins. These promote a sense of happiness and wellbeing, improving your elderly parent’s mood.
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Improved Immune Response. Exercise strengthens the body’s immune system. Even minor infection can be much more serious for the elderly so it’s important to help them fight it off with a stronger immune system.
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Lower Blood Pressure. One of the biggest health problems experienced by the elderly is high blood pressure, putting them at much greater risk of stroke. Regular, gentle exercise can bring measureable improvements to this.
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Lower C-Reactive Protein. The body creates C-reactive protein as a response to inflammation, so those with conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis are likely to have elevated levels. This is thought to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Studies of elderly exercise have shown it can reduce levels of C-reactive proteins so this is yet another health benefit.
There are also secondary benefits to some exercise. For instance, participating in an exercise class for the elderly gives individuals the chance to meet up with other people and socialise, thereby combating
isolation.
The greatest benefit for many, however, is that increased levels of fitness mean your elderly parent can retain their independence for longer, which is a huge factor in retaining both quality of life and longevity.
Take the Proper Precautions
As with any significant change in physical activity when older, it is important to make sure this is done safely.
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Consult your GP. Any older person embarking on a programme of exercise should consult their doctor first and make sure he or she agrees with the plan.
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Warm Up! This is as important for older people exercising as it is for the young, even though the exercise is more gentle. Older muscles and joints are more vulnerable to damage so very mild warm-up exercises should lead into anything more strenuous.
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Hydration. This is important even without considering exercise, but doubly so if your elderly parents are exerting themselves. Make sure they are taking in plenty of water.
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Start Simple. This is not an area in which to be ambitious! Begin exercises at the simplest, easiest levels and work up to something more strenuous if it seems appropriate. Taking on too much is not only dangerous, it could also result in a negative experience which deters your elderly parent from trying anything else.
Join a Class
One of the best ways for older people to exercise is to join a class. Not only will they benefit from trained professionals providing them with the right exercises for their condition, they will also be in a sociable environment where they can have fun as well as get fit.
You can search online or ask at your local library about any activities in your area, but an excellent organisation to contact is
Extend. This is a charity which acts as an umbrella organisation to hundreds of teachers, all of whom have received comprehensive training recognised by the Register of Exercise Professionals.
The principle behind Extend’s work is exercise to music for the elderly and disabled.
“Extend bridges the gap between assisted or prescribed exercise (e.g. physiotherapy) and inaction. We help people to find a new dimension: to add quality to their lives, to take up the exercise challenge whatever their age. We help to put smiles on faces and air into lungs!”
They work in various places, from community centres and local halls to residential care and nursing homes. This is a great way for the elderly to exercise and many of the people who use Extend have seen the difference:
‘If you are feeling a bit low when you arrive, the class lifts your spirits and you feel so much better when you leave.’
‘My fingers are much more mobile, I can play the piano again’
‘My consultant told me I have made such a quick recovery as I was doing all the right exercises beforehand.’
‘It’s easier to get in and out of the bath.’
‘I can get up from picking something up or reaching into a low cupboard better than before.’
Even if the exercise is done at home using one of the many books available on the subject, it will make the world of difference to your parent’s life. It may be that your mum or dad isn’t keen on the idea at first, but with quiet encouragement and support they can embark on new habits that will truly improve their quality of life.
Caring in the Community
Nobilis provides
high-quality in-home care, but we have no intention of stopping there. We don’t just send our care staff into people’s homes to keep them safe and independent, we search the community in general to find services and support which will make the lives of the elderly or infirm easier and more fulfilling.
Extend is just one of the organisations we have found which we believe more people should know about. You will find others in our helpful information centre library. What’s more, we are available to advise you about a wide range of issues concerning care of the elderly. Just give our friendly support team a ring and we’ll be happy to share our knowledge and expertise, whether you’re interested in using our homecare services or not.
Telephone – 0845 680 0225