Physical Fitness and Wellness Programs for Seniors

Physical Fitness and Wellness Programs for Seniors

Physical health becomes more of a priority when it comes to getting older. Staying healthy is important, but not all exercise is a great fit. Being mindful of what types of exercises will serve an individual’s body is one of the most important factors to consider.

Where there is tons of information online, it can feel overwhelming to seniors about which approach to take. Here, we break down wellness and fitness programs that suit seniors as well. where there is tons of information online, it can feel overwhelming to seniors about which approach to take. Here, we break down wellness and fitness programs that suit seniors as well.

Physical Fitness and Wellness Programs for Seniors

What Makes a Good Class?

The first question to talk about when it comes to choosing a health and wellness program for seniors is understanding what would make a good class. As we get older, our bones are more fragile, and we become more susceptible to falling due to lack of mobility.

Prioritizing exercise that will increase mobility and focus on balance are the two most important concepts. This means exercise that builds strength in our muscles should be at the forefront. 

Let’s talk about some of the great fitness activities that are perfect for seniors. This means exercise that builds strength in our muscles should be at the forefront. Let’s talk about some of the great fitness activities that are perfect for seniors.

Chair Yoga

You may not have heard of chair yoga before, but it is one of the best options for seniors out there. That’s because it hits all the areas of strength, training, mobility, flexibility, and even mental health.

Chair yoga, as you may have guessed, provides a chair for both resting and stability. This allows seniors to practice their moves in a space that is safe and provides support. It’s also great for many levels, whether you’re flexible and well-practiced or brand new. Chair yoga is great for everyone, not just seniors.

Strength Training

Strength, training, and physical therapy is an incredibly important part of exercise as you get older. A common misconception is that strength training is all about getting big muscles. But strength training should be functional, which means working on muscles to help keep us balanced and improve our everyday movement.

Often nowadays, physical therapy combines strength training to help with injury prevention. This is why many assisted living programs offer physical therapy as a part of daily activities. It’s common for joints to have wear and tear, and strength training may relieve some of the pain from this.

Water Aerobics 

Water aerobics is a fan favorite for many reasons. Not only is it super light on the joints, allowing many to participate in this kind of exercise, but it’s also great resistance training. Resistance training is a form of strength training without free weights.

Many programs with water aerobics offer fun classes whether it’s dancing in the water or more movement and strength-focused. Something that often keeps seniors away is adult diaper discomfort. Wearing waterproof diapers can be an easy fix.

Dance Class

For those who like to stay on their feet, dance class is a great way to meet people and stay connected. Whether you’re learning ballroom dance or participating in a Zumba class, getting up and moving around is a great program for seniors. Just because seniors are a little older doesn’t mean they can’t shake it to the music! 

Walking Clubs

Don’t underestimate the power of a good walk! During the pandemic walking became one of the most popular forms of exercise among all age groups of people. Walking has so many benefits and is a relatively easy exercise on the joints.

Being able to push yourself and add stairs and hills can put us in the zone two heart rate. This is a fat, burning heart rate zone, which is super beneficial to any seniors who might be slightly overweight. Walking can help lower blood pressure and provide mental clarity. 

Mindful Tips When Exercising

Whether it’s your first time exercising or your season pro, always keeping in mind these few tips will help keep you safe and healthy.

  1. Always start with a good warm-up. Our muscles and joints aren’t ready to go like we may be in the first minute. Proper stretching and heating up will help avoid any injuries.
  1. Staying hydrated will help with endurance, but water isn’t always enough when exercising. Including electrolytes in your hydration routine will fuel you.
  1. Exercise is difficult and can become boring quickly. That’s why it’s important to mix it up and also make it a social event where you can bond with other people doing the same thing.
  1. Consulting with your healthcare provider before engaging in any new exercise is always a good idea. They know your health history and can help make decisions about plans tailored for you.

Keeping the simple things in mind will help make exercise more fun than a chore. Because we tend to make things easier for the elderly. It’s often an excuse not to push ourselves, But with exercise to stay young and healthy, pushing ourselves the right amount is what we need.

Finding The Right Fit

Exercise plans should be tailored to an individual’s needs because all of our bodies are different. This is also true at senior age, with a lifetime of injuries and wear and tear. It’s important to keep these factors in mind when choosing the right exercise, someone who can endure the twists and turns of dancing may not enjoy water aerobics. 

Just the opposite, those who do water aerobics may not be capable of doing dancingGeneral exercises such as strength, training, and yoga are a better fit for everyone and can offer different pieces

Aging in Place vs. Assisted Living

Aging in Place vs. Assisted Living

The journey and navigation of aging is not an easy one. As we age, the balance of remaining independent while also knowing when to ask for assistance can be complicated. Often, the question of how to live and where to live continually creeps into the front of the conversation. There are many positives and drawbacks to both considerations. 

Here, we seek to explore what may be a good fit for an individual candidate. What may be good for one person may be a different situation for another. Let’s dive into it. 

Aging in Place vs. Assisted Living

What is Assisted Living?

Assisted living can look very different depending on the location. Even within an assisted program, there are many dimensions and options to cater to an individual’s needs. In a nutshell, it is a type of residential housing for the elderly who are in need of care or require any assistance with daily activities and duties.

This can include bathing, dressing, medication management, and meal preparation. It’s important to note that they may need assistance but are not hospital-ridden though there are often hospitals nearby or on site. 

Benefits of Assisted Living

There are many different benefits of assisted living which is why it is such a popular choice for the elderly and their supporting families. Often the needs that the elderly have cannot be met by family members due to time and qualifications. 

It can also put a strain on the relationship as caretakers can often feel overwhelmed and burned out after a period of time. Here are some of the key reasons assisted living becomes a viable option. 

Medical Care

Many assisted living programs have a unit dedicated to individuals who have more intense needs. They may be struggling with an ongoing illness such as Alzheimer’s and need daily assistance but can be taken care of by medical staff outside of an in-patient hospital. 

Often these nurses work directly with an affiliated hospital to help manage a plan that puts the patient in the most comfortable setting. All their medications and medical needs can be done on-site with a licensed nurse. This often can include physical therapy. 

Community Living

A part of assisted living is being in a community surrounded by individuals who are in similar positions as you. For many, this brings a world of comfort. Making connections at an older age can be difficult, but in the assisted living community is emphasized heavily on bringing joy to an otherwise tense situation. Often you can expect some of the following. 

  • Organized holiday parties and celebrations. This is especially true for those who may not have family visiting them. 
  • Weekly crafts and clubs such as knitting, reading, bingo, and many more fun activities that are easy to participate in.

There is a lot more to community living than just the activities, as just having a roommate often is a major boost to many’s happiness and well-being. 

Transportation Assistance

One of the best ways to keep independence is to be able to go out and attend doctor appointments and grab groceries. That’s why many assisted-living homes provide transportation to allow guests to continue to do these things. It’s the best of both worlds.

It also provides a safer community for all those around and the individuals living at the assisted living home. Often elderly drive much longer than they should to retain their independence.

Flexibility in Plans

One of the most important things when choosing an assisted living is to make sure the program can grow with you. This is because many individuals will constantly change with their needs as they age.

An assisted living program often will have many levels of assistance so they can continue to grow with the guest. This gives a lot of comfort to families and friends, knowing that their loved ones will be taken care of no matter what their circumstances are.

Drawbacks of Assisted Living

As with anything in life, there will always be positives and negatives to any choice. Assisted living has a lot of positives to look forward to. However, there are some drawbacks to be considered. 

Perspective to Consider

Mindset plays a role when someone is in assisted living. When a program is mismanaged and doesn’t have a lot of activities, it can start to feel dreary. If someone is placed in a unit that they are not meant for, it can make them feel like they are aging quickly.

For instance, somebody who has a healthy mind and is still very capable of doing daily activities can feel sad if surrounded by people who cannot. This is because it will trigger or remind them that this is a possible direction they are headed in.

This is why it is important to take your time when interviewing a place to ensure they handle guests properly.

Living at Home

While we just spent a good amount of time talking about assisted living, it would be remiss not to talk about why living at home can also be beneficial. Ultimately living at home is an independence that cannot be replicated. Let’s talk about some of the benefits. 

Benefits of Aging in Home

  • Being able to rely on yourself can actually make one feel more youthful. A great example is going to get groceries. This makes one get out and be active and stimulates their brain.
  • If you were lucky enough to have a family support system that does allow you to stay home, there is nothing like the comfort of familiarity. As we age, comfort should be a priority.
  • There are areas in between where traveling nurses can come assist at the house. This means not having to leave your home but also having a second pair of hands to help.

Aging can be frightening for many. Taking someone out of the comfort of their home can often be threatening. This is why including the person in the discussion as much as possible is important. 

Talking It Over

When it comes to making a decision as big as where one should live, the conversation usually takes place over many talks. There are a few things to consider on this topic. One of them is including a healthcare professional in your conversations. they will be able to not only give you recommendations but are also aware of the patient’s health history. 

They will be able to not only give you recommendations but are also aware of the patient’s health history. It’s also great to include different family members to get different viewpoints. The process should include different visits and talking to staff to see which assisted-living home would best fit the individual.