We’ve all heard about the benefits of staying physical active. Regular physical activity can improve mood, keep us physically fit, and reduce our chance of developing diseases like heart disease and diabetes. It also can help prevent cognitive decline.
If someone you care for has a cognitive impairment such as dementia or Alzheimer’s, exercise is still important. After all, they still need to move their bodies. Physical activity also can improve their mood and help reduce the chance of falling, which is a growing risk over age 65.
Here are a few ways you can help someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease stay physically active:
1. Plan to take a walk together, even a short one. This boosts companionship and gives both of you a boost of energy.
2. Keep the physical activity short. It may be easier to break exercising into short mini-workouts, the National Institute on Aging recommends.
3. Think about the type of exercise your loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s can do. This may include:
- Walking
- Use of a stationary bike
- Dancing. Make it fun by calling it a dance party! Play tunes from their favorite music era.
- Lifting easy weights or even using soup cans from around the house
- Swimming
- Passing soft balloons or rubber balls back and forth
Of course, make sure to get the doctor’s OK before starting any new exercise with your loved one who has dementia or Alzheimer’s.
4. Include balance exercises and stretches. In addition to traditional workouts, we all should incorporate exercises that help improve our balance and flexibility. Tai chi, chair yoga, and gentle yoga are excellent options to boost balance and flexibility. There are many free videos on YouTube for these.
5. Talk to your loved one’s doctor about the best exercise options for someone in the later stages of dementia. Movements that are functional and help build overall strength, such as changing from a sitting to standing position, walking into a different room, and moving to sit in a different chair for each mealtime are useful, according to the U.K.-based Alzheimer’s Society. Other simple moves, such as balance in a standing position and sitting unsupported for a few minutes each day can help.
Call Secure Aging to Find Out How We Can Help Seniors With Care Management
At Secure Aging in Bradenton, we transform the weight of the world into a sigh of relief for our senior clients and their concerned family members. The mission of Secure Aging is to protect and preserve our client’s independence and dignity through careful and thoughtful financial and care management. As our clients age, it is their desire to remain independent and age with dignity. Our services protect our clients from talented con artists looking to exploit and deplete the financial resources of our vulnerable seniors. Secure Aging helps families in Manatee County and Sarasota County and in and around the communities of Anna Maria, Bradenton, Bradenton Beach, Ellenton, Holmes Beach, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat Key, Myakka City, Palmetto, Parrish, and Sarasota. Call us at 941-761-9338, or visit us online at www.secureaging.com.
