At Home Exercise Care for Seniors

Exercise is a very important part of senior care, but unfortunately, many seniors are not getting enough. Moderate daily exercise has many benefits for the body including increased strength, stamina, flexibility and much more. It can also be a great stress reliever and can improve mood. Exercise doesn’t have to be difficult or strenuous. There are many beneficial and effective exercises that can be done in the comfort of your own home.

Benefits of Physical Exercise

Physical exercise provides many benefits for seniors including:

• Maintains healthy bones and joints
• Can help to reduce blood pressure
• Increases muscle strength and stability
• Can help to reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer
• Can help to reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure and diabetes
• Improves mental well-being and can reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression
• Can help to increase and maintain stamina
• Reducing aches and pains that occur from being sedentary

At-home Exercises

Exercising at home doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult. There are many at-home exercises that you can do using furniture or items you already have. You also do not have to do strenuous exercises to get health benefits. The following at home exercises are a great choice for at-home exercise that can become a daily routine.

• Yoga
  • Yoga is a physical, mental and spiritual exercise that is centered around life balance. Yoga can help to increase flexibility, improve balance, reduce swelling and pain from joints, aid in digestion and improve mood. You can find out how to do yoga and different techniques on websites, DVDs and books. Wear comfortable clothing that allows you to stretch and put out a yoga mat or towel for cushioning. Make sure that you check with your doctor to make sure that yoga is a good choice for you, especially if you have health issues. Start slow and do not overexert yourself when trying yoga, as that can lead to injury.
• Walking
  • You do not have to be outside to enjoy a walk. Walking around your house can allow you to be mobile, increase your stamina and burn calories. Walking indoors provides you with the same health benefits as walking outdoors. You do not have to do all of you walking at once and can go for short walks through the house multiple times a day to break it up.
• Light weight workouts
  • Using weights is a great way to build up muscle and keep bones strong. Light weights can be used to do bicep curls, shoulder presses and other strength building exercises. It is important that you check with your healthcare provider before adding weights to your workout routine.
• Chair exercises
  • Using a chair can give you the support you need to do a variety of exercises including leg lifts, stretching out different muscles, toe taps, ankle rotations and standing toe raises. Chair exercises can help to alleviate pain and aid in regaining flexibility and mobility. Chair exercises can also help to develop lower body strength. Start with less challenging exercises to build up your muscles and prevent strain. You can find many different chair exercises on websites or ask your healthcare provider.
• Abdomen workout
  • This exercise can be done laying down, sitting up or standing. All you need to do is take in a deep breath and tighten the muscles in your abdomen. Then you will hold for three breaths and then exhale and release the contraction. You can repeat this exercise five to ten times.

There are many different exercises that you can do in the comfort of your own home. Start slow when it comes to exercise so that you will not overexert or injure yourself. You should also make sure that your doctor is aware of any new workouts that you are starting especially if you have pre-existing health concerns. A moderate amount of daily exercise can improve your overall health and wellbeing.