5 Benefits of Exercise for Seniors and Aging Adults

You’ve probably heard it before: physical activity and exercise are healthy for you, and you should try to incorporate them into your daily routine. Numerous studies have shown the major health benefits of exercise, which get more important as we age. Seniors who engage in regular physical activity and exercise improve their mental and physical health, which will help them preserve their independence as they get older. We’ve listed five advantages of fitness for elderly and aging adults below.

1. Prevent Disease

Studies have shown that keeping regular physical activity can help decrease the likelihood of heart disease and diabetes. Exercise can boost the immune system, which is significant for seniors as their immune systems are often impaired. Even light activity, such as walking, can help prevent avoidable diseases.

2. Improved Mental Health

Exercising has several mental health benefits. Endorphins (the “feel good” hormones) are released during exercise and work as a stress reliever, leaving you feeling pleased, satisfied and energized. In addition, exercise is known to help enhance sleep, which can help prevent sleepless nights and irregular sleep patterns.

3. Decreased Risks of Falls

Falls can happen more often as you get older, which can reduce maintaining independence. Exercise increases strength and flexibility, which helps with balance and coordination, lowering the chance of falling. It takes older adults longer to recover from falls, so exercises like yoga can help build strength to prevent falls.

4. Social Engagement

Whether you join a walking group, join a group fitness class or visit a gardening club, exercise can become an enjoyable social event. For aging folks, having a scheduled activity can help create a sense of purpose, and something to look forward to. Above all, choose an activity that you enjoy, and it will never feel like a chore again.

5. Improved Cognitive Function

Cognitive function is strengthened by regular physical activity and fine motor skills. Numerous studies show that physically active people have a lower risk of dementia, regardless of when they start a habit.

In Conclusion
Exercise is beneficial to your health; all you have to do is make it a priority and a part of your everyday life. Exercise has been demonstrated to prevent disease, reduce the chance of falls, promote mental health and well-being, strengthen social bonds, and improve cognitive performance in the elderly population. We hope that, regardless of your age, this will inspire you to incorporate fitness into your daily routine.

Get in touch with Rivers of Hope, if you or an aging loved one are considering hiring a Home Care Services in Fall River, MA. Call the caring staff at Rivers of Hope today at 508-857-0629. We provide Independent, Dependent, and Companion Care Services in Brockton, Boston, Braintree, Avon Randolph, Abington, and the surrounding areas. Visit riversofhopes.com to learn more about us

Elder Care in Randolph MA: Elderly Hospital Stay

Tips for When Your Elderly Loved One Needs to Stay in the Hospital

If you don’t currently have a plan for if your elderly loved one needs to stay in the hospital, it is time to change that. There are many things that could happen to cause your elderly loved one to be an inpatient at the hospital. While you can hope that these things don’t happen, it is still a good idea to have a plan for if they do. The tips mentioned here today can be good if your elderly loved one needs to stay in the hospital.

 

Elder Care in Randolph MA: Elderly Hospital Stay
Elder Care in Randolph MA: Elderly Hospital Stay

 

Having the Plan

The first thing you need to do is to have a plan. Who will stay at the hospital with your elderly loved one? Is someone going to stay with them when they go home? Who will take care of their medical bills – whether those are private pay or insurance covered? Will your elderly loved one need things from home? Having a plan in place ensures that your elderly loved one doesn’t feel more stressed than they already will be if they are in the hospital. In addition, it allows you and the home care providers to know and be prepared, too.

 

Getting the Best Advocate

Who is going to be your elderly loved one’s advocate if they need to stay in the hospital? Someone needs to be there to ensure your elderly loved one is getting the best care. There needs to be someone who will talk to the doctor and ensure all tests that are needed will be done. Will this be you? Is there another family member that would be a better advocate for your elderly loved one? Think about this ahead of time, before your elderly loved one needs to stay in the hospital.

 

Having Comfort in the Hospital

The hospital can be a very uncomfortable place no matter what. If your elderly loved one needs to stay there for more than a day or two, it would be best to have some things there that bring them comfort. For instance, you or a home care provider could bring your loved one their slippers, a favorite pillow, their sleep mask from home, or other things that bring them comfort. If you can help your elderly loved one to feel more comfortable, it is possible that this could help them heal faster.

 

Conclusion

These are some of the tips that could be helpful if your elderly loved one has to stay in the hospital for any length of time. Some elderly people have to stay in the hospital for months and others only have to stay there for a short period of time. Regardless, if your elderly loved one is going to be in the hospital for more than a couple of days, these tips can help them feel better while they are there.

 

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring a Elder Care in Randolph, MA, call the caring staff at Rivers of Hope today at 508-857-0629. Providing Independent, Dependent, and Companion Care Services in Brockton, Boston, Braintree, Avon Randolph, Abington, and the surrounding areas. riversofhopes.com

 

Sources

https://www.nia.nih.gov/