10 minute read
Using Motion to
By Rick Lauber Using Motion to Spark Joy in Care
The Benefits of Exercise for Seniors
Using Motion to Spark Joy in Care
As a regular visitor to my father’s long-term care center, I couldn’t help but notice that numerous residents remained slouched in their wheelchairs and were more withdrawn. Care home staff explained that, due to their reduced physical and mental capabilities, these seniors had declined to the point of not being able to move as well as others and could not readily participate in activities.
It was a sad picture. I knew that Dad would dislike using a wheelchair (and his dementia would result in confusion and possible agitation about being possibly strapped into the chair), so I vowed to help care home workers to keep him moving – for as long as I could.
Although Alzheimer’s disease was robbing Dad of his memories, he remained in good physical health. Dad was always an avid walker, so walking became our activity of choice together. Warm summer days led us outside. Depending on Dad’s energy level, we could either stroll around the block or hike a longer river valley trail. In the winter, we looped around inside the facility. As recommended, I strapped a support belt around Dad’s waist – something I could hold onto should he start to wobble or grab if he tripped. While I didn’t stray far from Dad’s side on our outings, I was pleased to see that the belt wasn’t needed and that he often kept up a good pace.
7 Ways to Use Motion to Spark Joy for Seniors and Caregivers
Granted, choosing activities for older adults may be difficult. Your loved one may have lessened abilities, understanding, energy, and even – perhaps – desire to move and remain active. There are many exciting ways to incorporate productive motion into their daily care plan and reduce time simply sitting in front of a television. Here are a few ideas:
1. Join a Walking Club. If your older loved one is able to — a walking club can provide healthy socialization for seniors. A botanical garden, a lake, or a nature trail is an excellent addition to a walking route. These locations will offer beautiful scenery, possible wildlife or bird sightings, and benches for resting, if needed (just watch for more possible tripping hazards on a natural trail). Gentle hills can provide more exercise. For further motivation, a walking club could join a charity walk together and be encouraged by supporting a good cause. 2. Go swimming. Swimming provides great exercise for the entire body and good cardio as well. Head to a pool to either swim laps or enjoy a water aerobics class. After a swim, take a dip in the hot tub or relax in the sauna. 3. Practice yoga. Yoga is perfect for seniors as it provides a gentle means to improve posture, balance, and coordination. If you or your loved one cannot sit on a yoga mat on the floor, try these chair exercises to increase strength and balance. 4. Lift weights. This exercise doesn’t have to be extreme! You can use lighter (two or three-pound) weights for safe strength training. Seniors lifting light weights may find doing this deceiving, as it may not feel effective. Even with light weights, exercise can be overdone. Go slowly to avoid injury. 5. Go on field trips. Remember how much fun field trips were when you were back in school? Getting out can be greatly enjoyable and valuable at any age. Go to a museum, the zoo, or a baseball game. Long-term care homes may have a bus or van and welcome family caregivers along on their community field trips. 6. Register for an art class. Try to incorporate simple and engaging crafts. Whether it’s pottery, painting, or knitting/quilting, certain creative pursuits can increase dexterity in senior fingers, which may not get much regular movement. 7. Play with grandchildren. Bending over and lifting young children or following them around at a playground can be so much fun that seniors may not even realize they are being more active, improving balance, and getting a workout!
Simply put, regular movement will keep a senior’s body and mind moving. Here are several, more specific, advantages of exercise for seniors:
I Prevention of Disease. Maintaining regular physical activity can build a stronger body and immune system to help fight against many common diseases such as osteoporosis, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. I Increased Strength. Exercising helps maintain and build muscles. I Improved Mental Health. Regular exercise also keeps the brain’s wheels turning. Your older loved one will have clearer thinking, better concentration, and improved focus. I Fall Prevention. As seniors age, they become more unsteady on their feet.
With safe exercise, a senior can build strength and improve balance. I Better Flexibility. Regular stretching can result in being better able to bend, lean over, and reach for items. I Social Engagement. Outdoor group activities with proper social distancing are encouraged. By exercising with others, seniors can enjoy the social interaction while building their strength. I Improved quality of life. Incorporating exercise into one’s life leads to greater levels of happiness and energy. I Reduced stress. Exercise is a great way to calm down. Exercising produces endorphins within the body, which help a person feel relaxed.
Keeping older adults moving will help their body, mind, and spirit – and that’s a good reason to keep them active for as long as possible!
Resources: www.fitnessday.com www.livestrong.com/article/13720774-bestweight-loss-programs/
About the Author, Rick Lauber As a former co-caregiver, Rick Lauber helped and supported his own aging parents. His mother had Parkinson's and Leukemia and his father had Alzheimer's. Rick learned that caregiving is challenging and used writing to personally cope.
Free Subscriptions
www.RiverRegionBoom.com
10%
Off Your Purchase
Offer Expires 6/30/2021
Receive an additional 10% off if you are a Senior Citizen, Military or 1st Responder.
BOOM! Business Partner: Health Wise Foods
334.277.9925 O 5147 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery
10%
Off Your Purchase
Offer Expires 6/30/2021
We
❤What We Do!
BOOM! Business Partner: A Touch of L'amour
A Touch of L’amour
Cleaning Services
Cleaning Services: Residential_Business_Special Events_Closet Clean Out_Spot Cleaning_Pressure Washing 334.744.5524 O atouchoflamour.com
Financing as low as $75 per month with approved credit Take an Additional 5% Off
Splash Into Summer Sales Event $100 VISA Gift Card*
*With a minimum purchase of $5,000, Offer Expires 6/30/2021
Walk-In-Tubs - Fits in the same space as your existing bathtub or shower, Safety, Security, and Independence, Very low maintenance. Bath Remodeling - Tub to Shower Conversions, Stylish Update Options
15%
Off Any Session
Use Coupon Code: Boom15-107
Offer Expires 6/30/2021
Get 2 FREE
Additional Attendees When You Book a Party for 8 or More
Offer Expires 6/30/2021 BOOM! Business Partner: Bath Innovations
FREE CONSULTATION
(334) 271-2723 O bathinnovations.com
BOOM! Business Partner: Wine and Design
Date Night I Virtual Party I Private Events I Children Art Buzz I Team Building I D.I.Y. I Mobile Party (334) 245-3387 O wineanddesign.com
Tell Your Friends
BOOM! Available Here and 200 other locations!
Renfroe's Market_Adams Drugs_Sommer's Place_Fresh Market_Whole Foods Tomatino's_MCA Fitness_Vintage Cafe_Derk's_UPS Stores_Steak Out_Steaks & Wine The Vintage Olive_Capital City-Ace Hardware_Orange Therapy_Down the Street Chappy's Deli_Health Wise Foods_Eastbrook Flea Market_John Lee Paints Home Care Assistance_Doug's 2_Baumhower’s Restaurant_Jan's Beach House San Marcos_Chris' Hot Dogs_Lek's_SaZas_Mexico Tipico_La Zona Rosa Read the digital version from your phone, tablet, ipad or computer, www.RiverRegionBoom.com
OLD TIMEY PEST CONTROL
My Dad was born in a log cabin in rural Deep River, NC. His parents were sharecroppers, and the cabin was part of the farm where they sharecropped. My Grandfather, being a smart man, had married the daughter of the landowner, and eventually they inherited the farm and moved from the log cabin to the main house.
As a kid our week in Deep River in the summer was always a highlight – it was close enough to our home in Chapel Hill that Mom and Dad could drive us down, settle us in, and head home. While the main house was two stories, all I remember being used was After breakfast and doing the dishes, Grandfather would head to the barn to finish the chores with the animals. Sometimes one or both of us went with him to help with the milking, collecting eggs, feeding chickens (I was always terrified as they raced at us Grandparents, Alton and Minnie Wicker in their log cabin to get the hard corn kernels as we were shelling off the stored cobs for them – I When we came to visit in the summer, part of our job was helping her pick and weed – and PEST CONTROL! I HATED it; but was simultaneously fascinated with Grandmother’s pest control. We would head out with a handmade basket to gather whatever was ripe, and a jar about half filled with kerosene – to gather pests! Grandmother would pinch the pest bug with her fingers and drop it in the kerosene to die. I never could bring myself to touch the caterpillars and beetles and various bugs. I used a stick or some leaves or a bunch of grass to knock them into the kerosene jar. Grandmother was always very understanding of her “city” granddaughter’s squeamishness!
Garden Pest: Snails Garden Pest: Spotted Cucumber Beetle Garden Pest: Tomato Hornworm
the ground floor. My sister and I shared a big handmade feather bed on one end of the house, with my Grandmother and Grandfather in their room on the other and the sitting room in-between us. The house was the width of the room, so it had windows on three sides – I remember love running to the windows to look out in each direction.
In the Summer, the day started as the sun rose. The early 1900’s house had no air conditioning, so everyone wanted to be done with chores and back inside in the shade with the fans by late morning. Grandmother cooked breakfast on her electric stove in the summer – the wood stove was saved for wintertime when the heat it put off was welcome. thought they might peck my eye out!), feeding the mule, and cleaning the stalls. If we were helping Grandmother, it might be in the wash house with the big tub over the fire, and then running it through the mangle machine by hand.
My strongest memories, though, are of working in the garden with her. If they wanted to eat it, they pretty much had to grow it. So, the vegetable garden was HUGE! Grandaddy would wait at the edge of the field in early spring with the mule hooked to the plow, and as soon as it was light enough, off they went to plow the rows and rows and rows that Grandmother would plant with vegetables. Beans and tomatoes and squash and cucumbers and peppers and potatoes and …and… and… As the day heated, we moved inside, then in the late afternoon onto the front porch that ran the length of the house where we would sit in the shade and breeze under the huge trees and shell beans and peas, or shuck the corn, or churn butter from the milk. It was a gift to see the whole cycle of where the food came from, and to understand how much work went into the food that would appear on the table at supper time.
Beth Wicker, an intern in the 2021 Master Gardener Class, lives in Montgomery. For more information on becoming a master gardener, visit www.capcitymga.org or email capcitymag@gmail.com.
READ IT - LOVE IT - SHARE IT
BOOM! starts conversations and shares stories. Share your business with BOOM! readers. For more information call/text 334.324.3472 or visit www.riverregionboom.com
