4 Tips for Helping Your Elderly Loved One Start an Exercise Routine
January 5, 2016
Elderly Care in Menlo Park CA
Your elderly loved one might know that she should be exercising more, but she may not feel motivated to actually get going. There are some things that you can do that can help her to ease into a regular daily exercise plan. Make sure that you talk regularly with your loved one about how she's feeling so that you can modify the plan as necessary.
Start Slowly and Increase Activity Gradually
Once you find an activity that your loved one enjoys doing, start out slowly with it and gradually increase the intensity and the duration as she's able. It's okay if your loved one can't walk very far or very fast from the very start. Gradually as she gets stronger, she'll be able to do more. Starting out with smaller goals will help her to stick with the activity and avoid hurting herself while she exercises.
Make Exercise Part of Her Daily Routine
Work with your loved one's senior care providers to fit her new exercise plan into her daily activity. Even if she only exercises for a few minutes each day, that counts toward her movement. If your loved one can exercise around the same time each day, she'll start to accept it more as part of her regular daily routine.
Help Her to Stick with It
Starting a new exercise plan is difficult for anyone of any age, so it's important to stay patient with your loved one. It can take a few weeks for exercise to become a daily habit, so the process takes some time. Have your loved one focus on the benefits that she gets from exercising, whether that's losing weight or helping her to reduce stress and simply feel better. Focusing on the goal can help her to commit to the plan.
There Will Be Ups and Downs
As with any new routine, your loved one is going to have her ups and her downs with her new exercise plan. Accept that from the beginning, and don't let her beat herself up for skipping a day or having a bad workout. There's always tomorrow, and at least she's trying.
Starting a new exercise plan doesn't have to be scary for your elderly loved one. Do what you can to make the shift easy and uncomplicated for her.
If you or an aging loved one are looking for elderly care services in Menlo Park, CA, please call Familiar Surroundings Home Care. Call today!
Santa Clara County: (408) 600-2760
San Mateo County: (650) 458-0140
Santa Cruz County: (831) 325-0890
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Elderly Care in Menlo Park CA
