Seniors Benefit from Physical Activity when Living with a Health Condition

By Martha Swats, Owner/Administrator, Comfort Keepers

(New Hampshire, December 2022)  

The good news is that those with a health condition can still benefit from physical activities and exercise. The National Institute on Aging recommends the following activities for exercising with chronic conditions that often impact the quality of life in our later years.

Alzheimer's disease and related dementias

Being active and getting exercise may help people with Alzheimer’s or another dementia feel better and can help them maintain a healthy weight and have regular toilet and sleep habits.  Some activities to share with a caregiver are a walk each day, dance to music, or simple task around the house.  Some things that help one stay active around the house include sweeping, dusting, lifting household items such as soup cans, or pedaling on a stationary bike. Moreover, a study published in Nature Metabolism reports that irisin, secreted by muscles during exercise, could be an effective therapeutic for addressing brain deficits resulting from Alzheimer's disease. 

Arthritis

Exercise can reduce joint pain and stiffness for those living with arthritis, helping 50% of people aged 65 years or older that experience arthritis.  Flexibility exercises such as upper- and lower-body stretching and tai chi can help keep joints moving, relieve stiffness, and give you more freedom of movement for everyday activities. Strengthening exercises, such as overhead arm raises, help maintain muscle strength to support and protect joints. Endurance exercises such as swimming make the heart and arteries healthier and may lessen swelling in some joints. 

Type 2 diabetes

Exercise and physical activity can help manage Type 2 diabetes. Walking and other daily exercises can help improve glucose levels in older people with diabetes. A few simple and easy steps to take each day include stretching during tv commercials, walking around when talking on the phone, and parking further away from our destination when running errands.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis becomes more prevalent as people age, with nearly 27% of women 65 and older having osteoporosis. Luckily, fun activities like walking or dancing three to four times a week help to build muscle and strengthen bones, all examples of weight-bearing exercises that work against gravity. Additionally, strengthening and balancing exercises like Tai Chi or practicing balancing on one leg can help avoid falls. 

For seniors, the second edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity such as brisk walking, at least two days a week of activities that strengthen muscles, and, essential at this age, exercises to improve balance. Of course, one should aim for the recommended activity level, but be as active as one is able. 

Comfort Keepers® Can Help

At Comfort Keepers® New Hampshire, our professional care team is trained to identify changes in client behavior and report them to the family. For those suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia, our caregivers can help them remain safe and comfortable at home, while providing everything from laundry and housekeeping to meal preparation and transportation. Learn more about how we can help seniors and other adult clients by contacting Comfort Keepers in Plymouth or Laconia ((603) 536-6060) today. If you would like us to call you back at more convenient time you can leave us a note here.

To help assess your loved ones needs and what steps you can take now, you are invited to take a short (3-5 minute) self-directed home care questionnaire.

About Comfort Keepers

Comfort Keepers is a leader in providing in-home care consisting of such services as companionship, transportation, housekeeping, meal preparation, bathing, mobility assistance, nursing services, and a host of additional items all meant to keep seniors living independently worry free in the comfort of their homes. Comfort Keepers have been serving New Hampshire residents since 2005. Let us help you stay independent.