After a lifetime of work and responsibility, seniors may suddenly find themselves
feeling tired, weak, lonely, bored or all of the above. While retirement ought to
be restful and rewarding, it needn’t and shouldn’t be sedentary. Without activity,
the body and mind can atrophy and sink into poor health and depression. Medical
research indicates that physical, mental, and social activity can increase both
the quality and length of life. Activities do not have to be strenuous to be effective.
Having fun is an indicator of how long the activity will be successful. Joining
your parent in an activity is not only healthy for them, it’s healthy for you too.
Staying safe while exercising is all-important for your senior citizen parent. Adequate
hydration will help your parent from becoming dehydrated. Make sure they have enough
water on hand and stop to drink frequently. Encourage your parent to take frequent
breaks during activities to avoid overexertion. Don’t forget, BeneVia® Strength
& Energy gives your body the nutrients it needs for exercise.
Weight training ranks high among the methods seniors can use to stave off some of
the harmful effects of aging. Research has shown that strength training adds bone
density, thereby reducing risk of osteoporosis and injury from falls. Working with
weights also preserves muscle that would otherwise vanish with age, and it reduces
risk of serious health problems such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Also,
working out helps maintain a healthy blood pressure, thereby reducing risk of vascular
dementia. Keep in mind that BeneVia® Heart Health and BeneVia® Strength
& Energy are both great for active adults as well as seniors.
Though severe disorders such as dementia can set in during middle age, seniors are
most at risk for decline in cognitive ability. The BeneVia® Memory & Focus
special formula is both great tasting as well as beneficial for the mind for all
ages. Keeping the mind active can prevent dementia, or at least delay its onset.
Seniors are encouraged to participate in a wide range of activities, from the relatively
passive crossword puzzles and word games to more active and creative pursuits such
as writing, painting and drawing. Embracing new technology also can help; researchers
from UCLA found that a week of basic internet training increased brain activity
in senior net-novices. Exploring the internet promoted activity in key sectors of
the brain, particularly those that control reasoning and decision making.
Along with exercise, social activities can prolong life and make retirement more
enjoyable. According to researchers from Harvard University, activities such as
going to church, attending sports events, joining a regular card game and enrolling
in senior travel groups carry significant health benefits. Following a 13-year study,
Harvard assistant health professor Thomas Glass postulated that such activity guards
against cognitive decline and helps the body preserve its cellular immunity and
defenses against disease. BeneVia® Immune Protect is perfect for sharing with
your parents on your social events.
The Harvard research advocated coupling exercise with social engagement–walking
in the mall in a group, or working out at a gym instead of alone at home, for example.
Seniors may also find it helpful to take on a low-stress part-time job. In addition
to mental and social stimulation, this can preserve their sense of worth, it can
fund certain social activities and relieve some of the stress of living on a fixed
income.
Here are some great activities to do with your parents:
Find something fun to do. Swinging a golf club is a great exercise. Golfing helps
your senior parent stay active by not only swinging the club, but walking the whole
golf course as well. Some people however, find golf more frustrating than fun.
Exercise the mind and body with yoga. This is a wonderful activity to keep the body
limber; gentle stretching and breathing exercises are emphasized. Yoga also teaches
how to focus and helps keep the mind active as well.
Dancing is not only a great exercise, it’s an enjoyable social function as well.
From jazz to jitterbug and ballet to ballroom, dancing cannot help but be great
fun for your senior citizen parent. So, go polka with your Papa.
Get your parent to the gym for weight training. Working with weights will add muscle
and maintain strength. The treadmill is a good walk and aerobic exercise will keep
your parent’s heart healthy.
Swimming is perhaps the best exercise for a senior citizen parent. When your parent
swims, there is little stress on the joints. It is very easy to increase the range
of motion while in the pool. Go to the beach for a salt-water swim; it has the added
benefit of soaking in salts much like bath salts.
