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Tag: Exercise

The Best 4 Things Senior Men Can Do To Stay Healthy

Posted on by Craig Bass
Home Care in Henderson NV
Home Care in Henderson NV

June is Men’s Health Month and now is the time to talk to your senior father about how he can stay healthy as he gets older. Senior men tend to minimize their health risks and conditions which can leave them open to developing more serious problems as they get older. One way that you can try to get your senior dad to focus on his health is to hire home care for your dad. Home care will help him make some healthy lifestyle changes that will improve his health now and in the future like:

Quit Smoking

Convincing a senior man to quit smoking can be a real challenge, especially if he’s been smoking for decades. The excuse that most senior men give for why they won’t quit is that it doesn’t matter at their point in their lives anyway. But it does matter. Within weeks of quitting smoking the lungs will start to repair themselves and create healthy cells. It is never too late to quit smoking. If your senior loved one needs help to quit make an appointment with their doctor. The doctor may be able to prescribe medication that will help your senior loved one quit smoking.

Exercise Daily

Exercise has been compared to the fountain of youth when it comes to aging. Senior men should be getting at least 30 minutes of exercise at least five days each week. It doesn’t have to be strenuous exercise but going for a walk, riding a bike, playing tennis, or playing golf are all excellent ways for senior men to be active. If your dad isn’t someone that likes to exercise you should help him find an activity that he likes to do so that he will want to be more active. The more active he is the healthier he will be as he gets older.

Limit Alcohol

Alcohol in moderation is fine, but men have a tendency to overdo it when it comes to alcohol. Having a beer after dinner watching TV is not problem but drinking in excess or drinking every day could start to impact his health. If your dad enjoys a drink you should talk with him about how much alcohol is healthy and how much alcohol isn’t. If your senior dad can limit his alcohol consumption to just once and awhile or if he drinks only small amounts at one time it can help him avoid some serious health problems in the future.

Get Regular Medical Checkups

Men are less likely to see the doctor regularly and that can significantly hurt their chances of staying healthy. Catching age-related illnesses early can make a big difference in how long your father lives and what his quality of life is like. Get your dad started seeing his primary care doctor on a regular basis and getting regular cancer screenings so that if he does develop any serious health problems the doctor can start treating the problem as quickly as possible.

 

If you are considering home care in Henderson, NV, for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616.

Yoga Benefits for Senior Citizens

Posted on by Craig Bass
Home Care in Las Vegas NV
Home Care in Las Vegas NV

There are numerous activities that senior citizens can benefit from. If you are helping to care for your elderly loved one, you may want to have them try out yoga. Studies show that elderly people who practice yoga can feel better emotionally, improve their health, and receive other benefits.

Staying Independent

Does your elderly loved one feel as if they are losing their independence? Maybe, there are some tasks they have had to get help for from you or home care providers. This may be making your elderly loved one feel bad about themselves. If this has happened, you should try talking your elderly loved one into doing yoga. Being able to accomplish the different moves and strengthening their body through yoga practice can help your elderly loved one to be more independent. It can boost their confidence in the things they are still able to do, as well.

Improving Mental Health

Has your elderly loved one been struggling with mental health issues? Maybe, they struggle with anxiety now that they are retired. Your elderly loved one may feel on edge a lot of the time because they don’t know what to do with themselves. If you want to help your elderly loved one to improve their mental health, you or a home care provider should get them into yoga. Research shows that yoga can reduce anxiety, depression, symptoms of PTSD, stress, and so much more. The more your elderly loved one gets into yoga, the more it can help to improve their mental health.

Improving Physical Health

Did you know that yoga can have positive affects on a person’s physical health? It isn’t just for boosting confidence and improving mental health. Research shows that various yoga poses can help with different aspects of physical health. Some of the physical health ailments that can be improved by doing yoga include weight, arthritis, chronic pain, inflammation, balance issues, and much more. Is your elderly loved one struggling with any of these issues? If so, you and home care providers should remind them to practice yoga every day.

Conclusion

These are some of the many yoga benefits that senior citizens can gain. If your elderly loved one needs help improving their physical health, mental health, or feelings of independence or confidence, you should encourage them to practice yoga. There are various yoga programs and apps that can help people to learn yoga. Your elderly loved one can start with the most basic yoga positions and move up from there.

Sources
https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-11-2013/health-benefits-of-yoga.html

 

If you are considering home care in Las Vegas, NV for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616.

Strength Training – How Does It Work and What Are the Benefits?

Posted on by Craig Bass
Home Care in Las Vegas NV
Home Care in Las Vegas NV

You’ve heard all about the recommendation that adults get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day. Your mom goes for walks with her dog, but that’s all she does. Her doctor recommends that she start adding strength training to her daily routine.

What is strength training? What types of activities does it cover, and how are they going to help her? Learn more about the benefits of strength training and tips for getting started.

The Benefits of Strength Training

Strength training involves exercises that build and strengthen the muscles you have. As you strengthen the muscles, it improves balance and coordination. It reduces the risk of falling. You also improve bone density.

Osteoporosis affects approximately 10 million men and women in the U.S. When you strengthen the muscles, it also helps maintain the bones. Strength training reduces your mom’s chances of developing osteoporosis.

Strength training also helps lower the risk of other chronic health conditions and improves flexibility. Plus, strong muscles and joints can help prevent severe arthritis pain.

A 2015 study looked at the health data for close to 400,000 adults up to 80. Those who completed strength training exercises twice a week were less likely to have conditions like obesity and diabetes.

Aim For Twice a Week

Your mom wants to work on strength training exercises two days a week. The best fitness plan is one that varies the activities. She could walk twice a week, do strength training twice a week, and ride a bike or swim laps on the other days.

What types of activities should she engage in? Strength training workouts focus on the muscles in different areas of the body. One day, she could do legs and hips. On the next day, she could do her arms and shoulders. Abs and back muscles round out her plan. If she keeps circling through these areas, she’ll find muscle strength improves within weeks.

Getting Started With Strength Training

Ask your mom’s doctor if it would be advisable to have her work with a physical therapist. If she has health issues or has fallen in the past, it’s a good idea to have her work with therapists. She’ll target her strength training to match her wellness goals.

If her doctor says there are no limitations as long as she doesn’t push herself too hard, start with beginner videos. Some require equipment like weights or resistance bands. Decide if that’s worth the expense. Otherwise, look for videos that don’t require equipment.

With home care services, she stays safe when she lives alone by having help with daily chores. This is important if she has fallen in the past. She also gains companionship, which makes a difference when it comes to staying motivated with exercise routines. Call a home care agency to make arrangements.

Sources:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/strength-training-builds-more-than-muscles
https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(18)32137-8/fulltext

If you are considering home care in Las Vegas, NV for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616.

Six of the Best Habits to Embrace as You Age

Posted on by Craig Bass
Senior Care in Henderson NV
Senior Care in Henderson NV

As your parents’ caregiver, you need to keep your well-being in mind. At the same time, you also want them to stay in the best possible health, making it important for them to embrace healthy habits. Team up and make sure all of you are taking steps to improve your health.

Choose Meals and Snacks Wisely

Added sugars, high sodium items, saturated fat, and processed flours are all poor dietary choices. It’s time to embrace a diet that focuses on whole grains, lean proteins, healthy unsaturated fats, and a lot of fresh produce.

Make as much as you can from scratch using fresh fruits and vegetables, grains like farrow and barley, and healthy fats like walnut oil or extra virgin olive oil. Canned low-sodium beans are high in fiber and low in fat, so they’re a must-have. Stop snacking on cakes, cookies, and doughnuts. Instead, enjoy nuts, raw vegetables, and fresh fruit.

Exercise Often

Every day, you should aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate activity. If you feel you can do more than half an hour, feel free. Mix it up, too. Put on a Yoga or Tai Chi video before you shower in the morning. Go for a walk after dinner. Add weight training and aerobic activities throughout the week.

Stop Smoking

If you or your parents still smoke, it’s a good time to stop. Talk to your doctor about cessation aids that will help you kick the habit. Within weeks of quitting, your blood’s carbon monoxide levels return to normal.

You’ll find it’s easier to breathe. It also helps lower your blood pressure and reduces the risk of many chronic health conditions like gum disease and lung diseases.

Check Your Blood Pressure

See your doctor each year for a blood pressure screening. You may want to ask about electronic monitors you can use at home to track it so that you’re not dealing with doctor’s office anxiety when the reading is taken.

Drink Plenty of Water

Everyone should be drinking about two liters of water per day. Set this as your goal, and do your best to reach it each day. Some foods will add water to your daily intake, but it’s also essential to drink enough water throughout the day.

Make Time for Fun

It’s just as crucial for you to take breaks. If you’re busy helping your mom and dad and keeping up with work, stop and think about your last day off. Has it been months or years since you did something fun like take a vacation or went out with your friends?

Hire senior care aides to help your parents for a few days. While their needs are covered, you’ll have time to go on a trip. Take some days off, sleep in, and lounge around the home for a chance.

No matter how you decide to relax and unwind, make sure you take this time for yourself. Senior care is the best way to ensure everyone’s needs are covered.

If you are considering senior care in Henderson, NV for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616.