You can help keep your senior loved one active and healthy this season by setting a variety of different health-related goals. Being goal-oriented is one of the best ways to ensure your loved one is living a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle.
1. Set Goals That Are Measurable
Your loved one will feel a sense of accomplishment if they see their efforts are helping them get healthy. If you don’t set a measurable goal, your family member may become uninterested or demotivated. Always set measurable goals that are achievable and realistic.
2. Create a Workout Plan
The best way to ensure your loved one is getting the proper nutrition and exercise they need is to create a plan. If they have a set of instructions to follow, it will be much easier for them to stick with it for the long term.
3. Don’t Push Yourself Too Hard
While you want to make sure your loved one is getting enough exercise, you want to ensure you don’t push them to a point where they may injure themselves. Make sure they are performing exercises that work their muscles but don’t threaten their wellbeing. Talk to their doctor if necessary.
4. Be Active at Least Once per Day
It is recommended that seniors over the age of 65 engage in at least 150 minutes of physical activity a week. By dedicating 30 minutes to exercise each day, your senior loved one will easily reach the 150-minute mark each week.
Two of these days should also be dedicated to strength-building exercises, while the rest can be light to mild cardio/aerobics. This can include going on walks or taking a water aerobics class at the local community centre. Whatever your loved one’s preference, it’s important to keep them moving to keep them healthy.
5. Eat a Balanced Diet
As we age, our bodies change, which means our diets need to change as well. It’s important for your senior loved ones to avoid eating saturated fats, trans fats, refined grains, salt, and sugar. It’s important to create a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, meats, and dairy.
Portion control is also an issue. To avoid this problem, consider investing in portion control plates, which show exactly how much of each food group your loved one should be eating at each meal.
6. Take a Daily Multivitamin
Many seniors fall short of the daily recommended amount of many vitamins and minerals. If their diets are not providing them with adequate nutrition, a multivitamin can help them meet the daily recommendations.
Adequate vitamin and mineral intake can help prevent a wide variety of health-related problems, from anemia to depression.
7. Get a Workout Buddy
Having a workout buddy has multiple benefits for your senior loved one. Not only will it motivate them to stay on track, but it will keep the atmosphere of exercise fun and energetic.
If your senior loved one lives at home alone, it may be difficult for them to find someone who is willing to commute for regular exercise. A wonderful way to find a companion for your loved one, while also having someone check in to make sure they’re well, is to schedule an at-home visit from a senior caregiver. The caregiver can join your loved one in their exercise program and ensure they are working out properly, while also checking up on other aspects of their life to monitor their wellbeing.
