National Get Up and Move Day is a great reminder that exercise of any kind is important, especially as we age.

When we think about exercise, we often focus on more physical activities like competitive sports, going to the gym, cycling, or running. These are great ways to keep healthy, but out of reach for many older adults. Yet we know that exercise is crucial to maintain mobility, strength, and balance, all of which are key indicators for being at risk for a fall. In addition to mitigating fall risk, physical activity is proven to improve the quality of sleep and reduce blood pressure, feelings of anxiety, depression, and the risk of developing dementia.

The good news is that after the age 65, physical activity done every day (even if light) will help to keep you healthy. Light activities include household tasks like making the bed, cleaning and dusting, vacuuming, or even walking at a slow pace. In fact, just getting up to make a cup of tea involves the light activity of standing up, moving around the home, and balance.

For many older adults, even this light activity may need to be done with supervision. Springpoint at Home’s Certified Home Health Aids (CHHAs) can ensure your older adult doesn’t need to constantly go up and down the stairs. Instead, they can help do laundry, make the bed together, go for a walk around the house or outside, and serve as a reminder to get up and move every hour or so. A slow walk around the house or to the bathroom reduces time spent sitting or lying down for long periods of time, which is key.

If your older adult has not been physically active, you should first have them see a physician to determine the level of activity that is appropriate. Our Springpoint at Home Aging Life Care Advisors™ can accompany your older adult for this visit, plus any others. Then, a physical therapist can help give them exercises that are typically done sitting down, which will help to improve strength, balance, and flexibility. As strength increases, these exercises can transition into ones that are done standing.

There are many local and online classes – such as chair yoga or Tai Chi – which not only help your older adult’s health, but just as importantly give them the social interaction they may be lacking. If your older adult is physically able to participate in moderate-intensity activities, many gyms and senior centers offer water aerobics, dance classes, and walking for health paths.

A major barrier is often just not feeling like doing anything, which can be a sign of depression. Having someone like a Springpoint at Home CHHA serve as a walking partner or motivator to “get up and move” will help not only physical health, but mental as well. If getting to a gym or senior center is a barrier, then our Aging Life Care Advisors™ can help ensure that happens as well.

Because Springpoint at Home is committed to our clients’ physical and mental health and their socialization, let us work with you and your older adult to find a way to make these things happen. We understand that helping people engage in physical activity is an important part of our commitment to helping our clients live their best life possible.

For more information on how Springpoint at Home can help, please call: 609-301-2101.