For seniors, managing to find the time or energy to exercise on a daily basis can be hard enough. But when the wind is blowing and the snow is falling, low temperatures and icy conditions can prevent everyone young and old from getting active during the dreaded winter months.

Remember, physical activity increases blood flow to your whole body. Staying active is important for your whole body, including your brain. Performing a minimal amount of daily physical movement and exercise can even help to prolong some of the memory loss and cognitive decline associated with aging.

Focus on Realistic Goals

The key to finding the appropriate activity and exercise for you or your aging loved ones is to focus on realistic goals. What do you want to accomplish through the pursuit of a particular workout?
For older adults, exercises should help to target important skills and abilities that will keep them safe in their daily routines.

Improve Fall Prevention

Each year, one-third of Americans age 65 or older experience an accidental fall that could end their lives. For seniors, living in fear of falling should not have to be a part of the daily routine. Aging adults can mitigate both fear and risk by dedicating a small window of time towards working on balance each day.

For a comprehensive list of movements geared towards fall prevention, check out Medline Plus’ entry on balance exercises. The workouts are easy enough to perform from the comfort of your own home or at work with little space. Examples of appropriate balance exercises include standing on one foot or using a chair to perform leg raises.

Choose Low Impact Activities

Looking for an excuse to adventure away from your usual spot at home or work? Don’t underestimate the value of walking for your strength training. If the sidewalks are plowed and the temperature is bearable, then take a stroll around the block. If winter conditions are discouraging, visit a large store or indoor mall and get your exercise done while shopping for groceries or new clothes. Stairs within your home or office can also provide the necessary challenge for a quick,
effective workout.

As an alternative, many adults with joint pain and arthritis will turn to water aerobics or other similar exercises that can be done in the pool as their outlet for physical activity. Water provides a kind of low-impact resistance training capable of targeting your joints and muscles.

Retain Your Flexibility

Don’t forget to incorporate a simple stretching warm-up into your normal exercise routine. As we age, our muscles become shorter and lose their elasticity causing a
decreased range of motion.

For seniors, stretching is essential for staying limber and flexible enough to perform the basic activities needed to get through the day. Yoga can provide the necessary movements and kind of low impact workout needed to increase flexibility as we age. Retaining good flexibility and range of motion through stretching can be even more
important when wearing layers to combat cold temperatures.

Don’t Give Up

If these exercises feel overwhelming at first, don’t simply quit. It can take your body weeks to adjust to a new routine of physical activity. Be sure to start with reasonable and realistic goals based on your current abilities and limitations.

Maribel Tobias-Ortiz, 20, has been named A Place at Home’s August Caregiver of the Month. She recently became a caregiver with A Place at Home a few months back, but in that time, she has gone above and beyond to give her clients the best care possible. “Maribel has only been with us for a couple of months and has already made a great impression with her clients. She is one of our top caregivers and we appreciate her being with A Place at Home,” said Nick Bohunis, Staffing Services Coordinator. Taking care of others isn’t something new for Maribel. From caring for her niece to assisting both of her grandpa’s during their end of life stages; she has always been passionate about helping those around her. One of Maribel’s grandparents battled with cancer for a few years, which ultimately led to him losing his eyesight, and eventually his life. Her other grandpa struggled with daily personal care, and while she did her best to help out, he ultimately took his own life after battling with depression for some time. While it was difficult to watch her grandparents health disintegrate, these experiences are what shaped her. It was these encounters which led her to unearth her life’s purpose. “I discovered my calling when I was a caregiver for both of my grandpa’s. It made me realize just how important the role of a caregiver truly is when someone is struggling to take care of themselves. I knew then that I wanted to pursue a career where I could have a genuine impact on the lives of others,” Maribel expressed. Maribel has found A Place at Home to be an incredible stepping stone to acquire the skills necessary for her future as a nurse. “Through their training and understanding, A Place at Home has armed me with the tools and knowledge necessary to pursue a career as a nurse,” Maribel said. Her client, Tag, and his wife Susie are incredibly thankful to have Maribel as a caregiver. “She is proactive, passionate, reliable, and very positive. If anyone deserves it, she definitely deserves to be the caregiver of the month,” Tag’s wife, Susie said. Congratulations Maribel and thanks for always showing A Place at Home seniors the CARE they deserve.

A Place at Home: Trust Us for Compassionate Senior Care

At A Place at Home senior care, we know that our in-home caregivers make us great. Our careful hiring practices and high standards ensure that seniors receive compassionate, reliable assistance with the activities of daily life. Our senior support services are planned around elderly individuals’ specific needs – and designed to maintain their dignity and independence. A Place at Home caregivers genuinely enjoy caring for others. Together, we work to provide each senior the opportunity to live their best life. Apply now or contact us to inquire about becoming a caregiver with us.

We’re fortunate to live in a time when we have several late-in-life care options. In home care services can help our loved ones maintain their independence and remain in their homes longer. For many families, as their loved ones reach the end of their lives, they are faced with a difficult choice between hospice care or palliative care.

Hospice care and palliative care are similar when it comes to the most important issue for people in the end stage of life, they both provide compassionate care.

Let’s explore these two options in order to help you to make the best choice for your loved ones at this difficult and emotional time.

 

Hospice Care

 

Hospice programs outnumber palliative care programs. Enrollment in a hospice program begins with a referral from the patient’s primary care doctor, and care is typically administered as a component of in home care services. Care is overseen by a hospice professional, and is provided in the patient’s home. Day-to-day, both the family caregiver and a visiting hospice nurse provide treatment. While hospice can provide around-the-clock care in a nursing home, a hospice facility, or occasionally in a hospital, it is typically provided as in home care services.

 

Palliative Care

 

Palliative teams consist of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals often provided at the facility or hospital where your loved one will first receive treatment. This team administers the care that ongoing comfort-care patients will receive. Palliative care can be administered in the patient’s home, but it is typically provided in a palliative care facility like a hospital, nursing home, or extended care facility where the team practices.

 

Other Considerations…

• To be eligible for hospice care, your loved one’s condition must be terminal, or they must be within 6 months of death. There are no time restrictions with palliative care, whether terminally ill or not.
• Hospice programs focus on the comfort of the patient rather than aggressive treatment. Because there are no time limits for palliative care, patients can receive comfort and treatment at any stage of disease, whether terminal or chronic.

Costs and the services provided can vary, so you should consult your insurance before making a final decision. Both hospice and palliative care can make your loved ones comfortable at the end of their lives. The final decision rests on the needs of both the patient and their family.