Millions of older adults are now spending more time at home due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the resulting shelter-in-place and social distancing orders. Unfortunately, that’s keeping many homebound seniors from getting to the gym for the regular exercise they need to keep their minds and bodies fit. As a result, many are seeking alternative ways to stay in shape while self-isolating. If you’re currently serving as an informal caregiver for an aging in place loved one, here are some low impact forms of exercise that can easily be done at home.

How Low Impact Exercise Benefits Seniors

Many people aged 60-and-above suffer from joint and muscle pain flareups, along with chronic health conditions like osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and cardiovascular disease, that limit their physical activity. As a result, it’s not a good idea for them to participate in high impact forms of exercise like weightlifting, running or aerobics.

On the other hand, studies have found that seniors who regularly participate in low impact workouts still enjoy many of the same benefits as do individuals who do high-impact exercises.

Here are some of the positives that seniors derive from low impact workouts:

  • Relieves stress
  • Improves cardiovascular endurance
  • Increases muscle and bone mass
  • Helps normalize blood sugar levels
  • Builds self-esteem
  • Improves flexibility, balance and coordination
  • Sharpens mental acuity which helps prevent cognitive decline

As you can see, getting an aging loved one who’s homebound right now to participate in a low impact exercise program is a winning proposition when it comes to keeping them happy and healthy!

Great Low Impact Workouts for the Elderly

The goal of your senior is to get 150 minutes of low impact exercise per week. If it’s been a while since they last exercised, before getting started be sure that they’ve been cleared by their doctor.

Here are some great low impact forms of exercise for older adults:

Walking

Walking is an aerobic exercise that’s also gentle on the back, knees and ankles. Taking a 2 to 3 mile walk several times a week will help lower stress and improve cardiovascular endurance. Before they hit the road, make sure that your senior has a good, supportive pair of walking shoes. And, also remind them to practice social distancing when they see other people.

Swimming

If there’s a pool on the premises, encourage your loved one to swim or do water aerobics 3 to 5X per week. Water is very buoyant, which means it supports a person’s body weight and takes pressure off arthritic joints. Overall, water exercises are a gentle way to tone up and slim down.

Yoga

Practiced for thousands of years, Yoga is a total mind and body form of low impact exercise that improves flexibility, balance and coordination, and builds core muscle strength. Because of the breathing exercises that are involved in Yoga, it’s also a great stress reducer and mood booster.

Sitting Exercises

For seniors with mobility issues, doing sitting exercises like chair aerobics allows them to build muscle, increase blood circulation and keep their joints more flexible without having to worry about falling.

Strength-Building Exercises

Since heavy weightlifting is a no-no for older adults, encourage your senior to use light hand weights, large cans of soup or resistance bands to workout their arms and legs several times a week. Not only will they increase muscle strength, strength-building exercises will also improve joint flexibility and range of motion.

We Help Homebound Seniors Stay Active & Fit

Helping a sheltering-in-place loved one exercise can be challenging when you live far away or don’t have the time. When you need assistance, contact Seniors Prefer Homecare. As a fully licensed and insured home care agency, our highly skilled caregivers can step in and provide the in-home exercise support that your senior needs so they can continue living comfortably in place right where they want to be. While serving as an extended family in your loved one’s home, our goal is to maintain their quality of life with a sense of dignity and independence.

Our “cream of the crop” in-home services range from companionship care and personal care, to live-in or 24-hour care. We also have full-time RNs and social workers on staff who can answer your questions and alleviate your concerns. To learn more about Seniors Prefer Homecare now, or to schedule a FREE in-home consultation with a case manager today for a senior in Huntsville or Tuscaloosa, AL, please visit us at: www.seniorspreferhomecare.com.