Many seniors enjoy exercising from the comfort of their own homes. Or sometimes, joining a gym or otherwise getting out of the house to exercise is not possible for them.
With a few simple pieces of equipment, you can help your older loved one have all the necessary tools to be able to complete a full workout on a regular basis at home.
A pedometer is a small, simple device that records the number of steps taken each day. It can help your loved work towards a target number of steps each day (this should be determined in conjunction with their physician). Simply moving about the house can help many achieve their daily walking goals, or else a stroll around the neighborhood can also help.
A popular option for tracking daily steps is the Fitbit. After the initial setup, which may require your help, daily tracking for your loved one is simple and fun.
This piece of equipment is a stationary bike with an attached back rest. This is a great option for those that cannot be on their feet too long or may have balance problems. If placed in the living room in front of a TV, your loved can easily squeeze in a few minutes of exercise every time they tune in to a show or a movie.
Good bikes start as low as $130 but can go all the way up to over $1,000 for the highest quality models with all the bells and whistles.
Stretching and strength training are integral parts of a fitness regimen for people of all ages – including seniors. And a few simple exercises are all it takes. The National Institute of Health has a sample strength training program for seniors and all that is required are a few simple pieces of equipment as noted below.
A set of dumbbells (for example, 3-, 5- and 8-pound pairs) can go a long way in terms of a strength training program. Help your loved one look for weights with non-slip grips (such as these Valeo Neoprene dumbbells) to minimize the risk of dropping them.
If easier, your loved one can opt for wrist and ankle weights instead. This can protect against the risk of dropping the weights, and can be easier for people with arthritis who may find it difficult to grip objects. These TheraBand ankle/wrist cuffs are a popular option.
Exercise bands, which are commonly used in rehabilitation programs, are a nice alternative or complement to weights. They are easier to store and transport (should you choose to exercise outdoors in a local park, for example) and are particularly well-suited to some exercises as they provide resistance in multiple directions and are not only reliant on gravity. Aylio offers a set of three bands with different resistance levels for around $20.
For those that suffer from arthritis, specifically stretching and strengthening the hands is very important. Some exercises can be performed without any equipment at all (see these Mayo Clinic examples). However, there are also a few simple tools that make exercising the hands more fun.
Hand exercise squeeze balls, such as these from Isokinetics or these from Handmaster, work key muscles in the fingers, hands and wrist. Aylio also makes mini resistance bands specifically for exercising the hand – these are a compact and convenient option as well.
With minimal equipment and cost you can help your loved one exercise and stay fit, all without leaving the comfort of their home.
Note: Tandem Lane does not specifically endorse any of the above-mentioned products, nor does it profit from your purchase of them.
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