Working Caregiver- Caregiver Articles
One key is finding an exercise that is applicable
How to develop an attitude of lifestyle fitness in your seniors
 How often have you heard, or read that exercise is important for our senior population? I have to say; we have heard all our lives that exercise and diet are important and it only makes sense that as we age this importance would continue.
What can we do to make sure that our seniors get their exercise? Consider how people are in general. Those who like to exercise do, those who do not don't. What makes us think that just because we age our feelings about exercise are going to dramatically change?
One key is finding an exercise that is applicable. I am going to discuss our older seniors for the sake of this article as generally speaking, they have the least amount of options.
With age comes loss of flexibility, muscle strength and overall body tone. Combine this with the onset of arthritis, osteoporosis, heart and lung ailments and a host of other "obstacles to fitness" and you have a group of people, for whom, traditional exercise is out of the question.
We read about Tai Chi and Yoga for seniors as the "new" exercise of choice for the elderly. I have to ask who chose them? My issue with these programs, when taught traditionally, assume a certain level of muscle strength and balance for seniors. When questioning my 80 year old mother about Tai Chi I received a thumbs down response. I heard her say "I don't want to learn another language" along with "I don't have the balance for that stuff". She had tried a few classes and her lack of balance was a real issue even though Tai Chi is known to improve balance issues.
Resulting from interviews and testing on seniors, I discovered a need, developed my techniques and created a model of teaching movement and balance exercises that works for any level of capability. Using my mom's suggestion of "give me exercise I can do", my program incorporates very soft and gentle body movement with slow, controlled speed into exercises that our senior population is able to relate to.
Earlier I discussed that those who don't like to exercise won't. Activity directors, when I do my first demo for their residents, are amazed at the level of participation from those who normally do not participate. It comes down to teaching at a level of capability that they can do.
The program includes exercises, examples of why we do them, what it effects (in non-technical terms) and gives examples of how to incorporate many of the movements into everyday life.
So what is so great about the program? Well, we work on balance and leg strength. multiple coordination exercises, mind - body awareness, concentration, breathing, flexibility and range of motion. We do everything as slow as we can move, working the muscles. The exercises gently work the heart, lungs, upper and lower body and waist. The seniors, and also those much younger are usually very surprised at how hard they work in such a gentle program.
More than a follow along exercise program, we explain the life skills that are affected. I have found that having a reason to exercise, especially for the elderly makes a huge difference. One women who at 94 still knits found the hand and wrist exercises allowed her to hold her needles and move more fluidly. Another now leaves her walker in the hallway and comes walking into class.The residents at one center promote the class, dragging new residents in telling them they have to come to class.
We chat a lot, discuss issues, try not to take ourselves too serious, and talk about making fitness a game and about having an attitude of play in our lives
And yes, what makes it all work is patience, listening to the residents and teaching them not how I want to teach that day, but the kind of class the day demands.
A few questions to ask about your program:
1) Do you work with your seniors to get them involved and create an environment that invites them to participate in fitness exercise?
2) Do you get the participation you want?
3) Do you think by adding fun and a low barrier to entry would allow your program to be more successful?
Our senior population is a growing, living longer due to many factors including medical advancements, the development of care facilities and better diets. It takes the individual to work on keeping themselves fit enough to enjoy this extended time. It is up to those who care about and for them to make it possible.
Stan Cohen - Founder
ChiForLiving, LLC
stan@maturitymatters.net
908-246-9600
Senior Wellness Web
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