5 Fitness Tips Aging Adults Can Apply Immediately

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Though optimal health cannot be achieved overnight, there are a few things seniors can do to start feeling more fit right away. Here are some tips to help your elderly loved one work toward more immediate fitness goals. 

1. Invest in a Pedometer

Older adults often have a difficult time estimating how much exercise they’re getting every day. One quick, accurate, and affordable way to remedy this is to purchase a wearable pedometer. This small device can easily be clipped to a belt and give your loved one exact numbers on how much he or she walks every day and how many calories he or she is burning. 

If your aging loved one needs help managing everyday tasks or encouragement to adopt healthier lifestyle choices, turn to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of homecare services. Assisting Hands Home Care provides professional in-home caregivers around the clock to help seniors live longer, happier, and healthier lives.

2. Share Meals

Eating meals with friends and family members isn’t just a social affair. A 2012 study conducted at Cornell University found subjects who shared meals with at least one other person tended to eat healthier foods and fewer calories. This is also a great time for seniors and their caregivers to forge bonds with each other.

3. Use Less Salt

Our bodies rely on sodium to control blood pressure and increase nerve function, but the average American consumes much more salt than needed. Many of the foods your loved one eats are likely packed with salt to give them flavor, which can result in damaged kidneys and weakened arteries. Some flavorful alternatives include pepper, cumin, garlic, onion powder, curry, vinegar, and ginger. 

If you have a senior loved one who needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of home care Phoenix families can trust. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia. 

4. Head Outdoors

A vitamin D deficiency can result in a variety of unwanted medical and emotional issues, ranging from depression and seasonal affective disorder to bone loss and chronic inflammation. Instead of taking a daily vitamin D supplement, your loved one should try to get at least 30 minutes of sunlight per day. Even with sunscreen, your loved one’s body will still get a strong dose of this important vitamin after spending a few minutes outside. 

5. Swap Coffee for Green Tea

Switching from coffee to green tea can provide a number of amazing benefits. Unlike coffee, which actually causes dehydration, green tea has been shown to hydrate almost as effectively as pure water. This beverage contains cancer-fighting antioxidants, has practically no calories, and still provides a good amount of caffeine. Assistance with physical fitness is just one of the benefits seniors receive when families enlist the help of trained professional caregivers. Seniors who want to remain healthy as they age can benefit in a variety of ways when they receive professional in-home care. Phoenix, AZ, Assisting Hands Home Care is here to help your loved one accomplish daily tasks, prevent illness, and focus on living a healthier and more fulfilling life. Call us today to learn about our comprehensive in-home care plans.