If you are helping to care for your elderly loved one during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are some things you should do. One of the most important things is to make sure they stay active. Living a sedentary lifestyle, especially throughout this entire pandemic, can cause your elderly loved one to experience depression and worsened health issues. Even though they need to continue practicing social distancing guidelines, there are still ways they can stay active.
Elder Care Staten Island NY – Tips for Keeping Senior Citizens Active Amongst the COVID-19 Social Distancing Guidelines
Taking Active, Short Breaks Over the Course of the Day
One of the ways that you and your loved one’s elder care providers can get them to be more active is by having them take active, short breaks. Don’t overwhelm your elderly loved one by having them do physical activity for a long time. 10 to 30 minutes is a good start. If they do this at least 4 to 6 days a week, it can give them something to keep their mind occupied, while boosting their health. Just because people need to be social distancing right now, that doesn’t mean your elderly loved one can’t continue to be physically active.
Online Exercise Programs or Classes
With COVID-19 running rampant around the world, many gyms, fitness centers, and trails are closed off. However, you or your loved one’s elder care providers can get them involved in an online exercise program or class, as well. There are many free or low-cost programs and classes that your elderly loved one can take part in. You can search YouTube or Google to find these exercise programs and classes.
Walking
No matter where your elderly loved one lives, walking is still allowed. They can walk in their home on bad weather days. Their elder care provider can take them outside to walk around their yard or up and down their road. Walking can help your elderly loved one to get some fresh air during this COVID-19 pandemic. It can also help to relieve stress and anxiety, as well.
Get Up
Your elderly loved one can stay active by just getting up more often, too. They can get up and help their elder care provider to make a meal or do the laundry. Your elderly loved one can get up and take a walk across their house. As long as they keep getting up throughout the day, this can keep them physically fit while they are social distancing.
These are some of the best tips for keeping senior citizens active amongst the COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. Encourage your elderly loved one to get up and move every day. This can help them in more ways than you may realize.
Sources: https://www.choosemyplate.gov/ten-tips-physical-activity-home-work-and-play
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/health/health-advice/a31697332/staying-fit-healthy-self-isolating/
