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Home » Is There a Way to Make Exercise More Palatable for Your Elderly Adult?
For lots of people, exercise is not something that they would choose to do just for fun. If that describes your aging adult, then you know that you’ll need to get a little bit more creative about getting her moving.
Listen to Books or Watch Something Interesting
A distraction while exercising can be extremely helpful. Some people find it useful to listen to audiobooks or to watch something interesting. This is a lot easier to do if your elderly family member is exercising at home or in a gym. Walking on a treadmill, for instance, can get boring quickly but if your senior is watching a favorite television show, that time passes much faster.
Create a Game or Competition
Some people really enjoy a little bit of competition. If that works for your elderly family member, then you and she might want to make a bit of a game out of exercise. You might compete for minutes or some other type of goal, such as steps on your activity trackers. Find a prize that is worth the effort.
Make Exercise a Social Event
Exercising alone isn’t much fun at all, especially for someone who finds exercise boring. There might be a friend or neighbor your elderly family member might enjoy exercising with. If not, then you might want to consider hiring elderly care providers to offer a friendly ear while exercising. You’ll know your senior is in good hands and she’ll have a buddy to walk with for a bit.
Take Pictures or Notes on a Nature Walk
Nature walks can be a great way to get moving and to see some beautiful scenery. You can capture the moment by taking pictures or videos while you’re out. Another option is for your senior to keep a journal of where and when she walked and all the different things she saw.
Make Mall Walking a Window Shopping Spree
During inclement weather, walking outside is not always the best plan for your senior. This is why walking at the mall has gotten so popular, particularly for aging adults. Window shopping during the walk can help to add some interest and entertainment to what could be a fairly boring experience otherwise. It can also help to motivate your senior to keep going.
Exercise still might not be your senior’s very favorite activity, but you can keep trying to find ways to make it less annoying for her.