Staying Active With A Visiting Angels 24 Hour Home Health Care Aide In Eldersburg, MD
Staying Active Has Benefits
When it comes to health while aging, there may be no better way to maintain health than staying active. This may be harder for some, so for them a 24 hour home health care aide may be just what they need. Luckily, Visiting Angels Eldersburg can incorporate these services into your loved one’s plan.
Of course, those who need the extra help may fret that staying active may lead to injury, but the National Institute of Health says the opposite is true. “For the most part, when older people lose their ability to do things on their own, it doesn’t happen just because they’ve aged,” the NIH said. “It’s usually because they’re not active.”
The U.S Surgeon General even released a report that detailed the many benefits that come from staying active. Some of these benefits are:
- Increased autonomy without risk of falling
- Better stamina for those with chronic health issues
- Decrease in overall anxiety
- Healthy joints and relief from arthritis pain
There are also benefits that abound from staying socially active as well. Moving around is important for physical health but talking to others is important for mental health. A Visiting Angels Eldersburg 24 hour home health care aide is perfect for this, as he or she will provide someone to talk to.
As far as the benefits of social interaction go, the National Institute on Aging refers to research that finds that seniors who are social:
- Are less likely to get certain diseases or health problems
- Generally are more likely to live longer
- Are far less depressed and anxious
- Can better cope with loss or stress
Exercise Should Be Encouraged
In order to ensure that your loved one is staying active, exercise should be encouraged frequently. Encourage exercises that can be done at home, with the help of our 24 hour home care health aides if need be. Before any exercise, talk to your loved one’s doctor about it to make sure it’s ok. Try to get them to focus on these exercises:
- Sweeping/mopping floors or raking leaves
- Aerobic exercises like dancing
- Fast-paced walks or casual bike rides
- Sitting down with leg extended while upper body is bent toward leg, switching legs
- Alternating between each shoulder, put a towel over it and grab from behind the back and pull until feeling resistance and hold for 30 to 60 seconds
If your loved one is doing at least one of these exercises on a regular basis, it will have a positive effect. It’s better to do one exercise than none at all. One may be enough to push your loved one in the right direction.
Contact us to learn more and schedule a free in home care assessment.