Simple Ways to Get Your Parent More Active to Reduce Diabetes Risk

Elder Care in Sauk Centre MN: Simple Ways to Get Your Parent More Active to Reduce Diabetes Risk

Encouraging your aging loved one to get more physical activity on a regular basis is one of the most accessible, and yet most effective, ways to help reduce the risk for diabetes, and help your parent to manage a disease if it becomes a part their later years. Staying physically active helps your parents in a variety of ways, including helping them to maintain a healthy weight, lowers blood pressure, supports heart health, and more. For many elderly adults, the idea of staying physically active can be daunting. They might not like the idea of exercising, or worry about their challenges and limitations keeping them from being active. Fortunately, there are simple ways to get your parent more active to protect their health as they age.

Some simple ways to get your parent more active to reduce the risk for diabetes, and better manage the disease include:

• Walk around as much as possible. As long as it is safe for your aging parent, make it a game to see how many steps you can encourage them to take every day. Park a little further out in the lot, park on the opposite side of a shopping center or mall, take several trips from the car to the house when bringing in groceries, and more
• Choose the stairs rather than an elevator or escalator whenever possible
• Sign up for a dance class your parent can enjoy with you, or with other members of the senior community
• Join a gym and swim with your parent
• Invest in a pair of light weights and encourage your parent to lift them a few times at different points throughout the day
• Encourage your aging parent to play video games that require moving their body to operate the game. This is a great way for them to spend more time with their grandchildren as well

Mobility issues are extremely common among elderly adults, and can make a dramatic impact on functioning, health, and quality of life. This can make it harder for your parent to get as physically active as they should, and can reduce their quality of life as they don’t engage in as much activity and as many experiences as they should. An elder care provider can give your parent physical support and assistance that helps them to cope with these challenges. This can include helping them navigate their home, providing assistance when transferring, help with bathing, and more. Customized support from an elderly home care services provider can help your parent to stay healthier and safer, and encourage a more active and fulfilling lifestyle throughout their later years.

http://www.diabetes.org/are-you-at-risk/lower-your-risk/activity.html

If you or an aging loved-one are considering elder care in Sauk Centre, MN, please contact the caring staff at Alternative Senior Care today. Providing Home Care in Central Minnesota and Surrounding Communities. Call us Today (320) 352-3350.