August 12, 2009 | Posted by: Carebuzz | Posted in: Health and Nutrition for Ventura Seniors, Ventura Senior Activities | Tagged: Fitness program, Senior exercise benefits, Ventura older adulthood
Exercising in older adulthood can be intimidating. We know you probably worry about injuring yourself, participating in activities that you won't enjoy, or generally what role it will play on your overall health, whether positive or negative. Despite your concerns, I don't think we need to tell you that there are extensive benefits to exercise that can change your life. Get outside in Ventura, get active, and follow these exercise tips in order to ensure that you have a safe and positive experience.
1. Most men and women over the age of 50 need to consult a doctor before beginning a fitness program, so to be cautious about your health, get clearance first
2. Choose an activity/routine that you will stick with and enjoy. Work with a trainer, join a group class, invest in exercise equipment for the home, or exercise outside with a friend
3. Start off slowly, increasing the duration and intensity of activities as your fitness abilities increase
4. Listen to what your body is telling you, if it hurts or causes too much physical strain, then stop the activity
5. Set realistic short and long-term goals, which for seniors should be about improving overall health
6. Keep a journal about your fitness activities for health purposes and to keep you motivated
7. Ensure that you choose a well-rounded fitness routine that incorporates resistance training, cardiovascular activities, exercises that promote flexibility, and those that promote balance
8. Make sure you have the right equipment, particularly clothing and supportive shoes
9. Make simple lifestyle changes to promote further exercise, like parking farther away from the grocery store entrance, or doing more housework yourself
10. Reward yourself for working hard
Sources:
1. SeniorJournal
Image Source: pro.corbis.com
August 10, 2009 | Posted by: Carebuzz | Posted in: Health and Nutrition for Ventura Seniors, Ventura Senior Activities | Tagged: Physical health, Senior stress, Ventura resistance training
Q - I care for a gentleman in his 70's who suffers from the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, and after the recent loss of his wife, struggles to keep up with simple day-to-day tasks like maintaining the house and preparing meals for himself. While my job is to make sure that his house is up kept and he has healthy meals available to him every night, I've never been one to only do the bare minimum of what my job requires me; so I've tried to improve his health in any other ways possible. We've recently begun on an exercise program, as recommended by his doctor, which includes a combination of cardiovascular activities and resistance training. The main goal here, has not been just to improve his physical health, it's also been to introduce an activity to help reduce stress at a time when he is obviously feeling overwhelmed and anxious about what the future has in store for him. Recently, when we were out for a walk around a park that's near his Ventura home, he mentioned that he finds our physical fitness routine is actually causing him more stress and anxiety. That's not the point at all, so what am I doing wrong?
A. While your heart's definitely in the right place, and exercise is definitely a great way to reduce stress; it is possible for seniors to feel more anxiety if the right approach is not used when beginning a new physical fitness routine. Here are a few ways for you to increase his enjoyment of his fitness routine, so it does help him to manage and reduce his stress as well as improve his overall health.
• Always choose activities that are enjoyable, otherwise seniors will grow to resent being physically active
• Avoid activities that are competitive to avoid creating natural tension. Seniors don't need to do activities solo, but they should make sure that they avoid competitive sports and other physical activities that make them feel like they want to win
• Aerobic and anaerobic exercises can both help reduce stress. Seniors should incorporate 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic exercise into their routines 3-5 days per week, and also try resistance training
• Don't begin any activity without clearance from a doctor or assistance from a fitness professional. Seniors who worry that by completing physical activities incorrectly they will injure themselves, or are concerned about the affects upon their health can make sure these stressors are avoided
Sources:
1. Suite 101
2. Mayo Clinic
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August 7, 2009 | Posted by: Carebuzz | Posted in: Health and Nutrition for Ventura Seniors, Ventura Senior Activities | Tagged: Elderly health, Outdoor activities, Ventura active seniors
With the summer in full swing here in Ventura, more and more seniors are getting outdoors and in turn getting active. There are extensive benefits to the body, with exposure to natural sunlight that can boost mood and improve physical health, but when it comes to getting in touch with nature, seniors can also benefit their minds, and that's something you might not expect.
Here's how seniors can benefit their health, body and mind, by getting in touch with nature:
• Attention and memory spans improve by 20% after a 50 to 55 minute walk in a natural setting
• Sights in nature cause reflection and mental stimulation
• In nature, your mind can focus on stimulus rather than tuning out other surroundings in the environment when it's overwhelming in a busy city environment
• Being in an environmental surrounding provides the brain with "active rest"
• Getting out into nature generally involves some form of physical activity and weight bearing activities like walking can help with osteoporosis and muscle strength
• Body weight, body fat and cholesterol is lowered when Ventura seniors get active by hiking or walking outdoors reducing the risk of stroke, and heart conditions
• The boomer generation has a strong sentimental to the outdoors based on Woodstock and other events, so it can take them back to fond memories of their youth
Sources:
1. AARP
Image Source: pro.corbis.com
July 22, 2009 | Posted by: Carebuzz | Posted in: Ventura Caregiver's Corner, Ventura Elder Home Care | Tagged: Elderly relative, Senior care, Ventura caregivers
Many people in Ventura provide care for their elderly relatives or family members either from a distance or by going to the senior's home to provide assistance with tasks of daily living. When adult children are constantly commuting to provide care for a senior, it can become stressful and challenging, so often they begin discussing the possibility of moving mom or dad into their home. While living with a senior care recipient can make some aspects of senior care easier, it can also come with a great number of changes which can be for the better or for the worse.
The biggest change that care providers will experience when moving an elderly relative into their home is the time involved; while previously, they might have only been with the senior for set hours a day before returning to their own home and other responsibilities, the senior is regularly there so they might ask for help more frequently. Senior care providers, who don???t live with their care recipients, typically spend about 15.5 hours per week on their care responsibilities, while those that provide live-in care end up with a full-time job that can take up as much as 39.4 hours of time per week on average. In order to alleviate the caregiver burden, there's another change that must take place when living with an elderly parent that they care for - for the first time, they might need to ask for help and not take on all the responsibilities on their own. With a full-time job providing live-in senior care, on top of responsibilities to family and children as well as a career; caregivers need to make time for themselves even if it means asking other family members to provide respite care or help out around the home.
Living with a senior care recipient can change everything, but for many families, it's the best decision they can make.
Via: Home Instead Senior Care
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July 15, 2009 | Posted by: Carebuzz | Posted in: Health and Nutrition for Ventura Seniors, Ventura Senior Activities | Tagged: Elderly physical fitness, Exercise for aging adults, Ventura senior health
Exercise is an important part of any Ventura senior's regular routine; the health and physical benefits are endless, but only if seniors are careful about the activities they choose and conscious of the effects they have upon their health. It is possible that seniors can harm their health through their exercise routines; find out if this is the case with your senior by answering the following questions.
• Your senior has consulted a doctor about their plans for physical fitness and is aware of exercises that are safe based on their health. Their doctor has also consulted them about exercise activities to avoid
• He/She will cease any activities that cause pain or discomfort
• He/She keeps the intensity level of activity light or moderate, ensuring that they are not so overexerted that they can maintain a regular conversation
• He/She remains aware of any preexisting injuries and adjusts activities to accommodate them
• He/She warms up for at least 5 minutes prior to exercising, and makes time for a brief cool down period as well
• He/She drinks plenty of water during and after exercise, and avoids having a big meal up to 2 hours before exercise
• He/She has the appropriate clothing and equipment for the physical activity - including properly fitting supportive shoes and always wears a hat and sunscreen when out in the sun
If you've answered "no" to any of the above questions, then your senior relative or care recipient just might not be doing their health any favors and safety could be at risk. Encourage them to adapt their methods so that they receive the optimal benefits from their activities, and avoid any detrimental effects.
Sources:
1. Mature Fitness
2. Family Doctor
July 13, 2009 | Posted by: Carebuzz | Posted in: Health and Nutrition for Ventura Seniors, Ventura Senior Activities | Tagged: Elderly fitness, Exercise benefits, Ventura senior lifestyle
As a geriatric care specialist in Ventura I am constantly encouraging my elderly clients to get out there and get moving, but as soon as I make the suggestion to many of them that to improve their health and mobility they should begin exercising, I'm confronted with the question "But aren't I too old"? Many seniors feel that the time has expired that they can exercise safely and easily, but in reality there really is no such thing as being too old to exercise. One thing I like to tell my clients, is that a fit and active 70-year-old can be stronger and in better health than a 30-year-old who leads a sedentary lifestyle. Age shouldn't be the distinguishing factor about whether or not a senior can exercise; provided they do it safely and carefully, they can improve their health no matter what their age!
Sources:
1. Mature Fitness
2. MedicineNet
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July 10, 2009 | Posted by: Carebuzz | Posted in: Ventura Caregiver's Corner, Ventura Senior Activities | Tagged: Art for elders, Caregivers, Ventura creative seniors
Do you have a senior in your care that shows creative tendencies? If so, you might want to consider introducing art as a part of your daily routine. Not only does it allow them to exercise their creativity, it's also a form of expression and communication that can stimulate their memory and their minds.
Living in Ventura you can go with your senior to learn an art form that interests them, which can include painting, pottery, drawing, knitting and even writing, which are classes often offered by community centers and local colleges. By attending these classes together, you can take what you learn to practice your new art hobbies at home, so it becomes an activity that caregivers and care recipients can do together to relax, share, communicate, and create memories with.
Sources:
1. Smart Senior
2. Seniors Making Art
Image Source: pro.corbis.com
