Exercise can be done in many different ways. People can do cardio, lift weight, or any range of exercises. One of the best exercises for the elderly is walking. This might seem like such a basic exercise. However, it can benefit the elderly is numerous ways. Keep reading here to find out how walking is the secret to great health for the elderly.
Lowering Heart Disease Risk
Many elderly people have a higher risk of heart disease. If this is the case for your elderly loved one, walking regularly can actually help them to lower that risk. If your elderly loved one walks at a moderate to quick pace, it gets their heart pumping faster. This can lower their blood pressure, strengthen their heart, and reduce their overall chances of having heart issues, too. Your elderly loved one might be more willing to walk regularly if they had someone to do it with them. If you can’t do this, you can hire elderly care providers that would probably enjoy walking with your elderly loved one.
Improved Balance
Walking regularly can improve your elderly loved one’s balance, too. There are many senior citizens that fall every single day. Your elderly loved one doesn’t have to be one of them. If you or an elderly care provider help your loved one to stick to a daily walking routine, it can build up the strength in their legs. It can also help their core muscles. By doing this, your elderly loved one will have better balance. This means they have a lower risk of falling.
Feeling Happier
Did you know that walking regularly doesn’t just improve a person’s physical health? It can help your elderly loved one to feel happier, as well. If your elderly loved one walks regularly, especially when they do it outside, they can feel better about their body and about themselves. This can make them feel happier. In addition, if you or an elderly care provider walk with your loved one, that can give them more socialization. This can improve their happiness, as well.
Losing Weight
If your elderly loved one needs to lose some weight, walking regularly can help them with that. In fact, if your elderly loved one walks 30 minutes a day, that should get them around 2,700 to 4,500 steps. This depends on how quickly or slowly they walk. If they take 2 of these walks, that will be double the steps. This can be great in helping your elderly loved one to meet their weight loss goals.
Conclusion
These are some of the many benefits that regular walking can have on your elderly loved one. If your elderly loved one is looking for ways to improve their physical or emotional health, walking could be the secret they are looking for.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring elderly care services near Seneca, SC, contact Heart of the Carolinas Home Care at 864-991-3116. Providing Home Care Services in Greenville, Simpsonville, Greer, Anderson, Spartanburg, Mauldin, Seneca, Laurens, Charleston, Columbia and the surrounding areas.
Sources
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/walking-exercise-helps-seniors-stay-mobile-independent-201405287173
https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/healthy-living/physical-activity/walking/12-benefits-of-walking
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