Grandparent’s need your care and June is the month to make them a priority. Yes, June is Care for your Grandparent’s Month and the perfect time for us to share ways to help your loved ones stay fit and active.
Everyone can benefit from moving more and exercise is known to prevent injury and falls, which is why it’s so important for those of us a little older and not just grandparent’s. It does this by strengthening bones and muscle and improving balance. Plus it has a positive impact on memory and concentration and we could all do with some of that.
Sociable and never too late to start
Being active is always easier in the warmer months and no matter the fitness or mobility level there is something for everyone. From walking to chair-based exercises, from ballroom dancing to yoga. Not forgetting walking football and netball which has grown in popularity and is not as easy as it sounds.
The key is to simply start
Here are a few things you can do with your loved ones – good for them and you. And don’t forget it doesn’t have to be restricted to ‘relatives’. Think elderly neighbours, anyone who might need a little extra support to get them moving.
- Plan a weekly activity that you do together, even if that’s helping them with the weekly shop. You might be surprised how many steps you can achieve just walking around the supermarket.
- Find out what they would like to do and facilitate it for them. Perhaps there is a local walking group, but transport is an issue for instance.
- Swimming is a fantastic exercise, one where the weight of the body is supported by the water. And after a session why not spend time together over a coffee.
- Take them with you on family outings. Even with restricted mobility, they are more likely to push themselves just a little to join in with a family activity.
- Being outside is good for the soul, whether a short walk in the park or a trip to the shops being outside is good for all of us.
Let your Grandparent’s know it’s easier than they think
In this day and age, there is so much on offer for the less mobile and older generation. There is information on the Age UK and the NHS Choices websites, from exercises that can be done at home to making physical activity a daily practice.
The Chartered Institute of Physiotherapy Love Activity Hate Exercise Campaign shares resources for all. Practical tips for getting started, useful condition-specific insights and inspiring stories from other people in your boat.
We should not presume here that the elderly need our help. In fact, many are an inspiration to us ‘younger’ folk and age really is only a number. Take Ken Jones for instance who is now 85 and ran the London Marathon this year. What you might not know about Ken is that he has run every single London Marathon since it started. So as of this year has taken part in thirty-nine!
If you have a loved one or neighbour who would like to be active but has a pain, injury or niggle stopping them. Please send them to us. At Sarum, we can relieve pain, create tailored exercise programmes and pride ourselves on getting our clients moving again. Doing what they love for as long as they want.
