Is “cooped up in the house” an adequate way to describe the average day of the elderly loved one in your home? If so, you’re not alone. With spring having just started, the majority of seniors in Canada have been spending quite a lot of time indoors over the past several months. However, it’s important that they get exercise. Sure, this is an important daily rule for all of us, but with diminished strength and mobility being commonplace amongst the elderly, staying active is especially necessary.

The weather may not be proving it just yet, but we are little over a week into the new spring season. It’s an excellent time to begin thinking about the various outdoor activities you can do with your elderly loved ones. It may be difficult to persuade some seniors to venture outside given the just-ended lengthy winter when they became accustomed to staying in the house. So here are some ideas that may help to encourage them:

Get your garden going.

Gardening is often considered a relaxing and enjoyable hobby for individuals in their senior years. It’s a great way to enjoy the warmth and sunshine while also beautifying the front and back yards of the home. Gardening is also a great activity that can be done with family members and friends. Engaging in routines that involve the presence of good company is practically a must to keep seniors in good spirits.

“Gardening is great for seniors, and the spring is a great time to start a garden,” agrees San Diego-based Meridian Home Care, “It’s exercise with a purpose – gardening encourages physical activity and the use of a range of motor skills, and as a result, the gardener winds up with a beautiful plant or healthy produce. Spending time in a garden can reduce stress levels for people who need help relaxing, but the work of gardening is stimulating enough so that the gardener doesn’t get bored.”

Go for a daily stroll.

Walking is a low-impact activity that has numerous health benefits. As Meridian Home Care points out, it has been shown to improve hearth health and lower blood sugar after eating. Walking is also known to help elderly individuals who may be dealing with chronic pain associated with such conditions as arthritis. And, according to studies, seniors in Canada are in dire need of taking more walks.

According to Active Aging Canada, “Statistics Canada reported in 2013 that only 1 in 5 adult, and older adult Canadians, achieve the recommended 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week, based on the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines. These inactive Canadians are unable to realize the health benefits of active living.”

Let’s work together on getting your elderly loved ones more active this spring!

At LifeCare Mobility Solutions, we understand that getting the seniors in your home to participate in more outdoor activities may not be the easiest feat. If they’re battling with balance issues, a walker or rollator may help to alleviate their concerns about falling down. Our high-quality wheeled walkers and rollators are designed to help seniors walk longer distances steadily and safely.

To learn more about them, please don’t hesitate to call us at 647-350-4488 or email us at info@lifecaremobility.ca. You may also contact us by filling out the form on our Contact page!