Are you concerned about your aging relative spending too much time just sitting around? If you are, it turns out you have cause to be. In a new study from researchers at Columbia University in New York City, data shows that people who spend more time sitting may not live as long as those who are active.
About the Study
There were 8,000 adult participants in the study. All of them were at least age 45. Participants were asked to wear an activity monitor for a minimum of 4 days while they did their regular activities. Monitoring took place between 2009 and 2013. Following the initial gathering of activity data, researchers followed the participants until 2017 to track deaths.
The results showed that people who got in just 30 minutes of low-intensity movement rather than sitting each day had a 17 percent lower risk of dying. More vigorous exercising had even better benefits, reducing mortality by 35 percent.
The good news here is that experts say that any kind of physical activity benefits health. It doesn’t have to be structured exercise classes, going for a jog, or working out at the gym.
How Senior Care Can Help Older Adults Move More
Left alone, many seniors could spend hours sitting in a recliner watching television. They may feel unsafe moving about, fearing they may fall. Or, they may simply lack the motivation to do much else. Senior care can help break that sedentary cycle by encouraging them to do all sorts of things. Some of the ways senior care can help older adults to move more are:
- Going for Walks: A senior care provider can take your aging relative for a walk around the neighborhood, making sure they don’t fall or become lost if they have cognitive issues. Walking around the neighborhood not only involves exercise it also gives them a chance to socialize with people they see along the way and take in some fresh air.
- Household Chores: Everyone likes to feel useful and productive, but that’s not always easy with old age. A senior care provider can help your loved one to stay involved in simple household chores that also involve movement, like folding laundry, standing at the sink to wash vegetables, or assisting with making the bed.
- Dancing: Dancing was a common pastime for many older adults when they were younger. A senior care provider can play some of the older adult’s favorite music and invite them to get up and dance around the living room.
Regardless of the mobility issues an elderly person may have, there are always ways a senior care provider can help them to move their muscles more. Even an older adult who is wheelchair bound can benefit from moving their arms and a senior care provider can help them to do that. Just having a friendly companion in the home may lift the mood of your elderly family member, making them inclined to do more.
Sources
https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/news/20190115/sit-less-each-day-to-live-longer#1
https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2018/11/12/hhs-releases-physical-activity-guidelines-americans-2nd-edition.html
If you or an aging loved one are considering senior care in Red Lodge, MT, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY HomeCare today at 406-839-2390.
