You may have heard of National Walking Day. It takes place on April 1st each year.
For 2019, it’s been renamed Move More Month. The goal is to get you to being active as often as possible. The recommendation is 30 minutes per day at least 5 days per week.
Some seniors start to slow down after retirement. Arthritis pain can be part of the reason. It can also be prompted by a sensitivity to cold weather, changes to vision, or side effects of medications. If your mom is slowing down, it’s time to get her walking. It’s important to her physical and mental health.
A Daily Walk and Its Benefits to Mental and Physical Health
It’s long been known that a brisk walk improves cardiovascular health. What else is walking good for?
The University of Cambridge in England performed one study that found a 20-minute walk every day reduced the risk of early death by about 33 percent. The study included more than 333,000 men and women. The problem is that not all seniors get up and walk. So, another study led by the University of Cambridge found that dog owners were more likely to walk a dog daily, even if the weather was lousy, making it a good idea to pair a senior with a dog to walk each day.
Brain health also benefits from a daily walk. In an Australian study, the patient records of over 12,000 men and women were studied. The people who got at least 45 to 60 minutes of moderate exercise regularly had higher cognitive skills.
A 2012 article in the Frontiers in Endocrinology found that at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week lowered the risk of developing type-2 diabetes. If speed walking or aerobics is possible, just 75 minutes per week seemed to be enough. The study also found that aerobic activities broken down into three 10-minute sessions each day was enough.
How Do You Get Your Mom to Walk?
If your mom is hesitant to walk because of medication side effects messing with her balance, talk to her doctor. There may be other medications that work the same without side effects like dizziness.
If it’s arthritis pain that keeps her from walking, a small circular pool may help. Her buoyancy in water can ease the pressure on the joints. After walking several circular laps, she creates a current that can be harder to walk against. That can build leg muscles, which will also help with balance and stamina.
Not sure you like the idea of your mom walking alone every day? Hire an elder care professional. Not only will your mom have company while she walks, but she gains a friend for companionship on rainy days too. Call an elder care agency to talk about companionship services from caregivers.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Elderly Care in San Francisco, CA, contact the friendly staff at Home Care Professionals today.
Call (866)-940-4855
Sources:
Heart.org
Telegraph.co.uk
Cambridge-news.co.uk
Bjsm.bmj.com
Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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