4 Ideas to Help Encourage Aging Parents to Stay Active

It is important to stay as active as possible throughout the course of one’s life. While some people understandably slow down as they get older, interspersed activity throughout the twilight years can make such a huge difference in a person’s wellbeing.

If your aging parents have begun to get too comfortable in their armchairs, then it might be a good idea to try and switch things up a gear. Do not push them too hard, but some encouragement to get out there and try new things can enrich their elder years beyond even their own wildest expectations.

Keep reading to discover 4 ideas that could help encourage your aging parents to stay active.

Set the Limits First

As people age, it is important that they recognize their limits. If they are not keen on doing much exercise, then setting some attainable goals might motivate them. Conversely, if they are overeager, then the restrictions you set will help them refrain from pushing themselves too hard.

A recent study showed that just 11 minutes of exercise a day is enough to help people live longer, so it could be a good idea to share that statistic with your folks. That way, you are painting a clearer picture of just how attainable their fitness goals are, increasing the likelihood of their full participation. It is also a remarkable statistic of sorts – one that could change their outlook toward exercise in one big swing.

It is also worth remembering that any solid exercise regimen starts small, then builds to something more testing overtime. Modest goals should always be the priority at the beginning, so be sure to slowly ease your elderly parents into their activities slowly rather than throwing them in at the deep end. You may find that they respond better to the idea of getting more exercise when the bar is sufficiently low, so try to nurture that fact.

Undertake Family Walks

The thought of going for a jog in bitter chills or oppressive heat will understandably not excite many people out there, let alone elderly people. Leave such suggestions off the table now and instead offer up something more universally agreeable.

For example, the family walk can provide plenty of suitable exercise opportunities. Pick a woodland area with varied terrain and make a social occasion of the activity. Distracted by all the love and laughter, it might make everything easier. Playing with grandkids or pets during the expedition may be so wonderful to experience that some physical toil is completely worth it for them.

Family walks can also be organized on a weekly basis. This means that the exercise can be eased into their routine, rather than being a sobering ordeal. A fitness schedule can be built from this, helping their bodies to anticipate, and benefit from, the exercise.

Encourage Cycling

Cycling is enjoyed by millions of people worldwide, its appeal never wavering through the decades that pass by. It is also easy enough to master, which means it will not be too taxing on the elderly.

One of the great things about cycling is how its evolved as time as gone by. For example, e-bikes are now all the range, boasting increased accessibility for riders everywhere. They can ease much of the physical toil that comes with bike riding and can even provide a more generous balance between speed and effort. This will help your parents get around more ably and independently.

There is also insurance for cyclists available from Velosurance, covering eventualities like theft and damage. Everyone working for this company are avid bicycle enthusiasts themselves, so you can be sure that you are speaking to experts with quality guidance in your dealings with them. In the end, cycling is a pastime that has plenty of support and assurances, which may provide some encouragement for them to stay active.

Suggest A Group Membership Program

Your elderly parents may be more inclined to exercise if they are surrounded by motivated peers. That way, they will inevitably ask themselves the question; if they can do something, why not me?

Many senior Americans are trying to lead active lives but are still facing some degree of loneliness and isolation unfortunately. Noting this, it could be a good idea to fuse these two things together in a perfect combination. If they can exercise as part of a community, they will experience enormous benefits to not only their physical health, but to their social lives also. They could make new friends, and bond with likeminded individuals in an encouraging environment.

Out there you may find walking groups for senior citizens, alongside things like retreats and specially tailored holidays that will, among other things, nurture a healthy exercise regimen for them. Perhaps an adventure of sorts is the stimulant your parents need to stay active? They can enjoy other activities that are not exercise related, helping them break up their activities with relaxation and good fun too.