Have you been paying attention to how much physical activity your elderly loved one gets? Does it seem like most of the day they are just sitting around? Maybe, your elderly loved one’s in-home care providers say they just lay down the majority of the day. If this is happening, it is important for them and you to know how dangerous it could be for elderly adults to be inactive.
More Trouble Doing Things
The more inactive your elderly loved one is, the more likely they will be to have trouble doing things. Some of the things that will be more difficult if your elderly loved one doesn’t move around much include:
- Walking
- Exercising
- Going up and down stairs
- Getting out of bed
- Taking baths or showers
- Doing personal hygiene tasks
Make sure to talk to your elderly loved one about these difficulties. Let them know that you or in-home care providers can help them to move around more. You can work with them to set up a fitness plan that includes daily exercise. The more they move, the more it will help them to get things done.
Bone Deterioration
Another danger of inactivity in the elderly is faster bone deterioration. There are far too many senior citizens that are experiencing bone loss much quicker than they should be. Studies show that one of the main reasons for this is because they don’t move around daily. It is recommended that elderly people are moving around for a minimum of 30 minutes, 2 times every day.
If your elderly loved one can’t move around for 30 minutes at a time, make sure they are at least reaching the 1 hour time frame total throughout the day, if possible. This is going to help increase bone strength and reduce the risk of bone deterioration.
Worsened Mental Health
There are numerous mental health issues that can result from being inactive. Some of the mental health issues that your elderly loved one may experience if they are inactive include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- High Stress
It is important that you and senior care providers work with your elderly loved one if they are already experiencing these issues. Help them get started with an exercise plan. Once they start moving around more, some of these issues should be reduced or even resolve themselves.
Conclusion
These are some of the dangers of being inactive for elderly people. Make sure to let your elderly loved one know about them. Let them know that you or their in-home care providers can be around to help them be more active.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering In-Home Care in Pembroke Pines, FL please contact the caring staff at Specialized Nursing Services today. (305) 652-2799
Sources
https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/inactivity-among-adults-50plus/index.html