January is Shape Up month and that means it’s the best time of the year to talk about how seniors can be more active to help them get in shape. It’s often recommended that people get 10,000 steps per day in order to be health, but that’s not a hard and fast rule. Some research shows that people can get the same benefits just walking 7,000 steps a day. And for many seniors 7,000 steps a day is a lot more reachable than 10,000 steps. If your senior loved one wants to be more active and is counting steps to try and get in shape here are some great ways that seniors can get more steps every day:
A very easy way that any senior can get more steps in during the day is to just stand up and walk in place during commercials when they are watching TV. Commercials are usually in 2-4 minute blocks which is the perfect amount of time for a quick walk. Seniors can get as many as one hundred extra steps during a typical commercial break. And since there are usually 3-4 commercial breaks in a one hour show those extra steps will add up fast. Seniors can add a thousand steps to their daily step count just by walking during commercials throughout the day.
A dance party is another fun way that seniors can get more steps. An elder care provider can get the party started if you’re not able to be there. Make a playlist of your senior loved one’s favorite songs from different eras. Choose only songs that are upbeat and energetic. Your senior loved one’s elder care provider can put the playlist on a home speaker and your senior loved one can spend some time dancing to their favorite songs. Just 15 or 20 minutes of dancing will help boost your senior loved one’s step total and give them some fun aerobic exercise.
If your senior loved one isn’t comfortable walking around the block or going too far from home, or if your senior loved one has dementia and you are worried about them walking unsupervised you can create a walking path for your senior loved one around the yard of their home. Create a smooth path with paving stones or wood chips. Your senior loved ones can walk around the yard and admire the flowers, enjoy the smell of the grass and the sunlight, and look at the birds.
You can combine a physical activity with a brain boosting activity by creating a scavenger hunt that your senior loved one can do alone or with help from an elder care provider. Leave clues around the house and your senior loved one will need to walk around the house and yard to find them, which will boost their step count for the day. They will really enjoy a fun scavenger hunt and you can feel good knowing they are getting important physical activity.
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