It can be difficult to maintain an energetic lifestyle and stay motivated when winter sets in. With colder days and darker nights, it’s easy to forget that you still need to be active.
According to The Physiological Society, elderly people who remain inactive can rapidly lose muscle mass over time, which in turn hinders mobility. It’s hugely important to us that our residents remain engaged in exercise, which is why we offer a wide array of activities every single day. Your loved one’s wellbeing is our main priority, so even if the snow is falling or we’re in the middle of a heatwave, we’ve got plenty to do to ensure that our residents keep moving.
NHS England explains that the benefits of being active can help maintain cognitive function, reduce the risk of falls, and can improve mood and self-esteem. Advice from the Department of Health and Social Care advises that: “Older adults should aim to be active daily. Over a week, activity should add up to at least 150 minutes (2 1⁄2 hours) of moderate intensity activity in bouts of 10 minutes or more – one way to approach this is to do 30 minutes on at least 5 days a week.”
When it’s broken down to 30 minutes a day sections, it becomes a lot more manageable and realistic for our older residents. 30 minutes of exercise a day can include:
Chair exercises
NHS online have a great selection of exercises that can be completed from the comfort of a chair or using the chair as a support, with movements including chest stretches and arm raises.
Yoga
It may not be for everyone, but yoga is a gentle form of exercise can help increase flexibility as well as encouraging mindfulness. You could also try Tai-Chi or Pilates.
Dancing
Increase your heart rate with a bit of dancing, just put your favourite piece of music on and you’re good to go, or try a dance class such as ballroom or line dancing.
Strength training
Resistance bands can increase muscle mass, put together with a variety of other weight exercises can make for a solid work out.
Walking
It may be getting colder, but our residents still have the opportunity to wrap up warm and take a gentle stroll around our stunning grounds, taking in the crisp winter air and enjoying the beautiful sights of the Vale of Aylesbury.
At Chilton House, we realise that our residents have differing needs, which is why we can cater for all types of rehabilitation and exercise, depending on the situation. Our physiotherapy team are always on hand to help with strengthening, stretching, endurance and balance, whether you are joining us on a short term or more permanent basis.
If you would like to talk to a member of the team about how your loved one can join us at Chilton House, and enjoy the activities that we have on offer, then please do get in touch.