Veterans Home Care St. Louis
Aging veterans in the United States are an interesting group of people. These are individuals who served their country to help protect freedom here and around the world. As they have age, they may experience different challenges with their physical capabilities.
No matter whether any veterans require some type of home care or not, it’s important that they stay as active as possible to benefit their overall health and well-being. April is Physical Wellness Month and for seniors of all ages, whether they’re veterans or not, there are numerous activities they can do to get exercise.
The importance of exercise.
Many people know about the importance of exercise when they’re younger. Children, adolescents, and young adults are often given a great deal of information about exercise and the benefits of staying in shape, getting a good workout, and increasing strength.
However, there is a trend in American society where it seems to be okay for seniors to avoid exercise, not focus on it as much as they used to, and not even consider it as beneficial as it is.
Perhaps it’s due to the retirement. When people retire they want to “take it easy.” They worked the majority of their life and want to enjoy the fruits of their labor, travel, and get to enjoy things they couldn’t do when they were working.
Exercising, breaking a sweat, increasing the heart rate … these may all be things the senior doesn’t really focus much on. They should. Below are four activities that aging veterans can do that will have a direct and positive impact on their health into the future.
Going for walks. Going for a brisk walk on a regular basis can help to elevate the heart rate, at least a little bit. Even if the aging veteran has difficulty getting around safely, even if they use a cane or walker, just increasing the tempo of their walking a little bit can provide them the exercise they need.
Yoga. More seniors are looking at yoga as a great physical activity today. There are many qualified instructors that have experience working with seniors.
Gardening. As the weather turns warm, it harkens thoughts of plants growing, the grass turning greener, the trees sprouting leaves, and even gardening. Now is the time to consider planting a garden for anyone.
Riding a bicycle. Many people learn to ride a bike when they are children and no matter how old they are and no matter how long it’s been since they rode a bike, they can almost get right back up on it and ride without a problem. This is a great activity for aging veterans because it gives them exercise and is also easy on the joints, such as the knees.
April is Physical Wellness Month and when aging veterans get exercise, it will have a positive influence on their health over the long haul.
For more information and to learn about Veterans Home Care St. Louis, contact Veteran’s Home Care at (888) 314-6075.
