As adults age, exercise becomes just as important for the mind as it is for the body. Getting your elderly loved one to exercise in the senior years may be a challenge, which is why you should encourage him or her to try yoga. It is a fun and relaxing technique that can provide your loved one with several health benefits.
1. Protects the Joints
Practicing yoga can lubricate your loved one’s joints and stave off debilitating disorders such as arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome. Doing yoga in the senior years could nourish your loved one’s joints and boost his or her overall health.
Seniors who want to remain healthy as they age can benefit in a variety of ways when they receive professional home care. Green Valley, Arizona, Embrace In-Home Care is here to help your loved one accomplish daily tasks, prevent illness, and focus on living a healthier and more fulfilling life.
2. Stimulates the Brain
Aging may lead to memory loss and put seniors at a higher risk of developing dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and other cognitive disorders. Yoga focuses on synchronizing breathing with movements that keep the mind engaged and clear, boosting brain function and performance, and staving off memory loss.
3. Controls Stress Levels
Lack of independence, loss of loved ones, and being diagnosed with chronic illnesses could cause stress for seniors. Chronic stress can have a negative impact on seniors, and in some cases it could lead to death. Doing yoga is a great way to calm the body and mind and lower stress levels.
4. Promotes Weight Loss
Keeping excessive weight gain at bay can be challenging for aging adults. Their mobility and metabolism may begin to decrease, leading to more inactivity. However, yoga is a form of exercise that increases willpower. Doing yoga could help your loved one shed pounds and maintain a healthy weight by focusing on wellness instead of instant gratification.
5. Prevents Slips and Falls
Adults are more prone to slips and falls in the senior years due to poor vision and balance. Doing yoga could increase your loved one’s balance and muscle strength, promote mobility, and prevent falls.
If your senior loved one needs assistance with yoga or other daily activities, consider hiring a professional caregiver. Green Valley respite care professionals can assist seniors with a wide array of daily tasks, offering family caregivers the chance to focus on other personal responsibilities or take a break to prevent burnout. Whether it’s for a few hours a day or a few days a week, respite care is the perfect solution for family caregivers who are feeling overwhelmed.
6. Leads to Better Sleep Quality
Insomnia can speed up cognitive decline for seniors. Lack of sleep could take a physical, mental, and emotional toll on your loved one, putting him or her at a higher risk of developing heart disease and certain types of cancer. Doing yoga can help your senior loved one sleep better at night and for longer.
7. Boosts Mood
Behavioral changes are common in the senior years, and they can affect your loved one’s ability to perform daily routines. When your loved one experiences changes in mood, his or her cognitive abilities could begin to decrease at a faster rate. However, yoga is a great way to calm the body and reduce agitation, moodiness, and other behavioral changes.
Practicing yoga is one of the many ways seniors can maintain their health. Professional caregivers can help seniors enjoy a higher quality of life. If your senior loved one needs hourly or live-in care, Green Valley Embrace In-Home Care can help. Our caregivers can assist with exercise and mobility, prepare nutritious meals, provide timely medication reminders, and help with a wide array of other important daily tasks. Whether your loved one needs occasional help at home or comprehensive 24-hour home care, give us a call at (520) 625-2050.