Bridgewater Home Care – Support for Older People -Exercise at Home

May 4, 2020


Physical health and wellbeing

As little as 10 minutes of exercise a day can make us feel better, both physically and emotionally. And an activity that stimulates our brain can help us feel more alert. Being more active also helps keep bodies strong and flexible as they age, and can help alleviate conditions such a depression, stress and anxiety.

There are lots of free exercise programmes/sessions available on the internet.

You may want to ask for assistance to access them.

You could try yoga, tai chi or increase your movements from your armchair. Other activities with mood-boosting effects include housework, gardening, using the stairs if it’s safe to do so, dancing around the house and safely going for a walk.

Gentle yoga can be a great form of exercise for people living with dementia because it incorporates spatial awareness, balance training, sensory activities and social interaction.

When exercising at home on your own or with others, you must take responsibility for your own safety. If you experience any noticeable changes in your health, mobility or experience pain, this should prompt you to contact your doctor.

When exercising outdoors, remember to follow all current Covid-19 health protection advice including practising social distancing at all times and only being active in areas local to your home.

 

People with Long Term Health Conditions or disabilities

 

Sport England’s We Are Undefeatable campaign has numerous tips and ways that you can move more within your home. Take a look at them online here.

 

 

 

 

Love to Move is a chair-based age and dementia-friendly gymnastics exercise programme, developed by the British Gymnastics Foundation. It is specially designed to get older people moving and functioning better. Take a look at their booklet here.

 

 

 

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapists has some top tips on how to incorporate regular activity into your life for those with a range of health conditions. Read the tips here.

 

 

Adaptive yoga with Wheelpower is launching a series of Adaptive Yoga videos to encourage wheelchair users to exercise from the comfort of their homes. Watch the videos here.

 

 

 

 

British Blind Sport have created a free online library of accessible workouts and resources to support people with visual impairments stay active at home. Access the audio exercise programmes here.

 

 

 

Older Adults

 

Move it or Lose it – has created a support pack for older people providing guidance on how they can keep exercising at home. Click here to view.

 

 

 

 

‘I CAN’ Active Calendar 2020  Later Life Training have a 2020 calendar free to download. Please visit their website here.

 

 

Sitting Exercise

These exercises are done whilst sitting, are a great place to start to build strength and balance. See the exercises here.

 

 

Flexibility Exercises

These flexibility exercises can be done at home to help improve your mobility. See the exercises here.

 

 

Balance exercises

These simple balance exercises can be done at home to help make you feel steadier in walking and moving. See the exercises here.

 

 

Strength exercises

Strength exercises like these can be done at home to improve your lower limb strength. See the exercises here.

 

 

Movement for those with Osteoporosis or Osteopenia

You can watch and follow the online videos offered by the Royal Osteoporosis SocietySee the exercises here.

 

 

The Body Coach home workouts

Joe Wicks has created two videos of home workouts for older adults including a chair-based workout. Watch them and follow along here.