Top 5 Ways to Keep Residents Fit and Healthy

We all know that keeping fit and healthy is good for us, and as we get older the benefits only increase, both for physical and mental health. Of course for older people, limited mobility and mental health conditions can make keeping fit challenging. With that in mind, we’ve come up with five fun, cost-effective and easy ways to help you keep your residents active.
 

1. The power of music to trigger memories and keep the mind active is being used more and more in dementia care, and a good dance whether standing or sitting does wonders. So whether you host an evening dance or keep it simple by playing with some small percussion instruments, getting everyone moving along to the music is good for body and soul.
    
2. A gentle stroll outside keeps limbs loose, and getting out and about can dramatically improve emotional wellbeing. For those with less mobility, wheelchair-friendly sensory gardens with carefully chosen plants and flowers can provide residents with different sensory experiences. For example, strongly-scented and textured plants or water features that residents can hear and touch.
    
3. Tai Chi is a fantastic exercise for older people. It involves slow, repetitive movements with a focus on co-ordination and relaxation rather than muscular tension. It can be done standing or sitting down, and can improve emotional wellbeing, balance and agility. What’s more, because of the slow, gentle movements involved, it reduces the risks of falls during the activity.
    
4. Stretching is good to keep flexible and strengthen muscles, and can be a gentle way for people with arthritis to keep joints nimble, for example neck stretches, shoulder shrugs and wrist and ankle rolls.
    
5. Games that use various motor skills and keep things fun are a great way to stay active. Skittles, both indoors and outdoors, is popular as people can participate whether they are seated or standing, and the chance for social interaction during the game can reduce the feeling of isolation.
    

More information
 

• The Alzheimer’s Society has an easy to digest factsheet on the benefits of exercise for those with dementia and some useful tips on how to get started. You can download it here.
• Relish have published an article on the therapeutic benefits of music therapy to people living with dementia: https://relish-life.com/blog/music-and-dementia
• You can find out more about the role that music and dance has to play from Age UK here.
• There are organisations out there that can provide exercise classes and train your staff to deliver classes themselves. This one in particular caught our eye.