How Seniors Can Avoid Weight Gain During Quarantine
The COVID-19 lockdown has resulted in a lot of changes for Americans. One of the biggest changes is being unable to get out of the house much, resulting in a decrease in physical activity. In addition, some people aren’t eating as healthy as they normally do. They may be reaching for comfort foods to deal with stress or snacking out of boredom. Unfortunately, for many people, that has resulted in weight gain.
According to a poll conducted by WebMD, about half of the women who responded said they’ve gained weight during quarantine. A quarter of the men say they have, too. Though many people on the Internet have taken to joking about the COVID-19 related weight gain, being overweight can result in some serious health problems.
If your older family member is struggling to keep the weight off during quarantine, there are many ways for them to keep active even when they have to practice social distancing.
Below are some ideas for activities that are quarantine friendly and ways that home care can help.
Go for Walks
Seniors can enjoy the nice spring weather and get some fresh air by going for walks around their neighborhood. The trick is to maintain social distancing and take safety measures. Home care providers can walk with your aging relative, ensuring they stay safe and steering them away from other people. A home care provider can also make sure they don’t get too close to friends they see when they might be tempted to shake hands or hug.
Use an Exercise Video
If the older adult normally attends a fitness class, they might enjoy exercising along to a video at home. Your aging relative could either purchase a DVD online or use videos from various streaming services. A home care provider can help them to find videos they might enjoy and that are appropriate for their current fitness level. In addition, the home care provider can monitor the older adult while they exercise so that they feel safe knowing someone is there to help should they injure themselves.
Play with the Dog
Any kind of activity that involves movement counts as exercise. If your older family member has a dog, they could take the dog outside and throw a ball for them. The arm movement to throw the ball and occasionally having to go and pick up the ball themselves can raise heartrate and help to burn some excess calories. Home care providers can encourage the senior to go outside with the dog and assist with making certain both the senior and the dog stay safely in the yard.
Source: https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200521/quarantine-weight-gain-not-a-joking-matter
If you or an aging loved-one is considering Home Care Services in Cochran GA please contact the caring staff at Angels of Mercy Private Homecare Services, Inc. today at 478-745-5111.
Angels of Mercy Private Homecare has been providing in-home care services since 2002 throughout the Macon and Middle Georgia Area.
Angels of Mercy Private Homecare Services provides in-home care that improves the lives of the clients. Our services help them maintain the highest possible level of independent living. We provide In-home private duty care and care management services for seniors throughout the Middle Georgia area.
Our CNA (certified nursing aides), caregiver, and companion services allow our clients to age in the place where they feel most comfortable and secure - at home. Combine our Home Care Services, with our Geriatric Care Management component, and we provide the most comprehensive assistance for the Middle Georgia areas seniors.
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