Staying physically active is one of the keys to living a long and healthy life. If your aging grandparents are currently in less than great shape, it may fall on you to encourage them to start exercising and live a more active lifestyle.
As a concerned provider of home care services in Ontario, Canada, we list down 4 tips to help you inspire your grandparents to stay physically active:
- Give them a good reason to start (and regularly remind them why they started).
For some, regaining control over their health is a reason enough to start being active; for others, being able to play a more active role in their grandchildren’s lives may be more important. Think about what’s important to your grandparents. Once you understand what’s important for them, explain how staying physically active can help them achieve their goals. Give them a good reason to start and help them focus on it. Don’t forget to regularly remind them of the reason(s) why they started exercising to encourage them to keep going. - Give them the right tools and resources.
Do some research on the benefits of exercise and physical activity for aging adults and show them to your grandparents. Help them get the right exercise tools and equipment. Help them connect with like-minded communities to help them know that they aren’t alone in their struggles. Remember, your grandparents may not know about the available tools and resources out there that can help better support a healthy lifestyle, so make sure to help them out. - Make it a family activity.
If possible, make exercise a family activity! For instance, get your family into the habit of taking regular walks at specific times each day. No matter what activity you choose to do, doing it as a family will not only help you get some exercise, but it’s also a great opportunity for your family to bond. - Set goals and celebrate with them.
Seeing you as excited about their accomplishments as they are can be a powerful motivator for your grandparents to keep going. Listen to your grandparents about what they hope to achieve from their physical activities, help them set milestones and goals, and make sure to celebrate with them when those goals are achieved.
Have you successfully inspired your grandparents to start being physically active? What worked for you? Share your tips with us and the rest of the Favour Healthcare Staffing Inc. community!
If you need personal care services and homecare in Canada, feel free to contact our team for assistance.