Since many seniors are trying to improve their health, more and more people are starting to use exercise programs to improve health and fight heart disease. A healthy heart involves exercise. You do not have to do strenuous exercises to benefit from an exercise program. Simple cardiovascular and aerobic exercises will be beneficial. Below is a list of tips and warnings for all seniors who are exercising for a healthy heart.

Before starting any exercise program, Phoenix Senior Living wants to remind all seniors to check with their doctor first to make sure that the exercises they’re doing are safe.

1. Make sure all exercises are paced. You do not want to go too fast or over-do it. Give your muscles time to relax between exercises.

2. Individuals who have heart failure should always exercise in a controlled climate. Do not exercise outside in the extreme heat or cold.

3. During all exercises, make sure to have water nearby. Staying hydrated is one of the most important factors of a healthy exercise regime.

4. If you become fatigued, stop the exercise. Do not exercise if you have not been feeling well or if you experience any shortness of breath.

5. Pain can be an indicator of other health problems. If you experience any pain, stop the exercise, especially if the pain is in the chest.

6. After all exercises, check your pulse 15 minutes after you have stopped. Your pulse rate should be lower than 120.

Source: webmd.com

Image Source: sxc.hu

Greater Phoenix Senior Living & Central Phoenix Senior Living provides home care for elders and seniors . Call us! 623-583-5868, 480-991-3959 or 602-265-8228

Most people will not think twice about the slow movements of an elderly patient of family member. While it is quite normal for body movements to become slower with age, the decreased walking speed could actually be an indicator of future health problems. Many doctors are now using walking speed to assess their patients. Studies have linked a slow walking speed to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The facts that are listed below highlight how slow walking speeds can indicate health issues and risks.

1. A slow walking speed in an elderly patient is associated with the increased risk of death due to cardiovascular issues.

2. Any decreased motor performance can be viewed as a risk factor.

3. Elderly patients should try to stay as active as possible. Introducing a walking exercise into a daily regime could reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

4. Walking speed can be used to predict future health issues. This may not be possible if the patient has broken a hip in the past 2 years, has a debilitating disease or dementia

Source: www.bmj.com

Image Source: www.sxc.hu

Greater Phoenix Senior Living & Central Phoenix Senior Living provides home care for elders and seniors . Call us! 623-583-5868, 480-991-3959 or 602-265-8228

For many seniors with the state of the economy and longer lifespans, it’s necessary for them to work later in life than ever before. But many are wondering if it’s actually healthy for seniors to work into older adulthood, beyond the wealth of their bank account.

The good news is that studies have shown that seniors who work full or part-time after age 65 can actually prevent the onset of disease and illness later in life, because it’s good for both their physical and mental health. Working keeps seniors more active, and it also gives them a sense of purpose, providing greater benefits.

Benefits of Work on Senior Health:

• With a transition period from full-time work into retirement with part-time work, temporary work or work at home, seniors find it’s less of a shock to their mental health. Seniors who immediately retire from full-time work can find that feelings of loss of purpose can cause anxiety and depression

• Seniors who remain in the workforce longer, even part-time are more functional, and often have greater mobility while remaining active members of society

• Instances of high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, lung disease, heart disease, and stroke are some of the common medical problems that are reduced in working seniors

Via: Home Instead Senior care

Greater Phoenix Senior Living & Central Phoenix Senior Living provides home care for elders and seniors . Call us! 623-583-5868, 480-991-3959 or 602-265-8228

Everyone enjoys a nice walk to enjoy the scenery and the beautiful whether, whatever the time of year, but according to a list of the 25 best walking cities published by the American Podiatric Medical Association, there are some that receive more enjoyment than others when it comes to walking because of the cities that they live in. Here’s the list, tell us if you agree/disagree about the cities that make the rankings!

1. San Francisco – tops the list and was also voted best for families, with many walker-friendly attractions to visit along with 2 other cities. San Francisco is also one of the best cities for those who want to commute without a vehicle of their own, because there are many public transit options. There’s a great reason, that San Francisco tops the list, since it also receives notoriety as one of the best nature spots with its trails and parks for walking!

2. Boston - also has low crime and pedestrian fatality rates, making it one of the 3 safest cities, and was voted one of the best for commuters

3. New York – this city has some of the best public transit options in the country, making it one of the best for those who do not have a vehicle of their own.

4. Philadelphia

5. Chicago

6. Washington

7. Seattle - also voted best for families, with many walker-friendly attractions to visit along with 2 other cities

8. Honolulu

9. Portland

10. Pittsburgh

11. Oakland

12. Minneapolis – also has low crime and pedestrian fatality rates, making it one of the 3 safest cities; it also made the list as one of the most family friendly cities with attractions that are perfect for walking

13. San Diego

14. Los Angeles – along with Santa Ana, this California city received recognition for its wealth of nature trails and parks

15. Milwaukee

16. Baltimore

17. Rochester - also has low crime and pedestrian fatality rates, making it one of the 3 safest cities

18. Santa Ana – with many parks and trails for walking, Santa Ana is a great city for walkers!

19. San Jose

20. Denver

21. Columbus

22. New Orleans

23. Austin

24. Sacramento

25. Tuscan

If your city makes the list, tell us why you think it deserves its place as one of America’s best walking cities; and if yours doesn’t, should it have been included?

Via: Prevention.com

Greater Phoenix Senior Living & Central Phoenix Senior Living provides home care for elders and seniors . Call us! 623-583-5868, 480-991-3959 or 602-265-8228

According to a report by US News and World Report, many common ailments and changes that we naturally affiliate with the aging process, are not in fact normal for everyone and many common aging myths don’t hold as much truth as we like to assume.

1.    Extra weight cuts your life short – studies show that carrying a few extra pounds (up to 30lbs) in you senior years may not result in a shortened lifespan after all, provided you are not obese with a BMI over 30. At age 75 an extra 30 lbs can actually be protective of the immune system, staving off other illnesses; proving that carrying a little extra weight isn’t always bad, as we’ve been taught to think.

2.    Everyone must prepare for senility – we’ve all heard the expression “old and senile” when discussing older adulthood, but senility doesn’t happen to everyone contrary to the stereotype. Some cognitive decline may occur, but it typically doesn’t compromise a senior’s ability to live independently.

3.    Phoenix Seniors Shouldn’t Exercise – the belief is that seniors won’t have the energy to exercise, or that it can be harmful. However, seniors who exercise have a lower occurrence of heart problems, and less fatigue.

4.    All hearing loss requires a hearing aid – only 35% of seniors require hearing aids; although many seniors do experience some form of hearing loss, many maintain perfect hearing into their later years.

5.    Seniors are cranky – while some seniors may experience personality changes due to Alzheimer’s or dementia, or may experience bouts of depression due to their declining health, research proves that our personalities don’t change after age 30. The cranky Phoenix seniors you know have probably always been that way.

Sources:
1    US News & World Report

Greater Phoenix Senior Living & Central Phoenix Senior Living provides home care for elders and seniors . Call us! 623-583-5868, 480-991-3959 or 602-265-8228.