Keeping Your Elderly Parent Active While In A Nursing Home

5 July 2016
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If your aging parent just moved into a nursing home (such as Hillcrest Nursing Center), their physical well-being is most likely going to be one of the main concerns you have on your mind. If they have difficulty with mobility issues, it will be important that they exercise their muscles in an attempt to retain their strength. Failing to keep active can lead to deteriorating muscles and even worse mobility. Here are some steps you can take to ensure your parent gets enough exercise while staying in a nursing home.   

Sign Up For Physical Therapy Classes

Discuss your concern to your parent's physician about their need to be involved in physical activities while in a nursing home. They may prescribe a physical therapy treatment, allowing your parent to be released to a facility every few days. They may also have a physical therapist at the nursing home itself. Having your parent's doctor involved will ensure your parent will not be ignored when you ask they have treatment to help keep their muscles moving. Have your parent's physician give you physical documentation to bring to the facility requesting your parent is signed up for a class immediately.  

Make Sure Your Parent Gets Involved With Activities

Many nursing homes have several activities available for their inhabitants to enjoy. Take a look at the list of featured activities and talk to your parent about signing up for a few that involve moving around. This exercise activity can be as easy as going on walks around the grounds, or one that has more involved movements such as light aerobics or yoga. If your parent has not yet made friends in the nursing home, this is the perfect opportunity for them to be involved in a group activity where they will become familiar with some other faces.

Incorporate Exercise Into Your Parent's Daily Functions

Write a list of activities you feel your parent should do daily and place it on the wall of their room so they can refer to it when needed. Consider adding times to the schedule to help keep your parent accountable for exercising. Make the exercises fun, such as walking back and forth between the kitchen and the bathroom five times in a row, or taking a stroll to the outside grounds and back in the least amount of time possible. Do not make activities too difficult and alert the staff members of this list so they will know where to look for your parent if they are not in their room.