Eldercising for Independent Living with your Home Companion

With the spirit of the Beijing Olympics we are reminded how important exercise is to the human body, mind and spirit. Eldercise, exercise for seniors, is an important part of a daily regimen to slow the aging process, keep our bodies agile and mind sharp. We’re not saying you need to be training for a marathon or working to compete in the National Senior Games, but a short walk and stretching will do wonders for physical fitness.

The National Institute on Aging has recommended these four types of eldercise for seniors who want to stay healthy and independent:

1. Strength exercises will build muscle, increase energy and metabolism in turn keeping blood sugar and weight in check.

2. Balance exercises will strengthen leg muscles making it harder for falls to occur. According to the NIH, each year, U.S. hospitals have 300,000 admissions for broken hips, and falling is often the cause of those fractures. Balance exercises can help you stay independent by helping you avoid disabilities that may result from falling.

3. Stretching exercises are thought to give you more freedom of movement to do the things you need and like to do. Safely performing stretching exercises alone will not improve your endurance or strength.

4. Endurance exercises are any activity -- walking, jogging, swimming or biking -- that increases your heart rate and breathing for an extended period of time. Build up your endurance gradually, starting with as little as 5 minutes of endurance activities at a time, if you need to.

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