One of the key risk factors of developing dementia and other health conditions is through your lifestyle choices. A lack of mental stimulation (no, watching television is not a cognitive exercise!) or being sedentary can result in a higher risk of developing dementia, and other related chronic diseases.
With the dangers of COVID-19, seniors may be more likely to stay indoors, and more reluctant to be physically engaged. How can we best encourage seniors to remain active even at home?
In this article, we will be sharing how your loved one can still be an “ageless” senior. By maintaining their well-being through three areas, they can still remain healthy and strong at home!
Active Ageing in Singapore through Keeping Fit
Research from the University of Bath* has shown that regular physical activity can help to strengthen our immunity.
Hence, engaging in moderated exercises is an excellent way to protect our elderly’s immune systems. This can help them tackle any potential health complications from COVID-19.
Do have a look at these fun and helpful exercise videos. These simple activities can help your loved ones remain in good shape despite staying at home.
After all, an active senior is an ageless one!
*Source: University of Bath: Regular exercise benefits immunity — even in isolation
Help Them Stay Sharp and Buzzing with Knowledge
Encourage your old folks to keep acquiring skills and broadening their horizons. Elderly activities such as logic puzzles can stimulate their mind, and help them to stay nimble.
As Henry Ford once said,
“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.”
By continuously entertaining your loved ones’ minds during this pandemic, they can avoid developing a passive mind while they stay at home.
Do encourage your old folks to keep acquiring skills and broadening their horizons by introducing to them elderly activities aimed at stimulating their mind.
Be it providing jigsaw or logic puzzles for those senior citizens who love to problem-solve, or giving them a beautiful elderly crafts book for our imaginative seniors, these engaging activities will invigorate your elders’ minds and help them to stay nimble and youthful even!
In fact, AIC has even developed free activities and programmes for the elderly in Singapore. These games for seniors are aimed at occupying your seniors’ mind during this pandemic. It includes some nostalgic art exercises that will be sure to revive your seniors’ memories of their youth, while teaching them more about COVID-19 through their educational games.
Rejuvenate Them Through Maintaining their Social Connections
It is important to remind our loved ones that they are not alone in this crisis. Do check in on their social and mental well-being during these unprecedented times!
From regular Zoom calls to online karaoke apps, you can still show your love for them virtually. Even if you might not be in the same physical space with them, you can still support their social needs!
Active Ageing Even Throughout the Pandemic
Even though it might be challenging to motivate your senior to keep fit at home, it is still important to try. The contented smiles and healthy bodies of your loved ones will make the hard work worth it!
Remember, an active senior is a happy senior!
Other Valuable Resources You Might Want to Check Out!
- NTUC Health Active Ageing Hub to keep your seniors active even after the pandemic
- Exercise Video Playlists for your elderly to exercise safely
- AIC Booklets to stimulate your elderly’s mind every day with 16 fun arts and crafts exercises
Get in touch with us
Find affordable caregiving services by visiting our elderly care page.
