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Written by Josh Horsman  Staying active is essential for healthy aging. Science confirms that exercise doesn’t just keep you in great physical shape, but it also gives you a healthy brain and prevents against cognitive decline.
However, while we all know that we should exercise and many of us know that we could do more, a natural part of getting older is that the body becomes more fragile and less conducive to regular strenuous exercise. That is not to say though that we should use this as an excuse not to exercise, quite the opposite in fact. It means that it becomes necessary to discover new and interesting ways of working out which put less strain on our joints and muscles. In fact, exercise doesn’t have to be especially intense to provide a range of physical and mental health benefits. A 2013 Harvard Health study, for example, found that just 15 minutes per day of mild-moderate intensity exercise could be worth as many as three extra years of life. Here’s our guide to simple, effective exercises for seniors:
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Written by Josh Horsman  Good quality sleep is a key foundation of any healthy lifestyle, but it doesn't come easy to all of us. For many, getting in to bed at the end of the day is just the beginning of a battle to drift off. There are many common sleep-related conditions which can not only hinder our night-time rest, but our daily lives too.
Here's our guide to the most common sleep issues and how to beat them: Written by Josh Horsman  As we get older, a common fear is that we will begin to lose our mobility and, for many people, this might be true. Without regular exercise and a self-care routine for your body, age can take its toll. If you want to maintain maximum mobility and lead an active lifestyle in later life, stretching is key. A regular routine of stretches will keep your muscles primed and ready so that you are able to move, exercise and maintain balance.
Here are 8 simple stretches to try at home: Written by Josh Horsman  In the modern age of medicine, scientific research and new medications are helping us to live longer and stay healthier well into later life. However, for many of us, there will ultimately come a point, as you may have experienced with your own parents, where we can no longer live independently. This can mean a range of things. For some, only basic help is required to live a normal life, while others require 24hr care. Wherever they lie on this spectrum, there is a decision for the individual and their family to take. Do they stay in their own home and receive care there? Or do they move into an assisted-living facility?
Written by Josh Horsman  1. The Best Friends Approach to Dementia Care - Virginia Bell and David Troxel
Both the authors of this book are experts in Dementia Care and their knowledge shines through in the practical and relatable nature of their innovative approach to Dementia care. The book acts as a helpful and valuable roadmap to a more relationship-centred attitude to the care of those living with Dementia. The book advocates and inspires empathy, trust support and even humour in the caring process and does so with practical advice that will be welcomed by caregivers and family members regardless of their level of experience in dementia care. Written by Josh Horsman  Our memory forms a vital part of who we are and who we once were. It is key to daily decision-making, everyday activities as well as learning and growing for the future. But many of us find that, for various reasons, our memories might not be performing as effectively as they once did. For those who can identify with this frustration, an obvious solution is to look to medicine for answers. But often this can cause further confusion because there are so many drugs and supplements out there which claim to improve memory and brain performance.
Thankfully, we've created this guide to some of the best memory-enhancing supplements: Written by Josh Horsman  You don’t have to leave your home to get an energetic, fitness-boosting workout. In fact, you don’t even need to leave your chair!
These exercises, combined, form a comprehensive workout that will target all of your major muscle groups for maximum benefits: Written by Josh Horsman  We all know that getting enough sleep is important. When we are tired, we don’t feel like ourselves, right? But have you ever thought about why it is that you feel that way? The answer lies in the fascinating relationship between sleep and the brain. The two are inextricably linked with the latter relying on the former for performing its key functions, maintaining its overall health.
Simply put, your brain cannot function effectively without good-quality sleep and, in its absence, the impact of sleep deprivation is felt across all key areas of cognitive function, including: Memory, concentration, alertness and mood. Sleep deprivation can also be linked to the onset of a number of serious cognitive conditions such as Dementia! The effect of sleep deprivation on each of these areas of cognitive function is also supported by a strong and growing body of scientific research. Let's explore the effects of tiredness on the key areas of cognitive function: Written by Josh Horsman  For people living with Alzheimer’s disease or any other form of Dementia, sleep can be a complex issue. The range of symptoms that come with the condition make much of daily living a challenge, but sleep is an area that is especially impacted. In fact, experts estimate that, for people with Dementia, as much as 40% of their time in bed at night is spent awake. Related issues may range from difficulty getting to sleep to disrupted and fragmented sleep patterns and drowsiness during daylight hours. A common experience for many people with Alzheimer’s, for example, is a condition known as ‘sundowning', where patients become restless or agitated in the late afternoon/evening time. All of these problems can be deeply distressing and challenging for both individuals and their caregivers and family members.
Fortunately, however, there are a range of ways in which sleep problems in people with Dementia can be treated: Written by Josh Horsman  Balance is a key attribute for healthy aging but also an aspect of fitness that is often overlooked. As we get older, our bodies are more prone to failing us and this can result in pulled muscles, aches, pains, sore joints and falls. All these things can limit our mobility and ultimately take their toll on our physical health. Balance, strength and flexibility are the key attributes we can develop in order to prevent these ailments and the following exercises can be combined together to form a short daily or weekly workout routine that will build allow your body to move more freely and enable your muscles to handle the demands of everyday life more comfortably.
All of the following exercises are senior-friendly and can be done within the comfort of your own home with little to no equipment: |
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