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For many older adults, the past year has been a difficult one filled with social isolation and loneliness. Its led to a more sedentary lifestyle and less time exercising, especially if their previous schedule involved going to a gym or working with a trainer. This, in turn, has triggered an overall decline in senior health, particularly in the areas of anxiety and depression.Exercise can be the key to healthy aging, especially during pandemic times. Beyond improving mental health, exercise is important when it comes to strengthening the immune system and lowering risks for heart disease, stroke, diabetes and issues with cognition and memory. Movement and exercise are also vital for those with joint issues, pain and arthritis.Another reason to get moving: Senior Health & Fitness Day is May 26, 2021The good news is that with the weather breaking and COVID-19 vaccine access on the rise, its a great time to start fresh with a senior fitness program. Plus, with National Senior Health and Fitness Day just around the corner on Wednesday, May 26th its yet another reason to get moving. Where do you begin?Start SmallWhen it comes to senior fitness, aim for around 30 minutes of physical activity per day to start. If thats too much at once, break it up into smaller chunks. For instance, go for one 15-minute walk in the morning and one 15-minute walk in the afternoon. Work on improving your endurance and build up to exercising in full 30-minute blocks.In addition, incorporate other activities into your day that add more motion and exercise. If youre watching TV, for instance, take breaks to get up and move by doing things like:Walking laps around your houseSimply stand up from a seated position several times during a commercial breakUse weights to do upper body exercises while watching TVOver time, youll build up strength and be able to perform more exercises over longer periods of time.Play MusicIf youre having a hard time getting started, turn the TV off and put on some upbeat music. This will give you the motivation you need to start moving, even if its simply stretching.Beyond serving as a source of motivation, music can also help cognitively since it relieves depression and anxiety. In fact, according to Harvard Health, bright, cheerful music can make people of all ages feel happy, energetic and alert, and music even has a role in lifting the mood of people with depressive illnesses.Music also helps those seniors with health conditions, like Alzheimers and dementia. Studies have shown music may reduce agitation and improve behavioral issues that are common in the middle-stages of the disease.Find a FriendAs social creatures, it makes sense to find a friend to exercise with. If you have both been vaccinated and its safe to socialize, get a workout in together. This will keep you both motivated to stick to a schedule and be consistent with your senior fitness routine. Your exercise time will also be more enjoyable and go by faster as youre chatting and socializing. As a result, your workout will not only boost your physical health, but your emotional and social well-being too.Practice BalanceEach year, approximately 2.5 million older adults are treated for fall injuries in the U.S. The good news is there are some exercises to prevent falls and improve balance.Standing on one foot or walking from heel to toe across a room are good options, as are leg raises. Strengthening the core can also help to improve overall balance. If youre concerned that a loved one is at risk for a fall, there aremedical alert systems to consider as well.Make Senior Fitness FunPart of the reason fitness and exercise can feel like a chore is because its not fun for many seniors. However, there are ways to incorporate enjoyable activities. For instance, take a walk to a park and have a picnic with a friend there. Attend a fitness class or join a local gym or community center. Having a professional by your side can help ensure exercises are performed properly, lowering the risk for injury.You can also participate in hobbies that are active, such as working in your garden. These keep you up and moving, while allowing you time to be outdoors and enjoy nature. Another option is to put on music and dance. This can be in a formal class or simply at home in your living room.Find Workouts OnlineIf you or a loved one is comfortable going online for senior fitness workouts, there are countless ones to choose from. These can replicate what its like to work with a trainer or attend a fitness class. Everything from YouTube to Instagram, as well as paid subscription options, are available online.Make sure when you use an online source for senior health and fitness, you stick with it and schedule it into your week. Its easy to get started with a class or two and then let exercise fall by the wayside. If you commit certain days and blocks of time to working out, youll have a better chance of meeting your goals. Once exercise becomes a habit and a regular part of your routine, its easier to keep up with it.Eat WellExercise and a healthy diet go hand in hand. While youre focused on adding movement into your daily routine, its also important to ensure youre eating a balanced diet.Talk to your doctor about a diet that will work well for you or turn to a nutritionist to design one that best supports your needs. There might be a specialized one if you have any medical conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease. However, in general, your diet should be filled with fruits and vegetables, lean meats and healthy grains.Staying active is a challenge at any age. As we get older, though, its even more important. A sedentary lifestyle can lead to many physical issues and trigger anxiety and depression. However, studies show that maintaining regular physical activity can prevent common diseases and boost immune function. Exercise also produces endorphins (the feel good hormone), which serve as a stress reliever.If youre concerned about a senior loved one and their physical health and activity, talk to their doctor about designing an exercise and nutrition program thats right for them. Its also a good time to perform a general health screening to check for any new issues and keep tabs on their overall health.

Visit http://www.omahaseniorresourcegroup.comfor all the resources and services you need to help an aging loved one. From long-term care, to in-home care, to home modifications, legal or financial advice, OSRG business members offer trusted resources specifically designed to benefit seniors. If you are looking for advice on how to help an older adult, contact us. We are the ONE SOURCE for all your needs.Helping seniors to remain healthy & independent.All services and programs connected with the OSRG are geared toward promoting improved senior living, with the goal of helping seniors remain independent when they can be through the support of staff and volunteers, thereby delaying or preventing the need for specialized care. But when the time comes for that discussion, the OSRG resources are there for you to help the next transition.We are the ONE SOURCE for Senior resources.The OSRG provides a connection to services for seniors making us a single, focused source of services that are readily available. From long-term care to independent living, and from legal or financial advice, to prescription monitoring, the OSRG has a connection for you!The need for senior resources is not diminishing.According to national figures, the number of seniors over the age of 65 is expected to more than double over the next three decades. As such, the resources we offer will continually expand to meet the needs of these seniors.How can we help more?With growing needs, and the increase in the number of seniors, we will need to add resources. What are you needing help with? Where are not finding help with a senior resource? Let us know! Go to our Contact Us page and fill it out with your need and we will try to find the resource for you!

We, seniors, face all kinds of changes but who do we trust for guidance? Whether medical, financial needs, or to right-sizing for a more manageable lifestyle and what about all of the stuff in the house? Getting with a trusted professional who understands what we are going thru is vital, one who has years of experience and the professional designations to prove they are the best resource for us is the first big step. Also, by all means check references. When it comes to making a change to your housing needs you will want a Realtor with the Seniors Real Estate Specialist Designation or SRES by your side.  As professionals, we have a wealth of excellent information and contacts who can address your specific needs and empower you to make the best decisions for your future.  Any questions email me at BillBlack@NPDodge.com Editors Note: This article was Submitted by Bill Black, SRES, CRS is a Broker Associate with NP Dodge and may be reached at 402-680-2500 or by email at BillBlack@NPDodge.com

National Parents Day is July 26th, a time to celebrate your mother and father and let them know how much they are loved and appreciated. As parents get older, many will turn to their adult children to help them in the next steps of senior living. Many of these adult children live an average of 450 miles from their parents and are having to assume the role of a long-distance caregiver. According to the National Center on Caregiving, approximately 5 to 7 million adult children in the U.S. are long-distance caregivers.Assisted Living Locators, a leading nationwide senior placement and referral service, is encouraging long-distance caregivers to use this commemorative day as an opportunity to start the dialogue about how they can best assist their aging parents during this transition. The company provides free, personalized help finding housing and care solutions for seniors and their families.To honor National Parents Day in July, Assisted Living Locators nationwide network of senior care advisors will post photos of their parents and share caregiver strategies for helping aging parents across social media channels and on the company website.This month is an opportunity for long-distance caregivers to assess the current lifestyle of aging parents and evaluate what can be improved to strengthen their loved ones health and happiness, said Angela Olea, Assisted Living Locators CEO RN. No matter what stage of life your parents are in, talking about long term care and creating a plan now for the future can help them live their life on their own terms.She stated the next step for long distance caregivers in the transition toward senior living is to have a needs assessment conducted by a knowledgeable professional to help understand your loved ones physical and cognitive condition.Olea added that Assisted Living Locators senior care advisors provide an in-depth assessment of all the clients needs, along with thoughtful analysis and recommendations for best-fit care options. Long-distance caregivers can begin their assessment process with an easy-to-use online tool on the Assisted Living Locators website, which then directs you to a local senior care advisor for a phone or video call in-take interview to learn about the best options to meet your needs.During COVID-19, senior care advisors provide virtual tours with qualified vetted home health, hospice, assisted living, memory care and adult family homes. They can also give families status updates on visitation and acceptance of move-ins for assisted living communities and skilled nursing facilities in your area.