Senior Care Considerations in Sacramento, CA – Does Your Brain Get Enough Exercise?
Exercising is arguably one of the most important things a person can do for their overall health. The type of exercise is certainly going to be a significant factor in the end result. Anybody who relies on senior care may benefit from exercise.
However, the type of exercise that we are talking about right now is the one that is meant for the most important muscle in the body. That would be the brain.
The brain is a muscle, even though it is not made up of the same sinuous material that most muscles in the body comprise, it also requires exercise on a regular and consistent basis.
Studies have shown that people who watch excessive amounts of TV have less active brain cells than someone who reads or does puzzles on a consistent basis. The more that you do to exercise your brain, the more that you force yourself to think and problem solve, the better it is going to be for your mental health. When you get a high level of exercise for your brain, it can actually release endorphins which are credited with helping a person to feel better. Dopamine is secreted in the brain when it is not getting the right level of exercise and is associated with depression.
So the question becomes whether or not the individual relying on senior care services is getting enough exercise for that most important muscle in the body.
The fine line.
There is a fine line between encouraging somebody to get more exercise for the brain and forcing them to do so. An elderly individual cannot be forced to do things against their will. If you are senior care provider and you get up and turn off the TV and keep the patient from turning it back on, you are doing something against their will. You need to encourage them to want to turn the TV off and get involved in activities. This may be done by simply taking part in the activity with them. Many seniors feel lonely and isolated, so when you as the senior care provider are sitting down and doing activities with the patient, it can encourage them to get more involved in healthier activities.
If you struggle to get the patient to stop watching so much TV or to get involved in these brain strengthening exercises, find out what interests them, what activities they may still want to do, and find a way to relate the two. When you do, it may increase the chances of encouraging them to do more exercise to help their mental health and well-being.
If you or an aging loved one needs senior care in Sacramento, CA area, remember Senior Home Care Services for all services needed. Call us at (916) 514-7006 for more information.
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