Regular movement is essential for us at all ages, but it’s necessary to understand the physical and emotional benefits of exercise and movement for seniors. Walking with a companion, such as a Paragon caregiver or advocate, enhances the movement experience and promotes consistency. If you have a loved one who is particularly resistant to exercise, finding a companion to support them may be the best way to encourage them to get out and about on a more regular basis. Continue reading as we explore the benefits of walking for older adults and share some of our top tips for boosting motivation through movement.
The Physical Benefits of Walking for Older Adults
Walking is a gentle but effective form of exercise that helps to improve cardiovascular health and mobility. When older adults walk regularly, it supports their balance and reduces the risk of falls. While you might think walking is an easier type of exercise when compared to other options, it supports joint health and muscle strength without putting too much pressure on the joints. When you exercise or walk regularly, you’ll also notice that you enjoy better and more regulated sleep and improved digestion. Walking is one of the most accessible forms of exercise, and it can be easily integrated into your daily routine without placing undue strain on the body.
The Emotional Benefits of Companionship During Movement
While some people enjoy walking by themselves, finding a companion to join you on your walk can offer a range of emotional benefits. It reduces feelings of loneliness and isolation and can make you more motivated to explore new areas that you wouldn’t usually walk to alone. With the conversation and laughter that takes place during a walk, you’ll find that you come back with your mood improved and more positive energy. Walking alone often leaves individuals feeling worried about their safety, particularly if they have mobility issues. Finding a companion or caregiver to walk with you can provide a sense of safety and reassurance. Over time, walking builds trust and creates an emotional connection between seniors and caregivers. It is also a great activity to add to your daily or weekly schedule to decrease the amount of time you spend indoors.
Motivation and Accountability
Seniors are much more likely to walk regularly when someone is there to encourage them. This goes for any type of activity or exercise, as it’s much harder to motivate yourself to get out and about alone. Companions can help set gentle goals and routines and hold you accountable for them if you start to make excuses or feel too tired or lazy one day to go for your walk. Walking becomes a shared, anticipated activity instead of a chore. You’ll soon find that your regular walks are something you start to look forward to in your week, and you’ll come back feeling refreshed and more motivated to take part in other activities.
Safety First: Why Walking with a Trained Companion Matters
Caregivers will accompany seniors and ensure they have a safe experience at all times. They will be able to recognize signs of fatigue or distress and ensure you stop walking or reduce the time you spend walking if you are showing any of these signals. A caregiver can assist you in areas with uneven terrain, curbs, or inclines, allowing you to take a new route and explore places you might not feel confident about walking alone. If you don’t feel satisfied with your stability or have a tendency to trip or fall regularly, a caregiver will offer fall prevention support through standby assistance or physical support.
Real-Life Activities That Make Walking Fun
Walking is something that many people consider a chore, but there are many ways to vary your walks to make them more enjoyable. Consider choosing different routes each time you go walking, heading out through local parks, farmers’ markets, or scenic neighborhoods. Some individuals feel more motivated when there is a purpose to their walk. Walking to a café or library gives you a goal, and you can always reward yourself at the end of your walk by choosing a new book to read or purchasing your favorite coffee or treat. Each season, find ways to vary your walks by heading out to areas that celebrate the season’s unique features. In the spring, go and admire the spring blooms, whereas during the winter months, you can explore your local neighborhood and see the holiday decorations.
How Paragon Home Care Supports Walking Companionship
At Paragon Home Care, we provide a range of personal and companion care services. Our services are tailored to the needs of each of our clients, and walking is something many of the seniors we work with enjoy experiencing with their caregivers. A caregiver or Helping Neighbor can support you with walking and light exercise, offering all of the benefits we shared above. There are various types of exercise we can help you with, and our team will discuss with you what would be a safe and effective option based on your goals for both physical and emotional health. Our services are highly flexible and work around your schedule. We can offer scheduled walks or short strolls and integrate walks into your errands and outings.
Walking with a companion offers holistic benefits for seniors and is a great way to support the physical and emotional health of your loved one. Having a caregiver to walk with can increase confidence, boost motivation, and provide seniors with more varied movement opportunities. We encourage families to explore Paragon’s services for safe, supportive companionship that promotes health and happiness. Our services cater to the needs of every family we work with, as we recognize that each senior has unique needs and goals at this stage of their life. Contact our team at Paragon Home Care today to learn more about the services we offer or to discuss how we can support seniors in walking or moving more with the help of one of our trained caregivers.