Home Care in Woodbridge VA: Helping Seniors Stay Motivated to Exercise.

It’s easy enough to believe that an exercise program should be motivating, but that’s not always the case for everyone, much less your elderly loved-one. Finding the right way to keep your loved one motivated can help her make some lifelong changes.

Remind Her Why She’s Doing This 

Everyone has different motivations, of course, but as your loved-one starts meeting some of her goals, that can help her keep going. Consider helping your senior make a list of her goals and why she wants to be healthier. Then you can post it somewhere she’ll see it every day.

Look at How Far She’s Come 

If you keep a journal or some other sort of record, you can go back with your loved-one and look at how much she’s already achieved. That can be so motivating for anyone because it’s not easy to see how far you’ve come while you’re in the thick of it. Looking back helps give your loved one perspective.

Avoid Comparisons with Other People 

It’s natural to compare similar things and people to each other. Your senior might have some friends who are naturally more active or naturally healthier and she may have to work harder at staying healthy or active. Remind your loved-one that this isn’t a race and that she doesn’t have to compare her experience to anyone else’s.

Make Exercise a Habit 

When exercising and being active is a habit for your senior, it’s easier to keep that going. Make exercise a key part of your loved-one’s routine and let other people know about it. When other family members and home care providers are able to keep her on target, too, it’s easier to keep that routine going.

Set up a Reward System 

If your senior finds rewards motivating, don’t overlook the power of having a reward system for exercising. Sit down with your loved-one and determine what kinds of rewards might be the most fun for her. A special trip to a museum she likes or a gift certificate to a favorite shop might all be rewards you could include. Personalize the reward system for your loved-one’s likes.
You might find that your senior’s motivation is stronger some days than others, and that’s okay.

If you or a loved-one are considering home care in Woodbridge VA, to help with motivation and exercise each day, please contact the caring staff at Quality Health Services LLC. Call today 703-910-7081.