So many people are on a quest these days to walk 10,000 or more steps every single day for optimal health. But is that the exact perfect number for optimal health? And more importantly, should seniors be walking 10,000 steps every day? The answer can be surprising for families, and they may want to find other ways to help seniors find solutions that really do help seniors maintain mobility, like working with home care providers.
Why 10,000 Steps?
10,000 steps a day is a nice, round number, but where exactly did it come from? Many people mistakenly believe that this is a recommendation from medical professionals to help people get the right amount of daily activity.
But the reality is that it was a marketing gimmick from a company selling pedometers. The right number of steps per day actually varies from one person to another, especially for aging adults.
Benefits of Walking
Walking is such a fantastic exercise for people at all fitness levels. It’s easy to do, it doesn’t require special equipment, and it is scalable for people as they progress.
Walking has benefits for the heart, lungs, and muscles. It can help develop stronger bones, improve balance, and reduce high blood pressure. It’s an activity that seniors of all ages and abilities can do to some extent or another.
Starting a New Exercise Program
When seniors consider starting a new exercise program, like walking more than they are currently, they should talk to their doctors first. This ensures that they are safe to start moving more and that they know what their limits and goals are.
Home care providers can help seniors get started with a new walking routine by keeping them company, helping them to get the fuel they need to walk more, and remembering to get them walking.
Tracking Steps
Tracking the steps that they take every day can be helpful for some seniors. For other seniors, they are happy enough to know that they’re moving more now than they did in the past.
If tracking is something that will help instead of make seniors feel bad, then using tools like a pedometer or a smart watch can be really helpful. There are also fitness apps on smartphones that allow people to track their steps as long as they have their phones with them. Gamifying their step count can help seniors continue to make progress.
Developing Routines
Starting any new routine isn’t always easy to do. When seniors have support from home care providers as they start a new walking program, they can figure out how to make that a part of their daily lives. They’re more likely to stick with an activity like walking when seniors have support and structure in place.
In the end, walking exactly 10,000 steps every day might not be the perfect number for seniors to hit. But it could be a goal to reach for if they’re fit enough to work their way up to that number. Home care providers offer the assistance seniors need to eat well, sleep well, and get their daily exercise in.
If you or an aging loved one needs Home Care in Carmichael, CA, contact A Better Living Home Care today (916) 514-7006
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