Exercising helps keep elders fall-free
January 19, 2012
Most active seniors are willing to try anything to ensure they stay safe and healthy as they age in place. Some make sure to eat right, while others may opt to take part in regular workout groups to gain muscle strength and balance.
Seniors who go to the Perth Civitan Hall in Perth, Ontario, workout classes are sure to learn something new as instructor Mercedes Jervis-Read works to give them the tools to avoid falls, Inside Ottowa Valley reports.
“It doesn’t matter if you are 20 or if you’re 90,” Jervis-Read told the news outlet. “You can teach an old dog new tricks.”
Tricks that she teaches her students – age 50 and older include light cardio, strength training and balance exercises.
“Balancing falls, that’s the main thing,” she told the publication. “While falling is dangerous at any age, it is particularly hazardous for older people. Falling can result in broken bones that become harder to heal as the body gets older.”
Although exercising can work to help seniors avoid falls, one in three people age 65 and older still have accidents each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Loved ones of an elder might want to install a medical alert system in their home as a way to help them feel more secure while alone. The wearable device gives a parent a method to call for help if they suffer a fall.
