The setting of most nursing homes is an environment geared toward accommodating and assisting someone in need. While many exercises and activities are pre-planned for the day, some are not always geared toward every patient. Those with mental or physical limitations may not get to participate or may not understand the concepts. Exercise of all types has many benefits for nursing home patients and should be considered as part of their daily routine.
Overall Benefits
One of the best things you can do for yourself at any age is to keep your heart and body healthy. This can be reached through physical exercise. Nursing home patients are often unable to independently take care of themselves so they rely on the staff at a nursing home to meet their daily needs and monitor their health condition closely. Many facilities offer light exercise programs for more active or ambulatory residents. Everyone should be able to get at least a small amount of physical exercise each day, even if they are unable to do so on their own. The American College of Sports Medicine reports that seniors over age 65 should get at least 30 minutes of exercise per day up to 5 days a week, even with a chronic medical condition. Aides or volunteers can help those with limited physical abilities with range of motion exercises or moving their arms and legs manually. This helps keep blood flow moving throughout the body and also helps keep the heart healthy.
Human Interaction
Nursing home patients also benefit from the human interaction from resident aids or other residents during exercise routines. Assistants can give them one on one care and guidance when it comes to low impact exercises. Family Doctor suggests doing low-impact repetitive exercises for those who are ambulatory. Examples include wall push-ups, bicep curls and chair squats. An aerobics instructor may also use music to engage patients in movement. Everything should be done slow or in moderation. Patients who are wheelchair bound or unable to physically participate can engage in range of motion exercises that will help reinforce blood flow to arms, legs and feet.
Heart Health
Physical exercise promotes a heart healthy lifestyle. Being physically active helps you to be able to do things you still want to do and live a longer life. Medline Plus explains that some of the main types of exercise nursing home patients or elderly patients need is balance exercises to strengthen balance, improve equilibrium and reduce fall risk. Strength training is also important -- it helps build muscles so a resident has more strength and less chance of breaking a bone. Stretching also helps with flexibility. Endurance activities, such as walking or water aerobics, helps promote heart health and the health of the circulatory system.
Depression
Depression is a serious mental illness that affects over 7 million people over the age of 65, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. There are several reasons why an elderly nursing home patient may be depressed; the loss of their physical abilities, loss of a spouse, being detached from their home and feeling isolated are all causes of depression. Exercise may help relieve these symptoms by releasing "feel good" hormones in the brain, increasing their physical abilities and giving them back feelings of self worth and accomplishment.
