15 Exercise Program Alternatives for Senior Care

Hi Jill
I agree that music is something most residents enjoy and can relate to
If the residents enjoyed this and are getting exercise I am not sure you need to change it
I’d say if it isn’t broken don’t fix it
Are you getting bored or are they
Most residents like a routine something they can count
One idea might be to add a thinking portion to the activity
The trick would be including everyone because so many different challenges
You might want to do trial and error
https://www.goldencarers.com/trivia-with-exercise/4478/

Hi all these ideas are brilliant but most of our residents are either chair bound with sight and hearing problems or mobile with lack of attention. The other difficulty is they are all in bubbles we have 3 and each group are so different. I am struggling to find common ground. The one thing that everyone loves is music so I do a half hour of different types including comedy songs, upbeat, classical and listening. Everyone enjoys this but I would like to do something different as a whole group that includes movement.

You are very lucky Chyanne
I am sure you are grateful for all you have
Thanks for sharing

We have a nice outdoor patio. I use 6 ft tables to space residents out. We play Bingo on laminated cards with wipe off markers, exercise, and have praise and worship outdoors. I have really noticed an upswing in mood as of late.

I wonder how many got hats in their cupboards, any one got an Easter parade CD, it would be nice if they could walk up the hall with their hats on to the music of IN YOUR EASTER BONNET
Don't know whether this would be possible under the circumstances, but they could distance each other doing it for a laugh, which we all need at the moment. I, myself, am a volunteer, now in my late 80's, still volunteering,, still enjoying it, and love reading all the activities from you wonderful people. Take care of your selves during this epidemic..


Gwyneth

Nori
Thank you for your ideas as well

Great ideas! Thank you so much!

I work in an Assisted Living Facility, so my tenants are able to move on their own or with a walker/cane.

I've had success with:
1. Hallway exercises (traditional stretches, marching in place, etc.)
2. Hallway dance party (bring a little speaker with 1950's & 1960's dance music, shout out the dance move ("now try the Twist!"), etc.)
3. Hallway children's songs with actions sing-along (I'm a Little Teapot, The Wheels on the Bus, Head Shoulders Knees and Toes, etc.)
4. Hallway guided walks/hikes (choose a location/monument, walk/march in place to the location while I describe it ("The waterfall is rushing past, can you feel the cool breeze and the spray?"), high-step over barriers ("Oh, there's a fallen log across our path, let's lift our knees to get over it"), etc.

Right now, I have "Hallway Exercises" scheduled M/W/F for 15 minutes down each of our 4 hallways during the 9am hour: Apartments 1-8 at 9am, Apartments 9-16 at 9:15am, etc. I set a timer for 12-13 minutes each session so I don't run late. I arrive in the hall, knock on doors to remind everyone, and then participants sit/stand outside their doorway to do the exercises.

My facility is also lucky enough to have a rather large Multi-purpose Room that we normally use for Church services, music performances, etc. Since we're not allowing large groups to gather, nor outside performers/presenters in the facility, I can let small groups of tenants use the room for enjoying indoor/outdoor games like Cornhole/Bags, Bocce, Indoor Golf Putting, Ping-Pong, Bowling, etc. Even inexpensive children's activities like bubble-blowing, plastic beach balls, etc. work pretty well. Of course, everything must be sanitized and tenants must wash their hands, wear masks, stay at least 6 feet apart, etc., but at least it gets people moving.

Thanks Mary for your input
I would think the instructor has to move up and down the hall so that everyone who wants to participate can see and hear her
Yes I agree it would be a challenge
Thanks again for your insight

With the hall way exercise the rooms would have to be relatively close together.

There is the component of the instructors voice carrying down the hall - Hearing

and residents who are down the hall aways - seeing the instructor would be a challenge.

Thanks for other ideas.

Mary

Haley has submitted a new article: 15 Exercise Program Alternatives For Senior Care