Exercise

Five Ways to Spice Up Your Exercise Program

Group exercise and movement is a crucial staple of a well-rounded activity program. It offers the opportunity for residents to move intentionally, working on fine and large motor skills, as well as improving strength, flexibility, endurance, and range of motion. 

4 Comments Member Activity

Physical Activity Tic-Tac-Toe

Hi all, I'd love to share this physical activity I have created and use on a regular basis: seated O's & X's. (Also known as Naughts & Crosses, Tic-Tac-Toe or 3-in-a-row).

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Indoor croquet

We tried this out yesterday at our Memory Club and is was great fun!

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Ball in the Bucket

There are many games where a tennis ball is thrown.  To keep from having someone run the ball down, I attach a long length of elastic to the ball, tie it VERY tightly around the middle and add 2-3 knots.

1 Comment Member Activity

Twister with a twist

I work in a 32 bed memory support unit. The residents all have cognitive impairment but most love this game. This is a great game for people of all abilities.

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Scarves on Handles - Exercise Activity

We're always looking for exercise ideas that are not too strenuous. We had some light, pretty scarves that I attached to cut-down flyswats!  By leaving a small circle of swat mesh, I zigzagged the scarves to the flyswat.

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How to Run Group Exercise Sessions for the Elderly

We all know that exercise is good for us but for some reason, the older we get, the less we do. Contrary to popular belief, poor balance and muscle weakness has a lot more to do with inactivity than age.

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Tap dancing

Blu-tack 20 or 50 cent coins to the bottoms of their shoes & have the residents taping along with swinging music while remaining seated.

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How to Plan and Implement an Exercise Program

Moderate exercise achieves beneficial health outcomes. Age is irrelevant; everyone benefits from exercises that are suitable to their health, age and circumstances.

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Balloon Games

Gentle exercise for the arms as well as an opportunity to socialize! Great for game for the elderly. Also suitable for people living with dementia.

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Bucket of Bean Bags Game

This simple and fun game promotes friendships and physical activity!

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Bean Bag Surprise

This is a nice game to maintain or improve physical abilities.

Which Transport is Faster

We had 4 tables named Trains, Boats, Planes and Cars.
I made 4 banners on sticks with the same names and gave these to 4 volunteers.

2 Comments Member Activity

Indoor Chair Volleyball

This is a great way to be active, integrate socially and have fun at the same time. Regular games of Chair Volleyball will increase flexibility and stamina!

Competitive Tabletop Badminton Balloon Bowling (it makes sense, I promise)

The object of the game is for each team to try and knock the opposite team's pins down by hitting the balloon at them with their rackets.

2 Comments Member Activity

Golcce - Low-impact Golf and Bocce Hybrid

My guys in my Men's Group LOVE Golcce! Especially those who have always loved to play golf but can no longer do so because of physical limitations.

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Active Monopoly

Active Monopoly is almost the same as normal Monopoly (the same rules apply), except that instead of a board and counters/pieces you use the floor and the players walk around the 'board'.

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Sports Afternoon

We decided to try a very gentle afternoon of sports. We had 10 playing, it took an hour and we had great fun. Will definitely repeat.

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Chair Soccer

Sit residents in a chair in a circle and ask the residents to kick the ball to each other without going out of the circle. 20 residents can play this game!

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Prize Walk

I placed numbers on the floor 1-20 in a circle (just like a cake-walk). I played music as the residents danced and walked the circle.

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Indoor putting weekly league

Golf is recognised as a good activity for promoting mental, physical and social wellbeing. Putting is a relaxing and ideal indoor activity that can be done by people with previous golfing skills and those who have never played before.

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Zumba

To coincide with the Rio Olympic theme we are following for August we got off to a blazing start with a session of 50+ Zumba.

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Chair Yoga

Through doing a social history with one of our residents I found out her daughter was a yoga instructor and asked if she would be interested in volunteering half an hour for a yoga session with our residents.

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Trivia with Exercise

I explained to the residents that exercise is fun and good for the body and to keep your mind active too.

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Balloons

I created a game where around 8 residents sit in a circle. I throw a balloon in the middle and then we all count how many times we can hit it in the air before it touches the ground.

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Chair Dancing

This is a great program to run for High or Low Care the residents love it.

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Gentle Chair Exercises DVD

Golden Carers Gentle Chair Exercises DVD

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Waltzing

Fun exercise and opportunity for social interaction.

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Carpet Bowls

This is an excellent game for socialization.

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Outdoor Gardening

Gardening is a wonderful physical and emotional activity for seniors. It is an opportunity to reminisce about times gone by while reaping the benefits of sunshine, fresh air and gentle exercise

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