Exercise may be one of the activities you’ve been avoiding as a family caregiver and that makes sense. You’re busy and you probably don’t have a lot of extra energy, either. But if you’re ready to give it a go, you should know some of these facts.

Talk to Your Doctor Before You Do Anything

Many people skip this step, either because they don’t like going to the doctor or they think that it won’t be a big deal to go ahead and start jogging every day. The problem is that you don’t always know how healthy you are and whether it’s safe for you to take up the particular exercise that you want to take up. Once you have the all clear, it’s time to get going.

Warming up and Cooling Down Are Essential

Your muscles need to be able to warm up before you exercise and cool down once you’re done exercising. If you don’t do this step, you’re more at risk for injuries both during and after you exercise. You don’t have to do anything complicated. Try gentle stretching or just a slower, easier version of the exercise you’re about to do.

Water Can Help

Hydration is essential for your body all the time, but it can really help when you’re exercising. This is especially true if you’re not drinking as much water as you should at other times of the day. Talk with your doctor about how much water you should be drinking and keep a water bottle handy during your workout.

Pay Attention to What Your Body Is Telling You

As you exercise, your body is going to give you feedback. Pay attention to it. Pain and other discomfort can help you to understand when your body doesn’t like a particular set of movements. It can also let you know when you’re overdoing it and need to take a step or two back.

Track Your Progress

If you’re not tracking your progress as you continue to exercise, you won’t realize how far you’ve come. You’ll forget where you started and what you’re able to do now that you weren’t able to do before. You can do this in a planner, on a calendar, or in your journal.

As you start to embrace your new exercise routine, you’ll see all sorts of benefits that leak over into all of the other aspects of your life, such as your caregiving journey.

If you or an aging loved one are considering caregivers in Memorial, TX, please call the caring staff at At Your Side Home Care. We will answer all of your senior care questions. Call today: (832) 271-1600.

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Donna Wrabel, LMSW

Co-Owner at At Your Side Home Care

For most of us, the word "home" evokes warm feelings of comfort, security and well-being. For older adults, home also means holding tight to cherished memories and maintaining self-esteem and independence. When illness, injury or age make life a little more challenging, remaining at home in a comfortable, familiar environment encourages recovery and enhances the quality of life. Home can be defined as a private residence, an independent or assisted living facility or even a short term stay in the hospital, we recognize the additional benefits provided by a personal, professional assistant.

Our Certified Nurse Aides, 24-Hour Live-in Assistants and Home Health Aides are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We also provide the security and confidence of 24-hour Telephone Assistance, so fast, reliable help is always available when it's needed. To learn more about our homecare services see our homecare services page.

Different people need different levels of homecare. To meet the requirements of our clients, At Your Side Homecare maintains consistent staffing levels of caring professionals. Homecare service is available for as little as a few hours a week, or as many as 24 hours a day, seven days a week

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