I have heard a few of my friends mention that they wish they could pass on some of their healthy exercise and eating habits onto their aging parents. How funny how the roles reverse! Since many of us in the Gen X generation, have embraced healthy habits and set ourselves up for years of wellness, it’s only natural that we want that for our own parents as well. So, how can we encourage aging parents to be more active and healthy?
How To Encourage Aging Parents To Be More Active And Healthy
Check in with their Doctor
Consider going along with your mom or dad to their doctor to hear first hand what their current limitations, if any, might be. If they are open to it, it’s a great way to get the conversation started.
Tap into their interests
Was there a sport or activity your parent was interested in at a previous time? Is there a way to get them back into that activity?
Make it manageable and convenient
As with any change, for it to work it has to be manageable and convenient. If your parent is already going to a community center or library for a book group or card game, maybe that’s the place to begin a search for a physical activity. Perhaps there is a stretch class or walking group from the same spot?
It is important for them to be able to incorporate a new activity into their existing daily routine without feeling burdened. Start with small, achievable goals such as a 15 min walk twice a week. From there, it’s easy to add onto that.
Get Social
Do they have a friend or a group of friends that could all work on a goal together? Just as we like to exercise with our friends, our parents may as well. My mom and I take a trip to wellness retreat each year. We try to take a few fun classes together and always discover new activities.
Outfit them
My mom loves to go shopping for workout clothes together. Dress the part and all! She does still refer to her bottoms as “jogging pants” though which always makes me laugh.
Be patient it might take a while for your mom or dad to get on board with all of your new ideas. So tell me: Are your parents active? Have any other tips on how to encourage aging parents to be more active?
Linking up
Coach Debbie, Running on Happy, crazy running girl
These are great tips! Starting small is important for anyone on a fitness journey but especially those who have been off of fitness for a while.
Yes definitely agree!
I’m lucky that my parents are both still pretty active and even my almost 101 year old grandfather is still with it and wants to be on the move. These are all great tips though, doing something that interests them and in a group are key!
I think groups for older parents are a great idea
I”m pretty fortunate because both my parents have always been really active. My dad was never a formal exerciser but he always kept busy and moving. My mom was a walker, played tennis, and did yoga. All the “lady-like” sports of that generation, right?
Oh yes indeed! My parents used to be much more active until the last few years. Now they seem to find it more of a chore
My parents are in good health, so it’s tough to impress on them the value in being active NOW. My father is really into walking right now, though, and goes to an indoor track most days and walks a few miles….wish he could get my mom to join him! I love that you and your mom do these fitness trips together!
That’s fantastic that your dad walks everyday. I love that my mom and I go away together too it’s nice bonding for us as well
I absolutely LOVE this post. These are some amazing tips my friend. I’ve helped my mother at age of 60 to lose more than 60 pounds and help her change lifestyle from completely unhealthy to healthy active and happy. Now I only have to make the sam impact on my father. 😉
Wow that’s really impressive! Congrats to your mom and you for encouraging her
My mom is pretty active. She used to run but after a few injuries she just mainly walks now. My dad on the other hand is so silly. He signs up for a local 5k each year and may do two runs before the race and still always places in his age group. That must be where I get the good genes.
Sounds like you do!
This is an awesome post! I love taking the dogs for walks with my parents – we chat the whole time and it doesn’t even feel like exercise!
Yes exactly! That’s great that you have the chance to all do that together
This is great!! It’s so important for us to stay active the older we get. I love doing walking workouts with my older clientele as well as simple strength training exercises, especially those with osteoporosis.
Yes my parents are working with a personal trainer as well to do strength training. It’s never too late!
Yes, this is definitely becoming more of a focus as my parents and in-laws age. We’ve found checking in with them and asking if they’ve moved helps as well. Turns our accountability is effective no matter the age!
Yes great point as well thanks!
My Dad got a fitbit a few years ago and got obsessed! He went from couch potato to HAVING to hit his step goal everyday. He loved the technology- so you just have to find something they click with.
ha ha my dad got one and gave up bc he could not understand crazy technology lol
Great topic! One reason my Mom’s recovery is going so well is because she was so active.
Yes it makes a huge difference for sure
Part of my parents’ current limitations, IMHO, is the fact that they didn’t keep up as much with physical activity as they aged. When they were younger they skiied, they played tennis, they played golf, and my Dad swam.
It seemed like the older they got, the less physically active they got. 🙁 Although in general, they’re still in decent shape considering they’re both in their 90s, but I believe they could have been in much better shape. It’s part of what drives me.
In fact, my Mom & I were just discussing this. There are various classes where they live. My Dad does go every day when he’s feeling well. My Mom rarely does. She claims she’s too busy.
I pointed out to her that she’d feel better if she exercised, and that she needs to take care of herself in order to take care of my Dad (no easy feat). She agreed, but my guess is she still won’t do it.
Move it or lose it! It’s so true!
Great post Deb.
Thanks Judy! My parents really slacked off the last year and I can really notice a difference in their overall health. It’s important that we stay on top of them
Great write up!
I am lucky my parents still love to be active, I get my hiking genes from them LOL
I also live in a desert community which is probably 60% senior citizen, and I am so amazed at how active most are. Run, bike, hike, and they kick my butt on the pickleball courts LOL My only hope is I can take care of my body to enjoy an active life later on!
But you’re right on the management part, some may not have been active in a while and making it easy and start them slow and it will be easier to get them into it than throwing them into something too intense!
Well your parents seem like they are right on track with their health and fitness
These are great ideas and such important information! Awesome post
Thanks so much
This is SUCH a struggle for me. I tried to get my mom to take a yoga class with me and she said she hated exercise, lol.
ha! Well I guess you need to find something else for her. Silver sneakers??
I so wish I could get my parents to be more active. My dad is aging quickly beyond his years, unfortunately. My mom I think does jazzercise so at least that’s something!
yes that’s def something! My dad is aging much more quickly now too it’s worrying me
These are such great tips to encourage aging parents to be more active and healthy! Having a group or friend to go along definitely makes it more enjoyable!
Yes I agree it’s a big help to have a group of friends along with you
So great. I need to forward this to my dad, along with scheduling a shopping trip for him!
Sounds like a great idea!
These are all such great tips! I am fortunate that both of my parents, despite aging still live very active lifestyles!
That’s fabulous to hear! I love it
My mother-in-law is nOT and very stubborn but this is a great message for me and my aging friends LOL
Ha yes well there’s that too!
This is such a great post! My mom is very active but my dad is another story. He used to like spinning a few years ago so I’m trying to help him tap into that again. It’s hard because he is retired so I think it’s easy to get into a rut.
Yes I agree that my dad got less active when he retired go figure. I know your mom totally rocks!
Great tips! I do some training with a couple
of elderly folks and am so impressed with some of the activities they do.
They can be quite inspirational can’t they?!
Doing things together has definitely done the trick for my dad 🙂 He did the 5k with me at Disney one year, the Las Vegas Rock and Roll 5k, and then a Turkey Trot last year. I got him a medal hanger for Christmas and he’s already talking about needing to get more medals 🙂
Wow that’s so terrific I love it!
I love that you and your mom love to shop together. That’s something that my mom and I also love doing together, and I hope that our shared interest in it never changes.
It’s like a form of cardio-power shopping 🙂
Love this! I flat out told my parents a few years ago that I wanted them to get in better shape because I wanted my kids to have fun grandparents. I didn’t know that they’d already signed up for a personal trainer!
Ah fantastic! Great motivation too
I love this! My mom isn’t super active but she definitely tries her best! I’m hoping one day soon I’ll get her to jump on the 5k band wagon with me! But, spending time with her no matter what is what matters most! 🙂
Enjoy your day Deborah!!
Well absolutely! Running isn’t for everyone but being active is
Sound like good tips!
@ rrrtraininglog.blogspot.com
Thanks so much!
Great post!
My dad is fairly active along with his wife.
My mom and her husband aren’t so much but I do try to encourage them, especially with some of the health issues they face.
Love the 3 gen pic!
Ah thanks! I love our yearly 3 generational fitness trip
My mom is really active and my dad does exercise when he can, but travels a lot which makes it tricky. After his back surgery last fall he is hoping to run a 5k again! These are great tips!
Good for him I hope he gets back there this year
I got the love of being active and fit from my dad. Even though he didn’t make the cut into the major leagues, he was invited to try out for the Brooklyn Dodgers, a pretty cool thing in itself. He continued to play on local baseball teams for years after that; and then after he retired from farming (he certainly got all of the physical activity he needed while farming), he started a morning exercise program and worked out five days a week up until he got pneumonia two weeks before he passed away.
My mom is not naturally athletic, but she’s good about walking on her treadmill and lifting weights. I go over her workout routine with her when I visit and teach her new things. 🙂
Oh what an interesting story! Thanks for sharing