Senior Fitness With Meredith

We all have that favorite song we like to hear every now and then but did you know that the songs you love may be doing more for you than you realize? It has been shown that music has many benefits beyond just candy for our ears. It has the power to help destress and calm our minds, help us find clarity and mental focus, and even help our bodies physically. For those with cognitive issues, music can enhance experiences and emphasize memory and function. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Some of Meredith's experiences in working with clients and their attitudes on how music has effected their personal lives as they aged. 2). How music provides a "dopamine" like feeling which effects our mood, attitude, outlook and emotions. 3). How different genres of music can mean different things to different people and why it's important to listen to what gives you the most joy. 4). Why music can be very effective in helping those who have had strokes or have cognitive issues as it can help re-capture memories, thoughts & emotions. 5). The benefits of music on your physical self by either playing an instrument, dancing or singing. /// We hope the information in this episode on music is helpful to you or someone you know. It's easy to take music for granted when we turn on the radio our put on our favorite songs but having music in your life on a regular basis will boast many benefits to your overall health and well being. So don't hesitate to crank up your favorite tunes as often as possible! Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Change is the law of life." - John F. Kennedy This quote reminds us that change is inevitable, we must embrace it and know it is okay! Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Moving can be stressful. There are many factors that can make a move difficult like arranging for packing time, boxing, plans for furniture, transportation, getting people to help you and so many more. But this can also be a lofty task for an aging person as well. In most cases, older adults will not be able to move by themselves which means they will need help. This can also be stressful as not all moves are always wanted, but needed. As part of our "Caretaker series", before deciding on the technicalities of moving, there are important factors to consider which will help make a move much easier for and aging person even if it is under un-wanted circumstances. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). How moving can be difficult especially as you age or someone you care for ages and some of the challenges involved in getting started. 2). Be sure to keep lines of communication open during the process so that everyone feels respected and not rushed into making un-wanted decisions about items in their home. 3). When hiring movers, make sure the aging person is comfortable with the people entering their home by introducing everyone and getting familiar with names etc. 4). Making sure to treat items in the home with respect and compassion when moving them to a new home. 5). The importance of following up with the aging adult after the move has taken place to make sure they feel comfortable in their new space. /// We hope the tips we've shared in this episode are helpful to you or someone you know who may be contemplating moving or helping and aging adult move. Taking the necessary steps to make sure everyone involved is comfortable, is important to ensure a successful move for all involved. Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Ageing is just another word for living." - Cindy Joseph This quote reminds us that to age is a wonderful thing, as it means we are fortunate enough to live! Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adding resistance to your regular workouts is a great way to build strength and stability. In addition, ankle weights can also be used to help do the same for most lower body and cardio exercises. But are they useful for everyone? If you've never used ankle weights than you may be asking how they can actually help you over traditional weights like dumbbells etc. Luckily we have a few "pros & cons" to check out before you make the decision that is right for you. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Why Meredith uses ankle weights in many of her exercise videos and some of her thoughts on their effectiveness. 2). Some basic information on what ankle weights are and some of the different designs you can find. 3). How using ankle weights (and other types of weights) can help strengthen your bones over time. 4). The importance of having good stability as you age and how ankle weights can help develop this. 5). Some of the challenges of using ankle weights especially if you've never used them before and what to watch for to avoid injury. /// We hope the tips we've discussed in this episode are helpful to you if you're looking to incorporate ankle weights into your regular workout routines. If used properly they can be a great addition to most types of exercises and help add strength but they may not be for all levels of fitness. Before you decide to purchase ankle weights, be sure you evaluate all aspects and make your decisions based on your research here. Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Wrinkles will only go where the smiles have been." - Jimmy Buffet This quote reminds us that the wrinkles we have show we have had a good long life, filled with laughter and smiles! Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Driving is one of the activities that we sometimes take for granted as we age. We assume our abilities to drive will mostly stay intact but in reality, driving can become very dangerous as you get older not only for yourself but for others. If you are someone who is a care taker for an aging person that still drives, how do you address this issue if you notice their abilities to drive becoming unreliable? In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Why we decided to start a "Care Taker" series of episodes and how this topic of addressing driving and aging is important to discuss. 2). Some of the risks involved with allowing an aging person to continue driving well beyond their cognitive abilities to do so safely. 3). Why it's important to express your concerns about driving in a kind and gentle way. 4). Some examples of how you can bring up the subject and put it in a light of making sure everyone needs to be safe when in the car whether passenger or driver. 5). Making sure to be sympathetic to this change for the aging person in a respectful and caring manner. /// We hope the tips and suggestions in this episode are helpful if you are taking care of someone who is losing the ability to drive safely. It can be very difficult to talk to an aging person on why you think they shouldn't be driving, at least maybe not in the capacity that they are used to. Making sure to approach this situation with respect, dignity and care will be the best way to acknowledge a better path for all involved. Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals."-Zig Ziglar This quote reminds us that we should reflect on who we are and what we go through as we strive to get to our goals. Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your skin plays an important role in contributing to your overall health. Making sure you take the necessary steps of caring for you skin especially as you age is a good habit to start if you haven't already. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Why the topic of skin care in aging adults doesn't get enough attention and why this should be an important aspect of aging to discuss. 2). How new options of clothing and fabrics are offering better skin protection than traditional clothing. 3). Why using moisturizer has been stereotyped as "just for women" but why it's also just as important for men as well. 4). How staying hydrated directly affects your skin health. 5). How easy and cheap it can be to take care of your skin over time by developing these great habits. /// We hope the tips we've shared in this episode are helpful to you especially if you are noticing more than normal skin degradation. Living an active lifestyle should always include some skin care especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors. Caring for your skin will pay off dividends in the long run and allow you to stay active and healthy for years to come. Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Limit your 'always' and your 'nevers.'"-Amy Poehler This quote reminds us that we need to stay positive and working towards our goals, being mindful of what we can do without overdoing or getting negative. Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here at SFWM we've always embraced walking as one of the best exercises you can do on a regular basis. It's accessible to almost anyone whether walking outside, on a treadmill, at home or even in a chair. We also use walking movements in many of our exercise videos as well. For this podcast episode, we wanted to share a few reasons WHY we love walking and the benefits you will reap while taking your daily stroll. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). What inspired us to dedicate a full episode to the benefits of walking as regular exercise and why we though this was important for people of all ages. 2). How walking is one of the most accessible exercises to all levels of fitness and why you don't have to set boundaries on time, steps or distance. Just walk when it feels best for you. 3). How regular walking actually helps with joint aches and pains as it can serve as a natural lubricant for the body especially as we age. 4). The benefits of gaining strength and balance through regular walking. 5). How walking is low cost and can be done by all levels of fitness at any time which makes it one of our favorite exercises. /// We hope this episode is helpful to you or someone you know who may be just starting out with exercise or just loves walking like we do. There are many good things to embrace when it comes to walking and we're happy to share these amazing benefits with you. Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today."- Franklin D. Roosevelt This quote reminds us that we must not live with doubts. Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Going to the doctor regularly is an important part of maintaining a healthy life especially as you age. However, such trips can be difficult when taking an aging loved one or someone you may be caring for whom may not be comfortable with regular doctor visits. Fortunately there are some things you can do to make these trips more manageable and even enjoyable from start to finish for everyone involved. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). The growing number of people in America who are now in charge of taking care of their parents and how this is affecting all areas of care including regular doctor visits. 2). When it's important to know if a primary caretaker should be involved with taking the aging adult to their regular check ups. 3). Why it's important to plan the trip ahead of time and know what to bring with you like a list of medications etc. to ensure smooth communication with the doctor or PCP. 4). Why having a checklist of items to cover with the doctor during the visit is important and how doing so can maximize check up experience for all parties. 5). Remember to be respectful of the person you are bringing to the appointment and treat them with kindness and patience to ensure a low stress environment. /// We hope the tips in this episode help you or someone you know who is caring for an aging adult. Feeling comfortable about taking regular trips to the doctor is important during our later years and making sure the right steps that are being taken before, during and after the visit is important to maintaining a regular checkup schedule. Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Hold fast to dreams / For if dreams die / Life is a broken-winged bird /That cannot fly."-Langston Hughes This quote reminds us that we must keep our dreams alive, hold on to them, and work hard towards them! Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your blood circulation plays an important role when it comes to your overall health. Making sure your body is receiving the proper amount of blood flow can make a big difference when it comes to living an active lifestyle. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Why the topic of proper blood circulation is often overlooked when it comes to living a healthy and active lifestyle. 2). The most common causes of improper blood circulation which we may not realize. 3). How regular exercise greatly helps with maintaining proper blood flow. 4). How you can improve blood circulation through diet and incorporating healthier options in your meals each day. 5). Why it's never too late to take steps to improve your blood circulation no matter what age you are. /// We hope the tips in this episode are helpful to you if you're experiencing issues with proper blood circulation. Staying healthy for a longer life requires proper diet and regular exercise which all contribute to improving your blood circulation. Staying healthy and active longer is the goal and having good circulation is a pillar to this longevity. Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do."- Ella Fitzgerald This quote reminds us that we must persevere and keep going, and get to what we truly want to do! Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travelling is a past time we can all enjoy whether for vacation, visiting friends or work related. The process of either travelling by car or plane can also be somewhat stressful along the way but those who travel with loved ones who may be suffering from dementia has a whole different set of challenges. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). What inspired this topic on travelling with someone with dementia and why we thought it was important to dedicate an episode to this issue. 2). Some of the common behaviors of someone who has dementia and the challenges they create for caregiving. 3). Why it's important to be very familiar with the patient's daily routine and how this will help prepare for travel. 4). Knowing how important it is to only go as fast as your patient is comfortable with to help keep them focused and not threatened by the rigors of travelling. 5). Why it's important to travel with all proper documentation about your patient's health, physicians, doctors and contacts in case any issues arise during travel. /// We hope the tips in this episode are helpful to you or someone you know who is a care taker for someone with dementia. Travelling with a patient in this condition can be challenging even before you leave the house and the better prepared you are, the better chances you have of making a smooth trip happen for you and your travel partner. Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does." -William James This quote reminds us that what we do each day does make a difference…always remember this! Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Staying active and exercising are well known pillars of maintaining health especially as you age. However, your eyesight rarely gets enough attention as also being a contributing factor to your overall health. Maintaining your vision at "age appropriate" levels is just as important to your health and wellness as physical exercise and diet. Moreover, there are things you can do to take care of your vision along the way which will help keep you independent and healthy long into your later years. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). How our eyesight is key to our physical well being and independence especially as we grow older. 2). Why wearing the right glasses and keeping up with the maintenance on them is important to keeping you free of limitations (ie: walking, driving etc) 3). Some of the common reasons why taking care of our eyes gets put on the "back burner" more often than not which can lead to problems down the line. 4). How your diet has a direct correlation to your vision and eyesight health. 5). How smoking can effect you vision especially over a long period of time. /// We hope the tips in the episode are helpful to you especially if you are noticing issues with your eyesight or know that vision problems run in your family. There is no guarantee that your vision will be perfect as you get older but these tips will definitely help and give you the best chances of healthy eyesight for years to come. Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“You must find the place inside yourself where nothing is impossible.”-Deepak Chopra This quote reminds us that all possibilities are within. Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.