Older adults living with Parkinson’s disease face various challenges, but this doesn’t mean they should stop doing fun activities that bring them joy. Staying active could slow the progression of the disease. Here are some safe activities seniors with Parkinson’s should try.
1. Walking
Walking is a great way for seniors to exercise and enhance their cognitive skills. Family caregivers can turn the exercise into a social activity by planning walking adventures the entire family can enjoy. You can take your loved one on a hiking adventure, or you can walk together through a museum or another place he or she is interested in visiting. Walking can alleviate the motor and non-motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease.
Many seniors in the early stages of Parkinson’s are able to live on their own, but they may need a bit of help with the everyday tasks of life, such as grocery shopping and preparing nutritious meals. Aging adults who require assistance with the tasks of daily living can benefit from reliable senior home care. Families trust Home Care Assistance to provide the high-quality care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. Our caregivers are trained to help seniors prevent serious illnesses and encourage them to make healthier decisions as they age.
2. Singing
Parkinson’s disease can impact the muscles related to speech. As the condition progresses, your loved one’s voice may become harder to understand. However, singing is a safe way for older adults with Parkinson’s to strengthen the quality and clarity of their voices. Singing can also reduce the risk of voice tremors. Encourage your loved one to sing on a regular basis, and plan sing-alongs and in-home concerts to make this activity even more engaging.
3. Playing Board & Card Games
Playing games can be a fun and therapeutic activity for seniors with Parkinson’s disease, allowing them to stimulate areas of the brain involved in motor function. The more games your loved one plays, the better his or her short-term memory may be. Maintaining short-term memory is important because Parkinson’s disease can cause forgetfulness and increase the risk of developing dementia. When you notice your loved one is excelling at a specific game, switch things up. The objective is to keep the brain active, stimulated, and challenged.
A home caregiver can be a fantastic game-playing partner for your loved one. Caring for a senior loved one can be rewarding, but it can also be overwhelming for family caregivers who have other responsibilities they need to focus on. For these families, the perfect solution is respite care. Tucson families rely on our caregivers whenever they need time to rest, work, run errands, and even go on vacation.
4. Reading
Seniors who enjoy reading may become depressed, angry, and saddened by their inability to hold books or turn the pages. However, you can purchase audiobooks for your loved one to listen to. You can also make reading a group activity by holding the books while your loved one reads. Reading can boost mood, enhance brain activity, and help with speech.
5. Volunteering at Charity Events
Bake sales and clothing or food drives are some of the activities seniors with Parkinson’s can safely participate in. These charity events are typically sponsored by community organizations, local educational institutions, and churches. Helping at a charity event may boost your loved one’s mood and give him or her a chance to get out of the home to interact with others. Keeping seniors socially active is a good way to manage the emotional and mental issues that accompany Parkinson’s disease, such as anxiety and depression.
Caring for a loved one with Parkinson’s can be extremely challenging, and a compassionate, professional caregiver can be a wonderful source of support. If your elderly loved one is living with a serious medical condition and needs help managing the tasks of daily living, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a Tucson elderly home care agency you can trust. Our caregivers are available 24/7, there are no hidden fees in our contracts, and we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our in-home care services. To learn more about our highly trained caregivers, call us at (520) 276-6555.