Senior Fitness With Meredith

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.

Taking vitamins and supplements regularly is a great way to contribute to your health and wellness and many people rely on them to fulfill they're recommended daily allowances. The vitamin and wellness industry has been around for a long time to support these healthy habits but it has also grown significantly in the past decade due to things like advances in science and advertising on the internet and social media. However, all of this rapid growth doesn't necessarily mean it has been for the better. There are many new significant things we have to look out for as consumers to ensure we are buying and consuming the right products which can directly affect our health. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). How the wellness space has grown to become one of the highest revenue generating industries of the modern age and the problems this can lead to as consumers. 2). Why we feel the need to take vitamins or supplements to help us feel better about our health and wellness and how the industry feeds on this. 3). Different suggestive advertising tactics that industries use on all media channels to convince us that we NEED to use or buy a certain wellness product. 4). Some of positive advances that the industry has achieved into making vitamins and supplements easier to purchase, manage and take and which are more effective than they used to be. 5). Some of the important aspects to look into and research when shopping for the right vitamins or supplements. /// We hope this episode has been helpful to you or someone you know who is having trouble navigating the expanding wellness industry when looking into finding the right vitamins or supplements. It can be easy to go down the wrong path and spend your money on a product that claims one thing but turns out to be falsely advertised. Your body, health and wellness are the most important assets you have and making sure you are consuming the right products for your health is key to living a long and healthy life. Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.”-Eleanor Roosevelt This quote reminds us that each new day brings new possibilities. Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your hearing abilities are essential to maintaining everyday activities and independence. Years of hearing can take a serious toll on our ability to focus clearly especially as we age. Moreover, once we lose portions of our hearing, it does not return. Luckily there are a few easy tips you can follow that will increase the chances of hearing longevity especially in what seems like a noisy time in life. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). How hearing loss affects people of all ages and not just older generations. 2). Some of the common ways your ears get damaged over the years from things like power tool noise, construction sites, airplanes etc. 3). The correlation between taking in loud noises constantly and your stress levels. 4). Some of the problems with new technologies like headphones and earbuds that can contribute to greater hearing loss if not used correctly. 5). Why getting your hearing checked regularly is a good idea as we age because slowly losing hearing over time is hard to self diagnose. /// We hope the tips in this episode are helpful to you or someone you know who may be struggling with hearing loss. This is a common problem especially as we grow older. Taking small but necessary steps to protect your hearing can go a long way and contribute to a healthier and more independent life. Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“So many things are possible just as long as you don’t know they’re impossible.”- Norton Juster, ‘The Phantom Tollbooth’ This quote reminds us that we need to believe in ourselves and all the possibilities in our lives. Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Exercising in a gym can have great benefits because of the vast choices of equipment that are offered. Treadmills, stair climbers, weights sets etc can be very expensive to purchase on your own and keep at your home. However, not knowing how to use these types of equipment correctly can lead to possible injury or long term aches and pains. Making sure you know how to properly use equipment found at a gym is key to staying injury free and healthy. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). What inspired us to dedicate a full episode to gym equipment safety and how important it is to become familiar with this type of equipment. 2). Some of the overlooking challenges that can come with using a common piece of equipment like the treadmill. 3). How your balance plays a big role when attempting to get on or off larger pieces of exercise equipment like the recumbent bike or stair climber. 4). Why it's important to make sure your resistance bands are always in good condition before exercising with them. 5). The importance of adjusting equipment to your body height and size before using and how not doing so can cause more harm then good. /// We hope the tips in this episode are helpful to you or someone you know who may need help with using equipment at the gym. Avoiding injury is one of the most important things to remember when exercising especially with equipment that can look confusing or intimidating. Making sure you go slow and take the time to learn how to use this equipment properly will keep you injury free and healthy for years to come. Team Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“What's done is done. What's gone is gone. One of life's lessons is always moving on. It’s okay to look back to see how far you’ve come but keep moving forward.” - Roy T. Bennett This quote reminds us that we must always keep moving forward and looking to the future, not fixated on the past, only to learn from it. Meredith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.