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Activities and Exercises for the Elderly 65+
For the student
(Everyone has Grandparents)
Create activities
Have different levels of activities
v level one; finger exercise (* see at last page)
v level two; bingo or card playing (bingo cards to print)
v level three; walking short distances (Walking off weight)
v level four; walking around the neighborhood
Look online for activities (About.com Senior Living)
Check out local library (my.crown.edu)
Bible verse: All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. Proverbs 14:23 (NKJV)
Be creative and make up your own
v Guess how many buttons in a jar
v Interview one of the people in private and ask question about the interviewee to the group to see how many answers they just correct.
Use humor (Christian jokes)
v people benefit from laughing
v people like to laugh
v laughter releases endorphins from the brain, allowing a natural happy feeling
Teach exercises for an activity
Mix up the activities, keeps them interested and guessing
v Card playing, bingo, hang man, speakers, arts and craft, story telling, breathing exercises, relaxing exercises, muscle and strength building exercises, mental/memory games, music, dance and drama, nature activity, religious activities.
Bible verse: God delights in each good step we take. Psalm 37:23 (NKJV)
Education benefits
Improves coordination
Improves muscle strength
Improves memory
Socializing
Gives you a reason to get out of the house
Resources
Bingo cards to print out
Bingo.Ziggos.com
Christian jokes
http://www.basicjokes.com/dtitles.php?cid+14
Crown college library
My.crown.edu then click on library
New King James Verse Bible
BibleGateway.com
Senior living
seniorliving.about.com/od/exercisefitness1a/4senoirexercise.htm
Storm athletics (for the younger students at Crown College)
Walking off weight
walking.about.com/od/weightloss/Walking_Off_Weight.htm
For the health care giver
Provide a variety of activities
Introduce activities
v Be a speaker and a teacher
v Teach regarding medication (Pharmacology)
such as blood thinners; coumadin
blood pressure medication; Atenolol, Lopressor (CDC)
Teach about alterative medications and how it affects regular medications (Pharmacology)
Massages; touch is very therapeutic (how to give a back massage)
Teach in relation to healthy eating (National Institutes of Health)
Activity coordinator (how to coordinate)
v when, where, and time
Develop activity calendar (printable calendar templates)
v coordinate a month in advance, put in local newspaper
Develop good nutrition log (Nutrition Food Overview)
v calcium, fiber, non-fat foods
Bible verse: Do not sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare. Proverbs 20:13 (NKJV)
Explain benefits
May avert hospital stays (CDC)
May seize illness early (CDC)
Therapeutic benefits
Improves heart
Improves flexibility
Increases concentration
Increases endurance
Bible verse; The Lord is the strength of my life-of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1 (NKJV)
Resources
Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC)
National Institutes of Health http://www.nhobi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wy/dine_out.htm
New King James Verse Bible
BibleGateway.com
Nutrition Food Overview
http:www.righthealth.com/Health/Nutrition%20Food-s?lid=goog-ads-sb- 8536643334
How to coordinate
www.learningplace.com.au/showitem.asp?pid=25929
How to give a back massage
www.ehow.com/video_8066_give-back-massage.html
Pharmacology
http://evolve.elsevier.com/KeeHayes/pharmacology/
Printable calendar templates
www.printablecalendar.ca/
* Just call out the nick name of each finger randomly and the participants will have to move that finger. For example, ?I need a ride? they would hold up the thumb. You can make it fun by multi tasking, for example, ?Hey you, I need a ride?. They would hold up the pointing finger and the thumb.