Activity for older populations is extremely important. Stagnation, especially after an injury or surgery, can be linked to early death. Active elderly individuals also experience many health benefits including reduced anxiety and depression levels. They also have a reduced fall risk and can lead a more independent life than older individuals who live a less active life. The CDC encourages older adults to maintain a healthy level of activity to reduce potential health risks like like cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic diseases that can reduce the overall quality of life of older adults. For these reasons, it’s essential that you encourage your aging parents to remain active. Here are __ ways to keep your parents active as they age!

1. Inform them

Your parents may understand the importance of remaining active if you explain to them how being active benefits them, and what may happen if they choose to not live an active life. People need context and education for better adherence to health and wellness directives. It helps them feel empowered to make their own health choices and understand the consequences to their choices. Give them all the information so they can choose what to do, which helps them keep a sense of their autonomy. You can show them videos, send them articles, and even have them talk to their health providers.

2. Participate in activities with them

Working out is hard enough, let alone having to do it solo. Starting a new workout program is especially tough. Offer to workout or participate in activities with your parents. It’s hard to listen to someone’s advice when they themselves are not following it. If you want your parents to live a more active life, then you need to find ways to live an active life as well. If you can walk with them in the mornings before or after work, or join them in a workout class, then you may have better luck at encouraging them to get active.

3. Invest in a trainer or workout class

Working out can be expensive. Between the clothes, personal trainers, and workout classes, those charges can start to add up. Invest in your parents’ health by helping them out with the finances. Maybe purchase new clothes for them cover some of their training costs. Some workout classes even have senior citizen discounts which can help with the financial burden. Plus, if you spend money on something, your parents may be more inclined to use it so it doesn’t go to waste.

4. Encourage them to speak with their health provider

Your parents may not listen to you because you’re their child. However, they may listen to their doctor. Their doctors will be able to provide them with evidence based research on why and how they should get active as they age. This information may help your parents take your advice more seriously. It’s important, though, that you don’t blindside your parents. Tell them you are going to the doctor, or encourage them to make an appointment and go on their own. Tricking them will make them not trust you and it will just be that much harder to convince them of anything else.

5. Find workouts geared towards their age groups

Mall walking programs and senior citizen workout groups, like aquarobics, can be great workout groups for senior citizens. Working out in a group can be a great way to encourage accountability and socialization. Having a social group is a great way to encourage and prolong exercise program adherence. Your parents can make friends with others who are the same age, may have similar interests, and can be motivation for each other to attend the next workout class. Suggest these to your parents, and find these classes so the have everything provided for them. If you know someone else whose parents need to get active, then you both can work together to get your parents there and begin a social group.

6. Challenge them to friendly competition

Providing them with technology like Apple Watches or Fitbit, you can challenge your parents to friendly competition. Maybe something is at stake like loser has to cook dinner or something fun. When you all connect together, you turn getting active into something fun the whole family can do. You can do weekly competitions or even fun holiday competitions. It’s also an easy way to keep in daily contact with one another. You can send positive messages to one another after completing workouts or daily fitness goals. For your parents, these watches also offer them a way to self-monitor their health. They can measure their activity time, number of steps walked, distance traveled, and measure their blood pressure.

These are just a few ways that you can help your parents stay active as they get older. It’s very important that in addition to staying active, that older adults continue strength and resistance training. It’s important that they continue strengthening their muscles and bones to avoid the risk of osteopenia, osteoporosis, and sarcopenia. These three degenerative diseases could put your parents at risk for fractures which are extremely dangerous at their age. The healing process is slower and if they are not active, then they are at risk for early death. Encourage your parents to keep active to preserve their health!