Believe it or not, it is natural to lose muscle mass as you age, but there are still things you can do to prevent tons of loss. Most people have no idea that you lose muscle mass as you age and have to keep up your exercise regimen to keep it even in your golden years. Sometimes seniors think, what’s the point of working out anymore? But working out is one of the best ways to stay independent for longer and age in place. Your loved one may need help around the house or with transportation, and that’s all normal. Senior home care can help with that! Senior home care can also help your parent stick with a daily exercise plan, which will help with muscle loss. The more muscle they maintain, the more they can do on their own. Here are some things to consider about muscles and seniors.
Why Do You Lose Muscle
Most people are at their strongest and healthiest with the most muscle during their 20s and 30s; by the time you’re 80, you lose over a third of your original muscle mass and maybe even more if you are not constantly working out. But why does this happen? Many older adults move much less than they used to, which means they lose their muscles because it has to be worked on repeatedly. Working out less, moving less, and doing fewer hobbies all contribute to lower amounts of muscle mass that is much harder to get back as you age for natural reasons. The worst thing your senior loved one can do is stop moving. The more they move, the more muscles they will keep and the more they will be able to do on their own.
The Risk Of Muscle Loss
The truth is when you lose a lot of muscle, a snowball effect can happen. You may stop moving as much because your body cannot find balance or the energy to keep going; you may start falling more because your muscles are too weak to hold you up, and everyday life becomes more challenging. Of course, senior home care can help your loved one age in place, but your senior loved one should try being as independent as possible, and this will help them feel happier about their lives.
The worst-case scenario is if a senior loses muscle mass, falls, breaks something, and becomes bedbound. The older you get, the less muscle you have, and the harder it is to recover, the same as when you were younger. Muscle loss can complicate life, which is why so many seniors should be focusing on it. Seniors who have less muscle tend to make decisions slower, they may not be able to battle cancer, they may gain fat faster, and they may develop diabetes faster. All of these are things that most people want to avoid.
The easiest way to prevent muscle loss is by developing a workout plan that you want to stick to. This shouldn’t feel like a chore but something a senior can wake up and look forward to every day. Your loved one should be walking, lifting light weights, and practicing functional moves that will help them age in place. If you are worried about your loved one with these exercises, senior home care can help watch over your loved one to ensure they will not hurt themselves.
If you or an aging loved one are considering senior home care in Stephenville, TX, please contact the caring staff at Clear Path Home Care today. Call (817) 631-7710.
Clear Path Home Care provides compassionate, high quality home care in Bosque County, Hill County, Navarro County, Henderson County, Erath County, Somervell County, Johnson County, Ellis County, Parker County, Tarrant County, Dallas County, Kaufman County, Rains County, Hood County, VanZandt County, and Rockwall County in Texas.
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