How do you motivate a senior citizen to stay active and participate in life???
113706
The question is a little too general to answer. You don't say how old this person is. There is a vast difference between a senior citizen who is 60 and one who is 80. There could be health considerations. They might have experienced a deep personal loss that has left them depressed. \n\nHopefully, they are getting some type of exercise, even if they aren't able to do much. Exercise releases endorphens which creates more energy and helps with depression. A healthy diet and some activity that they are interested in will help. As seniors age, they need more rest. Also, talk to their doctor and discuss any physical or emotional problems they might be experiencing.
938636
Join the club, my friend!  :o)\n\nThe best advice I've heard is to find an activity you enjoy that will get you moving.  Exercise doesn't have to be boring workouts or weight lifting.  It could be dancing, walking, bike riding, swimming, tennis or anything you would enjoy doing.  It's also best to have someone to do it with so you stay motivated.
730899
Many seniors complain about being cold, a sweater or a throw would work well.  Also, a radio to listen to talk shows or to music would be another great idea.  If you're looking for more ideas, contact a nursing home.   Merry Christmas.
1104568
I'm 53 and I can still ride 160 kilometres in a day.  I'm not particularly fit - its all about regular exercise, practice and building up stamina and endurance. I ride a lot all through every week and I routinely do 60-80 km on a Sunday. \n\nI gave up running in my 30's cos it was doing my knees in - I still have some trouble from the repetitive shocks that running brings. Nowadays I row, cycle, swim. All good aerobic exercises that put little stress on any joints, but work all the major muscle groups well.\n\nSo stop thinking your granny is old - she's still a kid and she'll be taking you down for a long time yet - unless you start working on your fitness too - get on yer bike!
1069844
OLD?  At 40??!!??!!  Hahahahahahaha!\n\nNaaaaaaaaaaaaah.  First of all no one has energy to be outside when it's so hot.  I do it but it's torture and depressing for me.  \n\nYou have some depression and also lack of motivation.  They're connected.  It would help if you could find something to be interested in, a hobby of some sort; even regular exercise is a hobby, it will make you feel better about yourself, and you can do a lot of things without any expensive equipment.  You can exercise to music or while watching tv, too. Or take some free classes at the community college and study something new to exercise your mind.\n\nDon't bother with vitamin supplements; just be sure you get the MDR's but don't overload; even too much Vitamin C can be bad for you because it weakens the walls of the arteries.  There are no miracles here, no magic pills to change your life.\n\nI sometimes go thru a cleaning frenzy and I feel good about it but how often do you need to do it?  I get energy by being interested in different things, and I never feel I have more time than I know what to do with, and I don't need to go anywhere (except in my mind).\n\nListen, you want to meet educated guys with good taste, etc.  As one of your answerers said, you're not likely to meet them if you're not more like them.  Why don't you see what kinds of free or low cost classes you can take in music or art appreciation, etc?\n\nHang in there.
781425
See if there are any elderly neighbours.  Offer to rake leaves.  Help get groceries.  Any brothers or sisters in your family?  Offer to help with their homework.  Read a story to them.  \n\nHere's a tough one!  Any kid in your school that is not popular?  Make friends with that kid.  Sit with him/her at lunch.  Invite him/her over your house to do homework together.  \n\nSay your prayers...for one day...for one specific person whom you actually do not like.  \n\nDo errands and work around the house without or before being asked.  Make beds, do dishes, clean-up the living room, empty the trash, set the dinner table, etc...\n\nSpend one day in which you do not say ONE evil or bad thing about another human being.  Spend the entire day only speaking good and positive things about people and life.  It is really hard!\n\nHope this helps!  Good luck!
245670
ChiefMarketer.com has an interesting article that first tries to understand the way of thinking of the baby boomers and senior citizens, then what it means to marketers:\n\n1. Enjoy—but make smarter choices. Seniors seek moderation in their lives, but not really to give up all their pleasurable habits. Instead of their usual food, they may want low-fat; or if they buy steak, it may be smaller portions.\n\n2. Prioritize family ties. Any product that will help seniors cherish simple pleasures with their family and pets.\n\n3. Explore a holistic attitude toward health. From choosing organic products to eating fresh foods, boomers like to do more than just see their doctor regularly. \n\n4. Carve out time for self-improvement. Exercise, gardening, walking to chasing grandkids are now a routine part of their lifestyle. They may also try a new hobby and going back to school, even sports (e.g. travel packages for seniors)\n \n5. Give back to the community. They do more work with charities and to volunteer work rather than just writing checks.\n\nIn the article "Older Population: Discover this Growing Market for Small Businesses" I listed some business ideas that target the seniors specifically.
748060
How about some stretching or strength exercises.  Those are the most important.  How about building up the bone mass to prevent it.  Old folks, like me, have to get off their a** and get moving.  It really does make a difference.  Prevention is the cure.
941853
None.  Try increasing your activity level.
591677
take one little step at a time...it all depends how hard it really is...like can you not even motivate yourself to get out of bed?? if so..just taking a shower and getting dressed is like taking leaps and bounds...exercising..i'd say walk down the street or something and think about goals you'd like to accomplish with exercise. taking little steps at first lets u know you can do it and helps with the actual "getting up and doing it"
1118581
Thats a really tough situation. I worked at a assisted living. Obviously alot of elders are expierencing Alzheimers. If they are living on their own invest in the necklace like MedAlert.  What the person under me is talking about is med alert.
1056455
Personally:\nWhat i do is that i keep a picture of the "fat" me on the fridge so that I can see myslef whenever I go to the kitchen to eat. Second i keep trying the clothes that do not fit anymore as a motivation. \n\nProfessional opinion:\nHere are 12 tips to give your eat-right, move-more efforts greater endurance.\n1. Eliminate Excuses "Even if you're not a morning person, schedule exercise for first thing in the morning," suggests Martica Heaner, M.A., a New York-based exercise physiologist and author of Cross-Training for Dummies. "The later you wait to exercise, the more reasons you'll have for not doing it." Sally White, Ph.D., dean and professor at the College of Education at Lehigh University, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and an expert on motivation and exercise, agrees. "Keep gym clothes everywhere -- in the car, at work -- so there's never a reason not to go." So what do you need to do? Sleep in your sports bra? Lay your workout clothes out on the bed the night before? Ask a buddy to call and remind you to get moving? Figure out what works -- then do it.\n\n2. Kid Around Of course, finding time to work out was simpler B.C. (Before Children) -- but just because family precedes fitness on your list of priorities doesn't mean there isn't room for both in your life. Get your children involved with you. Take a family hike, go for a group bike ride -- or roll with it. "Scooters and in-line skates are great for kids and can be just as much calorie-burning fun for moms," says Bonne Marano, a certified fitness instructor in New York City. Plus, getting moving with you is good for the little guys, says White: "The children of families who exercise together are more likely to be active later in life."\n\n3. Plan with Your Man A study at Indiana University, in Bloomington, found that 94 percent of spouses who worked out together stuck to their exercise plans, compared with only 57 percent of those who went at it alone. Can't tear him away from the TV long enough for a bike ride? Then try using the word "ball" to entice him, offers Heaner: "If a high-energy kick-boxing class or body-sculpting session isn't his thing, shooting hoops or tossing around a football may be. A little one-on-one on the basketball court burns twice as many calories as walking. Even if you never make a basket, the sprinting and lateral movements will improve your coordination."\n\n4. Get a Gadget Investing in a simple tool that will measure the progress you're making can be a big motivator. Try something as simple as the New Lifestyles Digi-Walker SW-200 ($26.95, www.thepedometercompany.com), which counts your total steps over the course of a day.\n \n• www.thepedometercompany.com >> \n\nLooking for a fun way to figure out how many M&Ms you burned off during that extra-long elliptical session? Check out BalanceLog ($49 to $69, www.healthetech.com), software for your computer and/or Palm that logs calories in and calories out, then helps you devise a food budget based on how much exercise you get.\n \n• www.healthetech.com >> \n\n5. Write It Down Keep your own food and exercise log: People who are successful at losing and maintaining their weight are good at self-monitoring, according to several studies. "And remember to put positive feelings in print, too, to review on days you need a boost," says Rachna D. Jain, Psy.D., a lifestyle coach and licensed psychologist in Columbia, Maryland. Describing how good you felt after a workout, for instance, could help get you out the door next time.\n\n6. Seek Inspiration Feeling a little less than vibrant? Find a mental mentor to get you moving. That's how Sarah Ferguson, former Duchess of York, keeps revved. Saying negativity drains energy, she counts the Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela among her positive-energy role models. Or consider George W. Bush: If the president of the Un
747954
Coming from indian background I can really understand.  Oldest person in the family are some times over protecting.  If she really really wants to go out do something.  Good start would be, to get out of the house initially in the name of non-job activity.  Example - Go out and get registered with college or community college for courses.\n\nI have seen it work.  Slowly they get used to it.
1109240
learn to love them and they will become a priority. Besides when you exercise, you have more energy for the other things. Or mediate and your priorites will come into place...
992930
Go cosmic bowling!  Go to boomers!  Go to an amusement park!  Get board games/dvd games and play them with your friends at home!  Go car racing!  skydiving!  scuba diving!  there are many things you can do...dont let the peer pressure get to ya and dont be depredssed cuz u are not 21...you are young and many old folks wish they were 20 again...take care.
480736
Eat less, exercise more. Period. \n\nFind an activity they enjoy and ensure they engage in that activity for at least 45 minutes per day.
1015788
Remember all your life that the most important person in your life is you and if you do not take care of you then you are of very little use to any other person.  This means to take care of the body and mind.  Eat well but only what you need stay away from mind altering chemicals Study and learn as much as you can and never stop learning.  Treat other people as you would treat yourself.  Your chances of being 90 and over will be very high.  No guarantees of anything in life.