Senior Fitness With Meredith

Being in caretaking is one of the most important jobs or positions to take on when it comes to caring for the aging or those in need. It can be demanding and even stressful at times but also very rewarding in making the difference in someone's life. It is also easy to lose sight one the most important aspect to caretaking, making sure you as the caretaker is being taken care of. Putting your health and wellness first as a priority is key to maintaining an independent life and allowing yourself the necessary rest time to recharge will give you the ability to be your best at your job especially when you are needed most. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). The definition of a "Caretaker" and what their roles and responsibilities usually entail. 2). Why it's important to also prioritize your health and wellness as a caretaker so that you can be the best version of yourself when taking care of someone else. 3). Helpful ways you can plan healthy meals around the eating times of the person you are caring for to ensure you are also eating healthy and not allowing your meals to be an after thought. 4). Planning tips on how you can better schedule your day around caretaking so that you get better sleep at night which will help you recharge your mind, body and soul. 5). The importance of staying socially connected to close family and friends while you are away from caretaking. /// We hope the tips and information in this episode are helpful to you if you or someone you know is a primary care taker. Taking care of our aging or those who need it most is needed in all facets of life and making sure those who take on this role are caring for themselves is just as important. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well." - Diane Ackerman This quote reminds us that we need to fill each day with so much good, not just live the length of each day! MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Regular exercise is key to maintaining an independent lifestyle especially as you age. Keeping a schedule of workouts helps build consistency and confidence in sustaining a healthy future. But what happens when you hit a "funk" or encounter an unexpected injury that sidelines you for a period of time? There are many things that occur in life that can throw surprises into your regular schedule which can keep you from staying on track with exercise. This can cause feelings of "falling behind" or lagging with your routine exercises. Luckily, there are some easy tips you can follow which will help you get back into the game and feeling great both in body and mind. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). What events, thoughts or circumstances in life can make us feel like we're not exercising enough and why this is more common than we may think. 2). Some of Meredith's personal experiences in working with clients over the years and their thoughts on keeping up with exercise and staying active. 3). Why it's important to not "over set" your fitness goals if you've been away from exercising for a long time or are just getting started. 4). The importance of finding workouts and exercises that you enjoy doing and how that's helpful for your motivation each day. 5). The physical, mental and emotional benefits of regular exercise and remembering why this is important for your overall and long term health. /// We hope the tips in this episode are helpful to you if you feel un-motivated to exercise after a long break or if you're just having trouble getting started for the first time. There's no shame in taking time off and when you're ready to come back to exercise, we hope the information in this episode helps motivate you to get moving towards a longer and healthier future. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” – Abraham Lincoln This quote reminds us that we must live each day fully, not just going through the motions of each day! MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this podcast episode we're excited to dive into the health and wellness benefits of our new "Brain & Body" exercise video series! This new series is all about strengthening the connection between your mind and your body movements. All exercise uses this connection but this series will challenge your cognitive abilities and match them with easy to follow movements that you can do right at home. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). How you can easily find this workout series and where it is located on our website or YouTube channel. 2). Meredith's thoughts on why she felt it was important to include this exercise series in her growing library of videos. 3). Some suggestions on when to try this series of videos as either warm ups, cool downs or as a great quick daily exercise. 4). Some of the frustrations that occur when we may not feel mentally sharp at times and how these workouts will help with this. 5). Why this series is great for those who may have cognitive issues and how they can benefit from incorporating them into a weekly schedule. /// We hope this episode gets you just as excited as we are about this new series! We will be publishing more "Brain & Body" workouts in the coming months that are designed for all levels of fitness. We're dedicated to empowering not only your physical well being, but your mental sharpness as well which is key to a longer, more independent life. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“To keep the heart unwrinkled — to be hopeful, kindly, cheerful, reverent — that is to triumph over old age.” – Thomas Bailey Aldrich This quote reminds us that we can triumph over life as we age, but we must stay happy and positive through it all! MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all have that favorite song we like to hear every now and then but did you know that the songs you love may be doing more for you than you realize? It has been shown that music has many benefits beyond just candy for our ears. It has the power to help destress and calm our minds, help us find clarity and mental focus, and even help our bodies physically. For those with cognitive issues, music can enhance experiences and emphasize memory and function. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Some of Meredith's experiences in working with clients and their attitudes on how music has effected their personal lives as they aged. 2). How music provides a "dopamine" like feeling which effects our mood, attitude, outlook and emotions. 3). How different genres of music can mean different things to different people and why it's important to listen to what gives you the most joy. 4). Why music can be very effective in helping those who have had strokes or have cognitive issues as it can help re-capture memories, thoughts & emotions. 5). The benefits of music on your physical self by either playing an instrument, dancing or singing. /// We hope the information in this episode on music is helpful to you or someone you know. It's easy to take music for granted when we turn on the radio our put on our favorite songs but having music in your life on a regular basis will boast many benefits to your overall health and well being. So don't hesitate to crank up your favorite tunes as often as possible! Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Change is the law of life." - John F. Kennedy This quote reminds us that change is inevitable, we must embrace it and know it is okay! MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Moving can be stressful. There are many factors that can make a move difficult like arranging for packing time, boxing, plans for furniture, transportation, getting people to help you and so many more. But this can also be a lofty task for an aging person as well. In most cases, older adults will not be able to move by themselves which means they will need help. This can also be stressful as not all moves are always wanted, but needed. As part of our "Caretaker series", before deciding on the technicalities of moving, there are important factors to consider which will help make a move much easier for and aging person even if it is under un-wanted circumstances. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). How moving can be difficult especially as you age or someone you care for ages and some of the challenges involved in getting started. 2). Be sure to keep lines of communication open during the process so that everyone feels respected and not rushed into making un-wanted decisions about items in their home. 3). When hiring movers, make sure the aging person is comfortable with the people entering their home by introducing everyone and getting familiar with names etc. 4). Making sure to treat items in the home with respect and compassion when moving them to a new home. 5). The importance of following up with the aging adult after the move has taken place to make sure they feel comfortable in their new space. /// We hope the tips we've shared in this episode are helpful to you or someone you know who may be contemplating moving or helping and aging adult move. Taking the necessary steps to make sure everyone involved is comfortable, is important to ensure a successful move for all involved. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Ageing is just another word for living." - Cindy Joseph This quote reminds us that to age is a wonderful thing, as it means we are fortunate enough to live! MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.