Senior Fitness With Meredith

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.

Adding resistance to your regular workouts is a great way to build strength and stability. In addition, ankle weights can also be used to help do the same for most lower body and cardio exercises. But are they useful for everyone? If you've never used ankle weights than you may be asking how they can actually help you over traditional weights like dumbbells etc. Luckily we have a few "pros & cons" to check out before you make the decision that is right for you. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Why Meredith uses ankle weights in many of her exercise videos and some of her thoughts on their effectiveness. 2). Some basic information on what ankle weights are and some of the different designs you can find. 3). How using ankle weights (and other types of weights) can help strengthen your bones over time. 4). The importance of having good stability as you age and how ankle weights can help develop this. 5). Some of the challenges of using ankle weights especially if you've never used them before and what to watch for to avoid injury. /// We hope the tips we've discussed in this episode are helpful to you if you're looking to incorporate ankle weights into your regular workout routines. If used properly they can be a great addition to most types of exercises and help add strength but they may not be for all levels of fitness. Before you decide to purchase ankle weights, be sure you evaluate all aspects and make your decisions based on your research here. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Wrinkles will only go where the smiles have been." - Jimmy Buffet This quote reminds us that the wrinkles we have show we have had a good long life, filled with laughter and smiles! MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Driving is one of the activities that we sometimes take for granted as we age. We assume our abilities to drive will mostly stay intact but in reality, driving can become very dangerous as you get older not only for yourself but for others. If you are someone who is a care taker for an aging person that still drives, how do you address this issue if you notice their abilities to drive becoming unreliable? In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). Why we decided to start a "Care Taker" series of episodes and how this topic of addressing driving and aging is important to discuss. 2). Some of the risks involved with allowing an aging person to continue driving well beyond their cognitive abilities to do so safely. 3). Why it's important to express your concerns about driving in a kind and gentle way. 4). Some examples of how you can bring up the subject and put it in a light of making sure everyone needs to be safe when in the car whether passenger or driver. 5). Making sure to be sympathetic to this change for the aging person in a respectful and caring manner. /// We hope the tips and suggestions in this episode are helpful if you are taking care of someone who is losing the ability to drive safely. It can be very difficult to talk to an aging person on why you think they shouldn't be driving, at least maybe not in the capacity that they are used to. Making sure to approach this situation with respect, dignity and care will be the best way to acknowledge a better path for all involved. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals."-Zig Ziglar This quote reminds us that we should reflect on who we are and what we go through as we strive to get to our goals. MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.