how to encourage someone who’s over 70 to exercise

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know how to encourage someone who’s over 70 to exercise/go to a physical therapist or doctor? It’s difficult seeing my MIL slowly deteriorate physically. She’s had a bad knee, and now she’s fallen and limping, and is disinclined to do anything about it. After going through a few exercise phases (walking , going to the gym), she hasn’t been active in years. We are all at a loss about how to help her. TIA!

[Anonymous]

Offer to book the appointment and take her to it to get her knee checked.

Swimming is low impact.

[Anonymous]

My 72+ mom likes a recline bike. She can watch tv and it’s very easy on joints.
I also like the ballet beautiful series on Amazon/YouTube and have recommended it to my mom and other elderly relatives. Simple movements that are really good for joint health (a go to for late pregnancy too)

[Anonymous]

My mom loves low key old lady yoga. Best part is that it is covered 100% by Medicare. The community is key - keeps her going back.

[Anonymous]

You don’t.

[Anonymous]

She’s 70. Leave the woman alone.

[Anonymous]

You walk with her. That’s about the only way to do it without being a jerk. And if she has a bum knee now, that’s probably not happening.

[Anonymous]

Personally I talk about how many of my patients die suddenly over age 70.

[Anonymous]

My MIL likes the Silver Sneakers class at the local community center - it's a good way to socialize with other seniors, too.

But unless she wants to do it, no amount of cajoling will get her to exercise.

[Anonymous]

My father had health issues in his 70's and after he turned 80, he fell at one point, landing behind a desk and couldn't get up. He was there for almost 2 hours before my mother found him. She told him that if he started taking care of himself, she would care for him until he passed (she was 6 years younger, but in great physical shape). He went to a gym and got a personal trainer. The guy at the gym knew a private personal trainer who sometimes worked there. He got them in touch. This personal trainer (who is my age), started working with my father. They had 3 sessions per week and after each session, my father would take his trainer to lunch. At the time, the trainer was scrimping on money, so the meals my dad took him out for was the best meals he had all week. And they became good friends. So good, that when my father had to give up driving (around 83 or so), the trainer would drive to his house, pick up Dad and take him to the gym for their session and then they would still go out for lunch.

My father was so much healthier in his 80's than he was in his 90's. I was the youngest of his kids and I had kids late, so my twins were not born until Dad was 85. My siblings all had girls, and I had two boys. I am fully convinced that without his trainer, my father would not have lived to see his only grandsons and he got a wonderful 8 years with them before he passed. I have thanked Dad's trainer and I gave him a "thank you" bonus when Dad passed. Dad continued his training sessions at the gym until he was 91, when his health deteriorated a bit more. But the trainer actually still came by twice a week and he and Dad would go out for lunch.

I am convinced that the trainer's friendship is what kept Dad at his training for as long as he did and kept him alive as long as he did because it kept him as healthy as possible.

So, I would start by trying to find a trainer who was willing to work with an older woman and try to restore her physical mobility. The trainer might be able to inspire your mother better than you can.

[Anonymous]

Left out a couple of sentences.

Anonymous wrote:My father had health issues in his 70's and after he turned 80, he fell at one point, landing behind a desk and couldn't get up. He was there for almost 2 hours before my mother found him. She told him that if he started taking care of himself, she would care for him until he passed (she was 6 years younger, but in great physical shape). But if he did not care for himself, she would not take care of him and let him manage himself. That inspired him to make the effort. He went to a gym and got a personal trainer. The guy at the gym knew a private personal trainer who sometimes worked there. He got them in touch. This personal trainer (who is my age), started working with my father. They had 3 sessions per week and after each session, my father would take his trainer to lunch. At the time, the trainer was scrimping on money, so the meals my dad took him out for was the best meals he had all week. And they became good friends. So good, that when my father had to give up driving (around 83 or so), the trainer would drive to his house, pick up Dad and take him to the gym for their session and then they would still go out for lunch.

My father was so much healthier in his 80's than he was in his 90's. I was the youngest of his kids and I had kids late, so my twins were not born until Dad was 85. My siblings all had girls, and I had two boys. I am fully convinced that without his trainer, my father would not have lived to see his only grandsons and he got a wonderful 8 years with them before he passed. I have thanked Dad's trainer and I gave him a "thank you" bonus when Dad passed. Dad continued his training sessions at the gym until he was 91, when his health deteriorated a bit more. But the trainer actually still came by twice a week and he and Dad would go out for lunch.

I am convinced that the trainer's friendship is what kept Dad at his training for as long as he did and kept him alive as long as he did because it kept him as healthy as possible.

So, I would start by trying to find a trainer who was willing to work with an older woman and try to restore her physical mobility. The trainer might be able to inspire your mother better than you can.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks so much everybody for your suggestions and sharing your stories. Really feel blessed to have encountered this helpful community forum. We’ll try everything and see what works - making the appointment and accompanying her to it, silver sneakers, recumbent bike, ballet beautiful, old lady yoga, and finding a personal trainer … that is such an amazing story about your father. So happy he started taking care of himself, made a great friend, and got to see your boys.

My MIL lives far from us so unfortunately walking with her is not in the works, and I get the impression she isn’t a fan of exposing herself even in an older woman swimsuit. You all are wonderful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Left out a couple of sentences.

Anonymous wrote:My father had health issues in his 70's and after he turned 80, he fell at one point, landing behind a desk and couldn't get up. He was there for almost 2 hours before my mother found him. She told him that if he started taking care of himself, she would care for him until he passed (she was 6 years younger, but in great physical shape). But if he did not care for himself, she would not take care of him and let him manage himself. That inspired him to make the effort. He went to a gym and got a personal trainer. The guy at the gym knew a private personal trainer who sometimes worked there. He got them in touch. This personal trainer (who is my age), started working with my father. They had 3 sessions per week and after each session, my father would take his trainer to lunch. At the time, the trainer was scrimping on money, so the meals my dad took him out for was the best meals he had all week. And they became good friends. So good, that when my father had to give up driving (around 83 or so), the trainer would drive to his house, pick up Dad and take him to the gym for their session and then they would still go out for lunch.

My father was so much healthier in his 80's than he was in his 90's. I was the youngest of his kids and I had kids late, so my twins were not born until Dad was 85. My siblings all had girls, and I had two boys. I am fully convinced that without his trainer, my father would not have lived to see his only grandsons and he got a wonderful 8 years with them before he passed. I have thanked Dad's trainer and I gave him a "thank you" bonus when Dad passed. Dad continued his training sessions at the gym until he was 91, when his health deteriorated a bit more. But the trainer actually still came by twice a week and he and Dad would go out for lunch.

I am convinced that the trainer's friendship is what kept Dad at his training for as long as he did and kept him alive as long as he did because it kept him as healthy as possible.

So, I would start by trying to find a trainer who was willing to work with an older woman and try to restore her physical mobility. The trainer might be able to inspire your mother better than you can.

This is adorable. Thank you for telling us.

[Anonymous]

Any chance she's an animal lover? A dog is a great reason to go for walks, but you would want to encourage her to get a dog that is already house broken and mellow (doesn't take off after squirrels, etc). A reputable rescue would be ethical about matching appropriately.

There are physical therapists who come to the home. Would that help? There are youtube videos of exercises you can do sitting in a chair.

[Anonymous]

Sorry to say there isn't much you can do. I keep telling my mom to exercise... she agrees she should do that, and then doesn't do it.