It’s no surprise that many successful athletes have been able to prolong their careers by taking care of their bodies. At age 42, relief pitcher Mariano Riveria who is famous for his conditioning regimen continues to help the New York Yankees win close games. He also happens to be their oldest player in a sport that values youth.

Equally if not more impressive are the elderly I work with who continue to take care of their bodies by staying physically active. Here are some of the ways I have observed how…

photo by Maggie Smith

Arthritis affects the joints and muscles of the body and can affect people at different ages and stages of their life. It limits a person’s mobility and creates an emotional toll from losing the ability of fully participating in the things once enjoyed. It is this aspect of the illness that can cause another problem and is one of the hardest to deal with — depression. At times putting feelings of loss and hopelessness into words is difficult, and having others understand what you are going through…

The MetLife Mature Market Institute conducted the MetLife National Study of Adult Day Services. One outcome of the study was to list priorities for adult day services, now and in the future. Their study asserts that priorities include:

• Delay/ prevent institutionalization
• Socialization
• Dementia Care
• Caregiver Support
• Managing Illness
• Disease Prevention

These priorities are completely aligned with what we do and what we recognize as critical for adult day programs. The services and assistance we provide helps to keep seniors at home, support caregivers and encourage socialization. As people age, they may not be living close to family or…

Finding a good pair of shoes is priceless. During my teen years I was one of those sneaker fanatics. I admit to spending hours at the local shoe store combing through aisles and aisles of footwear in search of the perfect sneaker.

Perhaps I was hoping to jump as high, run as fast, and play ball like my favorite athletes. Looking back, the closest I got to the pros were the upper deck seats.

But I wasn’t so far off, good shoes make a huge difference. For instance, older adults who wear…

We offer exercise every day at the VNSNY CHOICE Adult Day Center. It’s our seniors’ favorite activity and we’ve seen amazing changes in level of functioning over time. Whichever classes are offered, I’m constantly amazed at how our Activity Leaders come up with sessions that not only get the body moving, but also combine discussion and socialization to keep the seniors engaged. How often do you hear loud laughter when people are doing exercise? We hear it everyday! Not only do we offer stretching and strengthening exercises, but we also…

Rising summer temperatures are right around the corner, which means the elderly need to take certain precautions prior to heading outdoors. Older adults can continue to enjoy outdoor activities and prevent heat related illnesses by following these easy steps.

1) Avoid walking between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — generally the hottest time of the day.

2) Begin your daily walk at a slower pace to prevent exhaustion and retreat to a cool place if you start to feel uncomfortable.

3) Wear light colored and loose fitting clothing.

4) Drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids to remain adequately…

Photo by Simon Howden

One of the best ways to enjoy spring is to make walking outdoors a part of your routine. Often I advise my seniors to take regular walks, since it works out all the major muscles groups, can help prevent physical decline and does not require any expensive equipment.

After enduring a very harsh winter, warmer weather has finally arrived, so follow these easy steps before you head outdoors for some fresh air and exercise.

1) Dress your feet properly

Wearing comfortable sneakers or shoes that fit well and provide good traction will help reduce…

I recently visited an elderly woman who has had increasing difficulty getting out of bed and walking in the past month. Her caregivers were hoping that she would soon be able to enjoy meals while sitting at the dinner table with the rest of her family.

I spent time instructing the family and home health aide how to assist her implement a simple exercise program that designed to increase her strength and  flexibility. Afterward, I taught them how to help her to sit up in bed, which builds endurance and decreases her risk of developing a breakdown of the skin. Based on the…

Many of us know people who say they want to increase their physical activity or eat better, and at times you may see a change. But for the most part, those eye-opening moments occur when you’re seeing someone for the first time in a while .

Recently, I saw a gentleman at a store who I had as a patient a few months ago. It is not common that I get to see someone again out of the home, so it was a surprise. What was more surprising however, was the weight Mr.…

One of the top recommendations I give to my seniors is to stay active outdoors, especially since we know that many NYC homes have limited space. However, as New Yorkers have prepared for another snowstorm, I want to stress how important it is for the elderly to stay indoors until their local streets are safe for walking.

Recently, a few of my seniors fell outdoors after walking on icy pavement. One person required a trip to the emergency room after fracturing her knee and was very fortunate to have returned home without an…