According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as a person gets older, the risk of becoming seriously ill from Covid-19 increases. Hence, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned the importance for this age group of staying at home, and the need to maintain a correct diet, physical activity and health during the quarantine.
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The CDC explains, “For example, people in their 50s have a higher risk of getting seriously ill than people in their 40s. Similarly, people in their 60s or 70s generally have a higher risk of getting seriously ill than people in their 50s. people in their 50s. People 85 years of age or older have the highest risk of becoming seriously ill from Covid-19. “
Therefore, they suggest that knowing the factors that make older adults more at risk can decide about what kind of precautions to take in their daily life. Thus, they call to limit interactions with other people as much as possible, as well as taking precautions when relating to others.
Meanwhile, the WHO and other international organizations urge to maintain a good state of health, both physical and mental, and to carry out activities that help preserve a healthy lifestyle for the elderly, who are most affected by the quarantine to avoid getting the coronavirus. Therefore, we propose some activities to do at home.
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Physical exercise
According to the WHO, to improve cardiorespiratory and muscle functions, bone and functional health, and reduce the risk of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), depression and cognitive impairment, adults aged 65 and older should dedicate 150 minutes a week to “doing activities moderate aerobic physical activity, or some form of vigorous aerobic physical activity for 75 minutes, or an equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous activity. ”
The international health organization explains that the activity will be practiced in sessions of at least 10 minutes. Meanwhile, they suggest that in order to obtain greater health benefits, adults in this age group should dedicate up to 300 minutes a week to moderate aerobic physical activity, or 150 minutes a week of vigorous aerobic physical activity, or a equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous activity.
Meanwhile, for those with reduced mobility, they recommend that they carry out physical activities to improve their balance and prevent falls, three days or more a week. Also, activities that strengthen the main muscle groups two or more days a week. And if they cannot perform “the recommended physical activity due to their state of health, they will remain physically active to the extent that their state allows.”
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Activate the mind
According to recent studies, for an older adult, staying mentally active could reduce the possibility of contracting Alzheimer’s disease by 50 percent, because if they do not present physical deterioration, people retain about 98 percent of their mental abilities.
In this sense, a way of motivating the imagination, activating the memory and the emotional part, could be the realization of activities that, in addition to contributing to the collection, cleaning and organization of the home, are an entertainment for the most adults, and also , for the other members of the family.
Thus, they could create collages and albums with the old photographs, compiling each one and telling the stories behind each snapshot to those who live at home.
Also, a family genealogical tree can be organized, linking photos, names, stories, blood ties and memories. According to experts, this is an ideal hobby, since it helps older people exercise their minds to prevent or stop certain degenerative mental illnesses.
On the other hand, they could also encourage creation and writing, and start writing a novel with the most relevant family stories. And if you don’t like reading, you can read different books, which is one of the best options for quarantining. In addition, discussion sessions of the texts read could be planned with the family.
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Other healthy and entertaining options include making a family cookbook, where you will treasure the best cooking recipes that have been made through the years at home. Or also, the foray into gardening.
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