Caregivers need to stay active, supple, and strong, and many caregivers are 50+.

Caregivers need to pay attention to their own body’s needs in order to prevent osteoporosis and other limiting conditions that could make caring for their loved one–a parent, spouse, or sibling–impossible if their own health is compromised.

I suggest to my audience these simple daily “to dos.”
–Before you get out of bed–clench and flex your muscles head to toe–and say thank you for a new day.
–Stand and gently stretch and twist for 2-3 minutes
–Journal with your morning coffee–recount yesterday. Write your hopes and fears.
–Keep some easy hand weights nearby–something light–5 pounds or so, and lift a few weights after breakfast. It actually feels good to lift your muscles!
–Go for a walk–even better, get a dog that needs walking.
Even if you’ve never been a big exerciser–these are easy things anyone can do.

~Carol D. O’Dell
Author of Mothering Mother: A Daughter’s Humorous and Heartbreaking Memoir
available on Amazon