Hoarding, Clutter And Senior Balance Exercises

Senior Balance Exercises For Narrow Spaces

By Suzanne Stoke, Physical Therapist @ Exercise For Balance via www.exerciseforbalance.com

     The tendency to collect items and store them all throughout the house can lead to tripping and falling and performing senior balance exercises on a daily basis can be one key for safe living. Please see    http://www.exerciseforbalance.com/buy-now As folks travel home for the holidays and vacations, many times we are amazed at the amount of "stuff" our parents accumulate in their homes. Disorganization is difficult for any age, however hoarding and chronic disorganization in the senior population can be very challenging and very risky for health reasons. Hoarding is the accumulation and failure to discard a large number of possessions that appear to most people to be useless or of limited value. Hoarding can include items of clutter piled on the floor, which can lead to tripping and falling. Additionally,  extensive clutter can be found  in living spaces that precludes activities for which the rooms were designed.  medical researchers have found that there is significant distress or impairment in functioning caused by hoarding (Frost & Hartl 1996).  According to the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD),  chronic disorganization is characterized by disorganization that has persisted for a long period of time, has a negative impact on quality daily life, has not responded to repeated self-helps, and is expected to continue into the future. Furthermore, hoarding affects 2-5% of the population in the U.S., however many people are reluctant to report the issue, especially seniors. Seniors are hesitant to seek help for a number of reasons including: lack of public awareness, cost of treatment, transportation problems, negative views of mental health treatment, and low motivation and insight. (Ayers, C.R. 2010)  The diagnosis of hoarding has been adding to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in 2013. Many insurance companies will now cover the mental health therapy that is needed for hoarding clients.  Many times hoarding is triggered by a traumatic loss such as loss of a loved one, empty nest syndrome, illness, divorce, moving, or inheriting belongings from a loved one. Seniors can go through several of these life events and it may trigger the hoarding. Challenges with hoarding with seniors include a difficult time parting with belongings. Many have lived through the Great Depression and World War II and become practical and frugal. Practicality and frugality are wonderful traits, however since they do not want to be wasteful, they do not let go of things. There are many emotional and physical challenges with seniors that can occur such as dementia, physical and mental health issues such as diabetes and depression,  limited physical mobility and fall risk. If you know a loved one living in a hoarding situation, you can refer them to www.instituteforchallengingdisorganization.org (ICD). In addition, you can encourage them to start on certain stability techniques and senior balance exercises right away to limit the potential of a fall and injury.

 Simple Senior Balance Exercises To Start

     For older adults with disorganization and hoarding issues, beginning simple senior balance exercises is essential for safety. When living in a home with excessive items, it is imperative to develop excellent control of how ones body weight shifts with movement. For example, you can begin by standing with your feet shoulder width a part and slowly shift your body weight forwards and backwards. Once you learn to control your body weight, then you can progress to more challenging exercises like standing with your feet in a tandem position, one foot directly in front of the other. In this position, you will challenge your balance reactions at the ankles and develop improved steadiness. In time you can advance your equilibrium routine to include walking along a line heel to toe. That tandem walking stability exercise will help you navigate any narrow paths in your home caused by items of clutter. You can learn these and other senior balance exercises developed by an experienced Physical Therapist by following along with the Exercise For Balance DVD.

Senior Balance Exercises In The Exercise For Balance DVD

    To learn how to stay safe at home, please begin the best balance exercises with the Exercise For Balance DVD. The easy to follow Exercise For Balance DVD is an exceptional educational DVD to use at home or in a group setting. The professionally filmed Exercise For Balance DVD comes complete  with the best balance and strength exercises needed to enhance senior fitness and to perform basic activities like walking, cleaning house, standing, stair climbing or to advance to high level activities like playing bocce ball, dancing and hiking. In the comprehensive Exercise For Balance DVD, you will learn how to improve balance, balance techniques and balance routines from a balance trainer (licensed Physical Therapist) who has worked with balance and dizziness disorders for over 20 years. Get your copy of the Exercise For Balance DVD by clicking on the BUY NOW button

   For those you know with hoarding struggles, start balance exercises today with the Exercise For Balance DVD to improve balance and prevent falls.
For more information see http://www.mayoclinic.com/health-information/