Wheelchair Workouts are Important for the Elderly in Assisted Living.

As a Certified Personal Trainer conducting small group training classes in assisted living facilities in the Bay Area, I have noticed a few things.

One of them is that while a lot of residents are in wheelchairs, not many of them join our exercise classes.

Another is that our exercise classes are not geared towards individuals in wheelchairs.

In this post, I want to briefly discuss both of these issues.

So let’s start with individuals in wheelchairs not joining exercise classes.

Why does that matter? Shouldn’t assisted living residents in wheelchairs just be sedentary?

The Importance of Exercise for Individuals in Wheelchairs.

Physical activity is necessary for individuals of all ages to maintain health and promote emotional and social well-being. For the elderly living in assisted living facilities, engaging in regular exercise can be even more critical.

While the factors that influence an individual’s participation in exercise in assisted living is many-factored and complex, studies indicate that physical activity for assisted living residents — whether they are in wheelchairs or not — can prevent falls (including falling out of a wheelchair), increase satisfaction with activities, caregivers, and the facility, increase an individual's cooperation with caregivers, improve cognition, improve mood, reduce depression, and increase or maintain an individual's ability to take care of himself/herself.

For individuals confined most of the day to a wheelchair, exercising can be of even greater value. According to experts, the exclusive use of a wheelchair affects a person’s cardiovascular health and promotes muscle loss — contributing to depression, social isolation, and withdrawal. Prolonged sitting in a wheelchair also promotes fat gain — leading to a host of diseases (including heart disease, diabetes and more) and physical conditions (such as, pelvic tilt and tight muscles). It also decreases a person’s energy. In turn, this can lead to depression and social withdrawal.

The good news is that studies show that regular exercise (aerobic and strength-training) can:

•        drastically improve the cardiovascular health of those in wheelchairs,

•        reduce depression, and

•        improve quality of life.

So, without question, exercise (with some caveats of course) is beneficial for assisted living residents confined to wheelchairs.

Which raises the next question: why aren’t more wheelchair-bound residents participating in exercise classes?

Most Assisted Living Exercise Programs Do Not Address the Needs of Individuals in Wheelchairs.

I believe the answer to that question lies in the fact that many times residents don’t believe they can exercise. Many elderly residents in assisted living have never worked out in their lives. So the idea of exercising now is foreign to them. Plus, those in wheelchairs struggle with additional complications and health problems.

Adding to this point of view, is the fact that the exercise programs offered in assisted living facilities are primarily geared towards the more ambulatory and independent residents.

Not all, but many exercises that I have seen being taught (and that I teach as well), require the individual to be able to stand. So, for example, exercises like the sit-to-stand, or balance exercises require the resident to be able to stand up and/or remain standing. Or they require a level of mobility that most wheelchair-bound elderly residents don’t have. For example, exercises such as the shoulder press, hamstring stretches, push-ups, or seated sit-ups, are exercises that most elderly in wheelchairs simply cannot perform.

In addition, because most of the classes are group classes, it is impossible to provide individualized exercises to meet the different abilities of the residents. Which means that the typical exercise class is not very effective for residents in wheelchairs.

The end result is that even if they join a class or two, many wheelchair-bound residents end up feeling isolated, left out and discouraged.  

And yet these are the residents that could benefit the most from even a little bit of movement.

So what can we do? Is it a lost cause?

Of course not.

Assisted living residents in wheelchairs can workout and they should workout.

The Solution

I think there needs to be a separate set of small group assisted living workouts that are crafted specifically for assisted living residents in wheelchairs and/or those with severely limited mobility. As much as possible, the workouts should be individualized and adjusted according to each person’s abilities to maximize effectiveness.

In addition, it would be fantastic if experts could check and adjust the fit of each wheelchair to ensure it does not interfere with the individual’s ability to perform basic aerobic or strength exercises.

But hey! I’ll settle for creating an atmosphere of inclusiveness that encourages wheelchair-bound assisted living residents to exercise even a little bit — because even a small amount of movement can improve their health, longevity, and quality of life.

If your assisted living facility is located in San Jose, Los Gatos, Campbell, Morgan Hill, or Gilroy, California and you would like wheelchair-specific exercise classes for your residents, feel free to get in touch with me.

Transform Your Life and Your Body. Life and Lifting Starts Now.

At Strength & Balance for Seniors, I help women over 50 transform their lives and bodies one rep at a time. I work with clients one-on-one or in small groups, either in-person in the Bay Area, or virtually via Zoom, to provide the individualized attention they need to reach their health, fitness, and longevity goals.

I also conduct Small Group Training in Assisted Living for both assisted living and memory care residents – bringing movement, balance, and strength to those who need it the most.

Connect with me here or over on Facebook.