Going for a swim at your local pool is not just an activity for the youthful or energetic, it is an activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and disabilities.
Swimming is a great way to maintain muscle usage, help with mobility and to meet people such as yourselves. Most public pools have events that are targeted to certain age groups or disabilities, such as the elderly or pregnant women. These groups are led by someone who knows the correct exercises and has safety on their mind at all times.
Your caregiver can help you to attend these groups should you wish. The caregiver will start by making sure you really are fit to attend this kind of activity and if they are unsure then they will seek professional medical advice. The next thing is to organise transport to and from the swimming pool, this could be the elders own car, the caregivers car or maybe transport arranged by a local support group.
To go swimming there are a few things that need to be taken, even more so should the elder have mobility issues. Obviously the appropriate costume to wear in the pool is important, as is the means to get dry afterwards. For seniors with mobility problems there are swimming pools that have special lifts that go in and out of the water so no climbing is necessary (this is an important part of the research for the caregiver attending with the elder).
The caregiver will always make sure that any medication, emergency contact details and previous medical history are always at hand should there be any form of accident during the swimming session.
Swimming, and all forms of exercise, dehydrates you and burns calories and energy. After the swimming session it is important that the elder is encouraged to drink some fluids (not coffee, tea or fizzy drinks) and also have a light snack. The drinks and food could be taken with you, as organised by the caregiver, or many of the modern swimming facilities have food courts on their premisses.
The final thing is that the caregiver watches the senior on the way home and at home for any signs of exhaustion, muscle injury, dehydration or complications with existing medical conditions.
