Archive: Author: admin

Staying active and getting fit are important parts of a healthy lifestyle, but for individuals living with a disability, remaining active can be difficult to achieve without settling into a routine that soon becomes stale or boring. It’s also hard sometimes to find new, fun ways to get in a workout when you have a limited range of mobility. It’s important to talk to your doctor or physical therapist before beginning any new regimen, but there are some things you can do to liven up your workout routine and have a bit of fun with it. One of the keys is to find your strengths and play them up; after that, it’s simply a matter of staying motivated.

Here are some of the best ways to stay active without limiting yourself.

Do something you love

Incorporating something you enjoy doing into a workout can make it that much easier to stay on track, so think about the best fit for you. Do you like being around water? Did you know there are all kinds of health benefits to fishing? You can also get a good workout from canoeing, or if you have the right accessibility accessories available to you, swimming is an excellent way to stay active and get fit.

Do you enjoy being outdoors and working with your hands? Perhaps gardening or landscaping would be a good way to start. These are great ways to stay active; just make sure you wear plenty of sunscreen, even on cloudy days, and take breaks often to hydrate yourself.

Try something new

Any regimen will become boring or stale if you stick to the same routine day in and day out. Change things up a little by adding new things to your workouts; for instance, one day you could go swimming, the next you might try yoga or even aerial silks. Talk to your doctor before trying anything too strenuous and never attempt a new activity without a spotter or trainer present.

Get your friends involved

Exercising is much more fun when you have a friend along, so invite some close pals to start a workout group with you that meets a few times a week, or get your family involved in your activities. When the weather is nice, you can head outside and play games or sports, take walks or hit the trails for a hike or bike ride. When things turn cold, head to the slopes for some skiing. Just make sure you have the right equipment.

Get some help from your pets

Pets are excellent motivators when it comes to getting up and moving, especially dogs who need lots of attention and exercise. If you don’t already own a pet, consider getting a service dog, who can also help you perform daily tasks and help reduce stress and anxiety.

Create your own home gym

You don’t have to join an expensive gym to get in a daily workout; create your own home gym for next to nothing by adding a stability ball, a hula hoop, some resistance bands, and a yoga mat. These items can help you change things up a little, and you can exercise in the privacy and comfort of your own home.

Remember to keep things positive and focus on your achievements rather than the things you couldn’t get done. If you haven’t been active every day before now, it might be a little rough at first; you might experience some aches and pains, and your mood might take a hit when you don’t see immediate results. Keep in mind that anything worth doing takes a little time and patience, and be easy on yourself.

If you can see well, you probably take your ability to use the bathroom for granted. But for people with low-vision, the bathroom can be one of the most dangerous rooms in their home. If you have a family member or loved one who is partially sighted, you want them to feel safe and comfortable in their home. You can use these tips to improve bathroom safety and improve a low-vision area.

Make Use of Bright Colors

Although many people with vision loss can’t distinguish colors, they are often able to detect strong contrast between colors, so you can make your bathroom safer immediately by adding bright colors. Make simple changes like painting the walls in vibrant colors and adding a brightly patterned shower curtain. These will both make a significant difference. Even adding a colorful toilet seat and lid can make it easier for a visually impaired person to negotiate the fixtures in the room. Painting the interior (back) of the bathroom wall cabinet can make it easier to see medicine bottles and other items which are on the shelves.

Install Brighter Lighting

LED lights are brighter than any other type of lighting and can significantly improve low vision. The best places to install them are under wall cabinets, around the bathtub, toilet and shower. This will help make the contours of the room more visible.

Consider Motion Detector Lighting

By adding a motion detector to your lighting system, you don’t have to leave the lights on all night and your visually impaired family member does not have to fumble around for a light switch. The motion detector will turn on the illumination as soon as someone enters the room and off again when he or she leaves.

Use Soft Floor Material

The bathroom is a high risk area for falls, so it’s important to install soft flooring in case of accidents. Rubber mats or thick carpeting can do the trick. Just make sure there are no loose edges that could cause someone to trip and fall.

Think About Faucets

It’s preferable to install single-lever taps on sinks and bathtubs than dual-handle taps. In some bathrooms hot water can very quickly become scalding. Single-lever taps will make it easier for someone who is visually impaired to control the temperature and thus avoid serious injury.

Install a Walk-in Tub

Getting into and out of a bathtub can be treacherous if you’re visually impaired. A walk-in tub can reduce the danger dramatically. There are many different designs to choose from, so you can pick one to suit your family member’s individual needs. Price ranges vary so it’s a good idea to shop around.

Include Safety Rails

Safety rails beside the bathtub or inside and outside the shower can help a visually impaired person get in and out easily without falling. Similarly, you can install one beside the toilet to make sitting and standing safer.

Organize Toiletries

Pump dispensers are invaluable for people with vision loss. They make it much easier for them to measure what quantity of soap or lotion they are releasing. Label dispensers with large print or tactile stickers so they’re easy to distinguish. Using colored toothpaste makes it easier for visually impaired individuals to see how much they are putting onto the brush.

Whether your family member lives in a house or an apartment, it’s important for them to feel comfortable and capable of moving around safely and independently. Even if their loss of vision is only slight, adapting their environment and keeping it well organized will make a big difference.