I didn’t want to take my walk this morning -– too darn cold, too darn busy. But my walking buddy insisted: “We’ve got to do it! Let’s do it for Jack!” Fitness pioneer Jack LaLanne, who in his long-running TV show preached whole foods decades before it was the name of a chain and made hard exercise look easy and fun for all ages, died this past weekend.
He was 96 and apparently fit to the end. (That's him three years ago in the foto; he died of pneumonia complications.)
I don’t know that Jack LaLanne ever had to cope with caregiving. Late in life, he still could devote two hours every morning to workouts. And he had a gym and pool at home, so that made things a bit easier for him than for the average time-crunched caregiver.
Still. Having grown up watching his iconic jumpsuits and fingertip pushups on black-and-white TV, I can’t help thinking how Jack LaLanne spent his entire life practicing what he preached. And it paid off.
He ate whole foods (apparently lots of egg whites, oatmeal, salmon, veggies -– and red wine). He worked out with weights and aerobically. His good cheer probably helped, too. I especially love that he was so positive about exercise for the disabled and elderly. He believed everybody could and should keep moving.
Caregivers have a million good reasons to snuggle into a Snuggie on the sofa at the end of another loooong day. To cuddle up to a Krispy Kreme reward. To put off that checkup. To get some exercise maybe tomorrow, maybe when it thaws out there. But are the short-term feel-goods worth the long-term trouble?
If you get sick, who will care for your loved one? Who will have to step in to care for you? God knows we can’t control every health disaster. But we can try harder to live by the amazing knowledge out there about how to amplify good health and reduce risks. (Knowledge that's not only simple and straightforward but pretty much what Jack LaLanne's been preaching since back in the day.)
Do it for your loved one.
Do it for you.
Do it for Jack.
Jeciron - I love to hear from postive people who have found a way to survive this great challenge. Thank you for thinking of alarms and such to keep your loved one safe and to get on with your exercise routine. A+ for YOU!! In caring, Joy
I am Mor't wife and his primary caregiver. I have had and continue to have excellent help from a man from an agency. Mort is getting sicker and additional help was needed. I consulted another agency from a list in "A Place for Mom" and they provided wonderful help for about two weeks and then the quality of the help not only nose dived but was inconsistent with many different helpers. Finally, the last helper was inappropriately intimate with him (I don't mean that they were in bed together but she hugged him and would kiss and pet the stuffed dog he sometimes held before she gave it to him caressing his neck while she did it). My husband, a hypersexualized Alzheimer sufferer would certainly have been in trouble had she stayed. But a few days later she went to the store for me for a few items and didn't return for two and a half hours saying when she returned that the store was crowded. I discussed this with my daughter (who lives thousands of miles away) and with my regular care giver both of whom advised me to end our association with her. I have done this. Then I discussed the bait and switch tactics with a member of my writing group. She said this is a common practice. This is a different kind of unhelpful care giving that not only doesn't serve the purpose intended but also is potentially harmful to a family as well as being expensive harm. Has anyone had similar experiences? And what do you do then? Well, I am looking for another helper.
Adult day care centers are great, but I don't know where you get the idea that they are "low cost." Low cost compared to what? Here it is anywhere from $75 to $100 a day. I don't consider that low cost. However, a very well-kept secret that I was only made aware of into early in my 6th year of caring for Graminator was that the state offers vouchers so we can actually enjoy 8 hours a week (some months since there is a waiting list) to get some FREE respite care. That, to me, is "low cost" and something which has indeed helped our sanity to say the least.
One other tip may be to lean on the help of an outside organization vs. a friend or family member. This way you can work with a highly qualified healthcare organization to share your goals and wishes for your loved one while you are away. You’ll then be on the same page. Adult day care is a great option for those looking for outside assistance they can trust. Adult day care centers such as Active Day (http://www.activeday.com) provide adults with disabilities and seniors one-on-one medical care and therapy, social activities and outings, hot nutritious meals and much more. These types of centers are low cost, highly effective health care option and allow caregivers a much deserved break from their demanding days.
I bought a treadmill several years ago. I thought it would probably end up a clothes rack, but at the moment it's broken from heavy use. No problem, a friend found me an unused elliptical trainer with a "free" sign on it beside the road. I have alarms on the doors here and a motion detector in the bedroom that lets me know when Esther's moving around, I can exercise with a fair amount of confidence that she's ok. Care giving is tough for me because although it's exhausting it isn't aerobic. I'm far more fit and emotionally stable because of the exercise. I use it as "me" time and listen to music or a book on tape. I've found that there are lots of nearly new exercise machines out there, I've been offered two more free treadmills. People buy them and get tired of looking at them and feeling guilty. Ask friends or put up a ad in a public place, I'd bet a library or a church, or an ad in Craig's list. if you explain your situation I'll bet you'll get a good offer. The hardest moment is starting a work out, but I've never found that I regret it when I'm done.
you and me both!!
Even 5 minutes with 5 or 10 pound weights is 100% better than NOTHING. Now, I need to take my own advice!
Great advice. Easier said than done. But unless you have someone else at home to watch over your charge while you go out for 20 minutes or so, you "Can't do Jack!"