exercise Archives - Finishing Well In Life

Wayne is holding a key in his non-dominant hand to unlock the door. He is also holding an upside down calendar. Both are good neurobic exercises for your brain.

Train your brain – a fun way to reduce dementia risk

Posted on April 1, 2025April 3, 2025 by seniajean

Back when we were caring for our Mama, I remember wondering if her condition might be genetic. At the time, we didn’t even know for sure if she had Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia. Mama did have a brain scan at the time, but that was almost 20 years ago, and there were not as many diagnostic resources back then. More research has been conducted, along with advances in diagnosing.
If you are caring for a loved one with dementia, especially one of your parents, it is likely that at some point, you have wondered if you may inherit it as well.

Mary Ledbetter, our aerobics instructor.

Give Chair Aerobics A Work-Out for Better Health

Posted on March 1, 2024October 31, 2024 by seniajean

When I was younger – not even that long ago – whenever anyone mentioned Chair Aerobics, I usually envisioned a group of elderly folks sitting on chairs arranged in a circle holding pool noodles and swatting at a balloon to keep it airborne. Turns out, I was mistaken.
Chair aerobics is getting far better press now than in the past. More and more senior centers are offering classes that strive to include folks with all levels of ability. You can even stand to do the workout. Most classes run ½ hour to an hour and are designed to provide folks with a good workout without needing machines or heavy weights.

A variety of photos from previous posts regarding dementia reduction.

Reduce Your Dementia Risk in 2024

Posted on January 1, 2024January 30, 2024 by seniajean

Over the last few years, quite a bit of attention has been paid to the subject of dementia. The information has included ways to reduce your risk, as well as lifestyles that may contribute to cognitive decline. I originally began this blog back in 2015 as a kind of continuation of the stories collected in a book I wrote about our family’s experience with my Mama when she had dementia. The book shares our family’s quest to help her find joy in the journey and finish well. As time has passed, I find myself and those around me – especially caregivers, becoming more interested in ways they can lower their own risk.

Caring for our Thumbs gets a Thumbs Up

Posted on September 1, 2020September 1, 2020 by seniajean

When our son, Ryan was young, his favorite book was “Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb” by Al Perkins. We read it to him over and over, and over again. It is a fun, rhythmic read.

In fact, it became so embedded into my brain, that anytime the subject of ‘thumb’ is brought up, the line, “Hand, hand, fingers thumb, dum, ditty, dum ditty dum, dum dum,” rolls through my head…and then gets stuck there.

My neighbor Jackie and I show off our ‘litter-pick-up’ tools we take with us on our walks.

Reducing Dementia, One Benefit of Walking

Posted on August 1, 2020December 28, 2023 by seniajean

Weaving walking into our daily lives adds benefits beyond simple exercise. One of the marvelous things about walking is that it doesn’t require a lot of specialized equipment. If you have comfortable shoes, a hat, and perhaps a walking stick, you’re good to go.

Senia and Wayne backing up for better memories

Backing up is good for your memory

Posted on February 7, 2019March 9, 2025 by seniajean

In this modern, computerized society of ours, warnings and advice about backing up computers and tablets have become fairly common. I had to learn the value of backing up my photos and documents the hard way. It happened back in the 90s when personal computers were becoming more and more popular. I can still remember…

Do You Hear the Music? Dance!

Posted on January 11, 2018June 17, 2026 by seniajean

The biggest surprise of the study was that social interaction of dancing lowered the seniors’ risk of dementia by a staggering 76%. Sorta makes you want to do the happy dance.

Find a sense of balance in your busy life

Posted on October 2, 2017October 13, 2022 by seniajean

In order to find a sense of balance in our busy lives, it is first important to define what balance actually is. One definition is a condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions.

Self-defense training to help equip you in case of an attack

Posted on January 30, 2017August 19, 2020 by seniajean

Ideally, never having to face a dangerous situation would be best, but since life isn’t always ideal, learning how to anticipate peril in order to avoid it would be the best way to keep yourself safe.

Reduce Your Risk of Dementia – Upside Down and Backward

Posted on September 13, 2015February 16, 2026 by seniajean

So there I was on the treadmill set for reverse and the wonderful memory of Mama and I walking back and forth in the pool came back to me. I remembered the statement someone had said about walking backward being good for memory and wondered if it was really true.