It’s Never Too Late!

My Dad was a healthy, active man for most of his life, successful in business with a passion for bowling and flying. He learned to fly when he was in his 50s and flew small planes until he was in his 80s. When he was 82, he leapt off of Tiger Mountain in Issaquah, WA, in a tandem parasailer. (He loved to fly!)

He bowled in two leagues for nearly 80 years, bowling the coveted perfect score (300) when he was 90 years old. He only stopped bowling at age 99 because he’d fallen down one too many times for his liking.

Two years later my mother – who was 93 – had a stroke. I took care of her (and my Dad) until she passed away, and then continued to care for my Dad. He was 101, mostly bedridden, only able to shakily make his way to the bathroom with assistance from a walker or an aide. He had not been eating well for some time and he was thin, frail, and depressed. I decided to encourage him to find joy in his life and in movement again. I fixed three healthy meals each day and gave him snacks in between meals. I made sure he drank enough water to stay hydrated, I took him out to cafes and movies, and I started him on an exercise routine.

I began by assessing his posture.  He had the classic posture of most seniors, which is a posterior pelvic tilt with tight hamstrings, a flat low back, too much flexion in his upper back (kyphosis), rounded shoulders, and a forward head. He had low back pain, shoulder pain and limited range of motion in all joints. The first thing I did was lift the handles on his walker, which helped him stand up straighter. Next, I gave him simple exercises that he could do on his bed or sitting in a chair. As his strength improved, I increased the duration of each exercise, increased the number of repetitions or give him more challenging exercises. We’d also sit across from each other and toss a small ball back and forth, switching hands. He’d always had good hand-eye coordination, but it had deteriorated. Soon he was able to toss or catch the ball equally well with either hand. Soon he was also able do 10 squats in a row, holding onto the edge of the counter. His form wasn’t perfect, but who cared? He was happier and so much healthier!  He liked to walk up and down the long hall between the kitchen and his bedroom, now standing tall behind his walker. One day he asked if he could walk unaided. How could I refuse? With my husband behind him and me at his side, not touching him my Dad walked with a long absent spring in his step and a happy gleam in his eye. He was so pleased with himself that it brought tears to our eyes, and his trek down that hallway was a pivotal moment for me. It became clear to me that with enough desire, a wee bit of will and a lot of encouragement, it’s never too late to improve one’s posture and feel better. Even an “old” body that has been misaligned for years can benefit from posture exercise therapy.

I was honored to be able to take care of my Dad the last months of his life, and to help him feel so much better for a bit of that time. I was grateful to be with him when he died, finally leaving the beautiful body that had served him well for 103 years.