Seniors’ exercise guides: Which one is right for you?

In the past week, I’ve had three separate requests for more details on the seniors’ exercise guides I have published. To date, I have written and published 6 books focused on helping seniors prevent life-altering falls and stay in their own homes longer. 

---

While there is some crossover with the books, each one has a unique focus. This month’s blog post will focus on these 6 books, but you can see a snapshot of all my books on my recently-updated website.


These books are self-help exercise guides for caregivers, family members, and, most importantly, seniors. They all feature foundational exercises with step-by-step instructions and illustrations that they can use as a home-based exercise plan.


The exercises don’t require special equipment or the need to get on the floor—any lying-down exercises are safe to perform on a bed. Each exercise also includes modifications on how to make it easier—or harder, in some of the more advanced books—depending on abilities. Falls are the leading cause of injury, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations for seniors in North America. The goal with my books is to help seniors increase their confidence—after all, the fear of falling contributes to the risk of falling—and improve their strength and balance so they won’t sustain a life-altering fall.
​

Some of these titles are available for sale in Ottawa, while all of them can be ordered online from Amazon. And you can check out the table of contents with Amazon’s “Look Inside” feature if you want more details. 

---

Foundations of Balance and Fall Prevention (2-book series). The books Balance and Your Body and Balance 2.0 are standalone books, but can also be purchased together as the Foundations of Balance and Fall Prevention series.  Both books are divided into three sections: The Problem, The Solution, and The Action Plan, which include a background on falls and fall prevention, personal stories, and targeted exercises.

Balance and Your Body features all-standing exercises, with modifications for seated options where possible. It focuses on three components: 

• - balance system
• - strength
• - mobility

---

Balance 2.0 focuses on balance through strength. It features exercises in three positions:
​- standing
- seated
- lying (bed or floor)
Also included are visualizations to help with brain training. 

---

---

​Balance Exercises for Fall Prevention

Balance Exercises for Fall Prevention is available in English and Spanish, and there is an audiobook of the English version. If you want just a straight exercise guide, this book has all the exercises featured in Balance and Your Body and Balance 2.0, while the background information on falls and fall prevention has been removed. It also includes 8 workout plans and an exercise breakdown by goal—balance, posture, strength, and flexibility.

---

---

​Chair Exercises for Fall Prevention

Chair Exercises for Fall Prevention features seated exercises only and includes 4 gentle, seated workout plans that focus on balance, posture, strength, and flexibility. 

---

---

​The Aging Parents Book

The Aging Parents Books: Gentle Exercise for Seniors Over 80 is a movement and gentle exercise guide. All of the exercises in this book are completed lying down on a bed or seated in a chair. The font size has been increased and the font style has been changed, to improve readability for those with eyesight challenges. 

---

​If you’re still unsure about which book is right for you, or have any other questions, please feel free to reach out.