The job of a caregiver can be unpredictable and stressful. One of the most important considerations for maintaining a healthy lifestyle comes with managing that stress. Caregivers have several options when it comes to stress relief: meditation, exercise and sleep all contribute to wellness. For caregivers with Apple phones, the built-in Health app automatically tracks steps so caregivers can gauge their daily activity.
You probably don't realize the number of steps that you take each day. For caregivers especially, who might be crossing a room several times a day to get things for their senior clients, 15 steps here and 20 steps there add up fairly quickly. The Health app uses GPS data to track how far your phone moves, and with it, how many steps and miles you walk in a day. Caregivers with Apple phones don't even need to download anything to use this function; it comes pre-installed on the phone and tracks movement automatically.
When caregivers open the app, they are greeted with a dashboard that shows the number of flights of stairs climbed, number of steps and walking + running distance average for the week. If caregivers also have a device such as a Fitbit that tracks calories and other fitness data, they can connect that with the Health app to produce more data, such as exercise minutes or workouts.
For each category presented, caregivers can click to see more historical data and compare charts over time. For example, clicking on walking + running distance will show all of the daily data for the week, month or year and display bar graphs across the top to illustrate the data. It will also show your average distance overall. The comparison charts help caregivers realize when they might have a week or month that's particularly low so that they can adjust their routine to add in more exercise.
Consider setting a daily step or distance goal for yourself, or maybe even for you and your senior client if they feel like going for a walk. For senior clients, regular movement helps keep their joints active, even if it's just a leisurely stroll around the block. For senior caregivers, walking or running even an extra mile every day can help relieve stress.
The Health app comes pre-installed on all Apple products.
Senior caregivers, let us know your feedback on this app and keep us posted if you discover additional apps that assist with caregiving duties and help relieve caregiver stress. You may also refer-a-friend to a senior caregiving job and win prizes weekly and monthly on Caregiverlist.