Staying active at home: a guide for adult children

You want your parent to keep moving, and you do not want it to become another thing you nag about. Here is a calm way to think about it.

Updated October 2026.

The short version

• Begin with what they want to keep doing, not with a program.
• Add a few gentle movements to an existing routine.
• Make the space safe and easy.
• Let them set the pace and choose what to share.
• Check with a doctor before anything new.

Why this matters to families

Public guidance for older adults, such as the NHS’s, encourages being physically active every day, even if it is only light activity, and doing activities that build strength, balance and flexibility on at least two days a week. That is a useful reference point. It is not a prescription, and the right amount depends on the person, so a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional is the best guide.

Start with what they want

People keep doing what connects to something they care about. Ask what they would like to keep doing as the years go on: tending the garden, walking to the corner shop, getting down to play with a grandchild, climbing the stairs without thinking about it. Movement becomes a way to keep doing those things, not a chore handed down by their children.

Make it small and familiar

• Tie it to a habit. A few movements after morning coffee, or while the kettle boils.
• Keep it short. A few minutes is a real start.
• Choose simple, everyday movements. Standing up from a chair, rising onto the toes, shifting weight from side to side, stepping in place. See gentle movements an older adult can do at home.
• Allow rest and skipped days. Pressure ends habits.

Set up the space

A sturdy chair or counter within reach, non-slip footwear, a clear floor, good light and a phone nearby. If your parent lives alone, it helps if someone knows when they plan to practice. See chair-based or standing movement for how to choose.

What to say, and not say

• Say: “What would you like to be able to keep doing?” “Want to try a few together on the phone?”
• Avoid: “You need to do more.” Daily check-ins on whether they did it. Anything that sounds like a verdict on how they are aging.

More on the conversation in how to encourage a parent to stay active without nagging.

Know when to stop

Stop if your parent feels faint, dizzy, short of breath or in pain, and talk with a doctor if it keeps happening. See when to stop and rest.

Where KinectedCare fits

Get Stronger is a short practice on the phone of the person you care for: a simple figure shows a movement, they count what they did, save it, and see their last seven days. Nothing is measured. There is no score. Their practice stays on their phone. If they choose to, they can share it with the people in their CareView, and they can turn sharing off at any time, which deletes what they shared. It reads nothing from Apple Health or Google Health, and there are no ads or trackers. It is for the person you care for, and it is a phone feature. It does not replace professional advice.

Questions people ask

Keep reading

• Gentle movements an older adult can do at home
• What does a short daily movement practice look like?
• What is Get Stronger?

Sources

• NHS: Physical activity guidelines for older adults. nhs.uk