As you age, you’ll notice it gets harder to do the everyday tasks that used to be second nature; washing the dishes, scrubbing the bathtub and doing laundry now exhaust you, leaving you too tired to engage in any beneficial exercise. While it’s lovely to have a clean house, you must be careful not to choose a spotless home over a healthy body.

It’s true that doing chores isn’t bad for you; however, it could be using up precious energy that would be better exerted elsewhere. As you get older your muscles and bones begin to lose strength, and if you don’t use them for prolonged periods they stop working the way you want them to. If you tire yourself out from an afternoon spent folding laundry or tidying the bedroom, you likely won’t go for a brisk evening walk or attend a water aerobics class– both activities that would be much better for your health. Regular exercise is as important as ever as you grow older; it will boost your mood and energy, help your memory, and even protect you from chronic disease. Staying active will also protect against injury, as keeping your leg muscles strong and having good balance will help prevent falls. Falling is a great concern for many seniors, as it is the greatest cause of injury death in adults 65 and older, and one in three seniors experience a fall each year.

So, how do you find a balance between staying active and taking care of your home? It might be time to find some home support. Sometimes, people think that a caregiver is hired only when the elderly client can no longer take care of themselves, but this isn’t necessarily true. Care aids not only provide personal care such as help bathing, dressing and grooming, they also provide companionship, prepare meals, and perform housekeeping duties. If you are still healthy and able to take care of yourself, it is still beneficial for you to have someone provide home support. This way, your energy won’t be wasted slaving over the stove, and you’ll have the time, freedom and motivation to get out there and exercise.