Training My Elderly Parents

[Seth_H]

Andy,

I've been coaching my parents, who are in their mid-late 60s, since the beginning of the year on a once a week schedule. Not ideal, I realize, but I figure anything is better than nothing. Once a week, they come to my garage and they squat, bench press, and deadlift. Given the limitations of our situation and my inexperience as a coach, I'm pleased with their progress.

Briefly, here's what they've done(weights in lbs).

Dad:
Squat (HBBS) 95 -> 170 (3x5)
Bench 115 -> 180 (3x5)
Deadlift 135 -> 250 (1x5)
Mom:
Squat (LBBS) BW -> 40 (3x5)
Bench 15 -> 55 (5x3)
Deadlift 65 -> 120 (2x3)

Things are slowing down, though, and I was wondering if there is anything I can have them do midweek on their own in order to keep things moving. I don't think they'd be willing to squat or deadlift on their own even if they did have the equipment, but is there any dumbbell work they could do? I was thinking about dumbbell presses, rows, and maybe goblet squats or something just to stave off detraining. Would this be at all useful? Any other advice you can give me would be appreciated. I think they like it so far, and I want their training to be as productive as possible so they'll continue. Thanks, and I'm really looking forward to the new book.

[Andy Baker (KSC)]

Nah.....sounds like you are doing great with their programming. Once per week works pretty well actually as long as they are consistent. Just keep doing what you are doing

[Smyth]

I don't know that mid-60s qualifies as elderly anymore.

[Andy Baker (KSC)]

Yeah, I tend to think of elderly as 80+.

But I will say that mid-sixties is a place where there can be a VAST amount of variation in the population. I have some 60+ folks who can run circles around most 40 year olds, and I've had some that started on Deaths Doorstep due to 40 years of physical neglect.

[Seth_H]

Fair enough. After consulting the geezer taxonomy thread, it appears "geezer" is the appropriate term. I'd say my parents were somewhere right in the middle of the running circles/death's doorstep spectrum. My Dad was not terribly weak when we started, but my Mom has noticed a big difference in the carry over to her everyday life. Bending over to pick stuff up has gotten much easier for her. Who'd have thought?

In any case, glad to hear the once-a-week approach is viable.