Keeping your hands strong:
You may not have given much thought to the issue of the strength of your hands. As we age is is very common for hand strength in men and women to decline. This is because of degenerative changes in our musculoskeletal and nervous systems caused by conditions like osteoporosis, arthritis and diseases such as Parkinson’s. Hand strength is so important in our daily lives because we use our hands for almost everything we do. Without strong hands it’s difficult to accomplish even the most basic activities of daily living. We need strong hands to lift things, to turn a key, to dress ourselves, to wash the dishes, and on and on. . . 
There are some simple and effective exercises you can add to your daily routine to help keep your hands strong for years to come. You should do exercises that focus on the three types of grip strength, which are crushing, pinching, and supporting.
One simple exercise that can make a big difference in your hand strength is squeezing a stress ball or other squishy ball that fits in the palm of your hand. Squeeze it tightly for about 3 to 5 seconds. Do it several times to help improve your grip strength.
To improve your supporting grip you can use a hand weight or a household item like a big book or a jug of water. Holding the item, walk around the room. Vary the sizes and weights of objects to see the best results.
To improve your pinching strength try finger presses. Press your thumb to each of your four fingers in turn, holding for 5 seconds each on each hand. This will make it easier to grip small things and do tasks that use the small muscles in your hands and fingers.
Of course, you know that you should check with your doctor before starting any new kind of exercise. But hand exercises are a great thing for almost any senior to add to their daily routine. At our care center Dyer we provide the physical therapy and occupational therapy our patients need to keep their bodies working at an optimal level, making it easier to perform the necessary activities of daily life.