As you explained, older people get set in their ways. I’ve had the same problem with my own relatives, and I think that most caregivers have experienced some obstinance and an unwillingness to do things a different way. I have a couple of ideas that might help, but you know your father and friend best, so I’ll leave it up to you to decide what might work.

If your father’s a reading man, there are some great articles on seniors and exercise; statistics on seniors’ health and great guidelines put out by the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the American Heart Association and elsewhere on the Internet. The connection between health and exercise is irrefutable, and this may go some way to persuading your older charges to modify their behaviour.

Another suggestion is to plan an ‘event’ that has exercise built into it. Why not spend an afternoon that involves a pre-planned route involving lunch at a restaurant or a visit to a favourite shop followed by a walk to a pre-selected pub or teahouse with ‘just the right atmosphere’ for a good game of cards. And a walk back to the car. There are all kinds of possible combinations.

Finally, you might consider proposing a challenge: match your father’s daily walk with a daily run of your own and see who misses days each week. Ask your dad to prove that he doesn’t need the exercise. Bet him that he can’t walk a kilometer per day. Even better, see if you can pit your father against Al. By spring you could have a couple of marathoners on your hands! A little psychology can go a long way.