Dad has never been the one to exercise as he mostly had physical jobs. Since he is no longer working, he sits in the chair all day unless he goes out for breakfast lunch or a dinner. He does not have the money for a gym nor will go (tried that when he moved in here, went once). We live in a great place to walk (nope, cant do that inner ear issue, crystals are loose he says). He is getting heavier (I'm losing weight he says), "don't think so pop". Now he is using a cane off and on "back problems" he says. He can almost get in to a trot if we call dinner or are going somewhere. I advise him to walk up and down the drive way, walk to the neighbors house, take your dog for a walk..... Nope, won't do it. So what do I do? He is getting heavier, totally out of shape. Sits in-front of the TV all day..... Loud TV BTW...... I close the door to his room when I am trying to watch my TV. My fear is he will get so big he wont be able to move and I really don't want to deal with that. I am sure his Dr tells him to walk or lose weight (we have the same Dr, he tells me to as well of which I am heeding his advice). I tell him to go to the mall and walk in the winter. Not sure what to do at this point. No, I really don't want to walk with him.
My father assigned the label "old" to himself when he retired. He spent the rest of his life sitting in a chair by the window. My mother assigned the label to herself when she was around 75. Each year was going to be the last on earth. For the last seven years she has acted like each day was her last. She started telling people she was 90 when she was 89 and stopped doing anything at all. Her health is actually still fine except her back and mind. She just says she is very old and can't do things. She says that my father died when he was 90, like it is saying she'll die at any minute. She's been dying for so long, though, I can't pay a lot of attention to each time she talks about it.
I do wish she would get up, but I get tired of trying to get her to do it. I do have to remind her that I'm not her slave. That makes her mad, because she feels that I owe her something. I can't imagine how I would ever pay off this imaginary debt. Yesterday I told her that she should have bought a slave instead of having a daughter. Didn't even register to her how much damage she has done.
First, I would make sure that you have signed DPOA and HCPOA, so that if he gets sick, you can help him. Then, I'd encourage him to see his doctor along with you. Maybe, the doctor can recommend Silver Sneakers. That's covered by insurance. Plus, there he can socialize with other seniors, make friendships and get fit.
If your attempts don't work, you can try to have family activities that involve movement like croquet, walking, bird watching, etc. Do you know of any single senior ladies in the neighborhood who want a walking companion? Maybe, if she called him directly and asked him to accompany her, he might be more inclined.
If all fails, I'd accept his decision and leave him in peace.
So I have tried.