The Importance of Regular Physical Activity for Older Adults
Published on March 8, 2019
As you get older, you may notice that your body slows down and that you have less energy to be active. But did you know that seniors who maintain an active lifestyle tend to have less of these symptoms? Health problems, weight and pain issues, and accidental falls can all be prevented by increasing strength, flexibility, and confidence through exercise. Regular exercise is also good for your mental health, mood, memory, and overall well-being. Whether you’re 50 or 80, here are some health tips for older adults.
Benefits of Active Living for Seniors
Prevent Diseases
Studies have proven that people with an active lifestyle are healthier than those who are sedentary for most of their lives. Heart disease and diabetes are two health issues related to a lack of physical activity. Exercise has been shown to prevent these conditions and improve overall immune function. Even mild exercise, such as walking, can have a powerful impact on preventing disease.
Promotes Healing
As with most processes in the body, the healing process also slows down with age. As a result, fighting off colds and infections gets more challenging. The body may also need more time to heal from bruises, scrapes, and burns. By exercising, seniors can increase their overall health and immune systems to help them heal faster from surgeries, wounds, or injuries.
Reduces Blood Glucose Levels
Regulating blood sugar levels becomes more difficult with age, which is why many people develop diabetes as they enter their 40s and 50s. With exercise, the body begins to use the blood sugar as energy instead, thus preventing diabetes. For those who already have diabetes, exercise can help them manage the symptoms and prevent the disease from getting worse in their senior years.
Reduces the Risk of Falling
As we get older our bodies change, and older adults are at a higher risk of falling and injuring themselves. To prevent this potentially disastrous occurrence, exercise can help by improving flexibility, strength, balance, and coordination.
Stronger Bones & Joints
Loss of bone mass is a part of aging, but with the right eating habits and exercise, especially strength training, older adults can lower their risk of osteoporosis, falling, and broken bones. Exercising can also regulate joint swelling and, as muscles build around the bones, it can reduce the pressure and pain caused by arthritis.
Lowers Blood Pressure
When the body has to struggle to pump blood through the veins, it is known as high blood pressure. High blood pressure is associated with health conditions like diabetes, strokes, heart disease, and dementia. Exercise can lower blood pressure, make the heart stronger, and open the blood vessels, allowing blood to be pumped with minimal effort.
Boosts Mood
Exercise helps improve a variety of physical issues, but the benefits do not end here. Exercise helps the body produce more mood-boosting hormones, which are strong enough to relieve depression. Since seniors are at a higher risk of developing depression and anxiety disorders, exercise can help maintain their psychological and emotional health as they get older. Exercises as simple as a brisk walk or swimming can have a positive impact on a person’s mood.
How to Motivate Your Aging Loved One to Exercise
Provide Healthy Eating Options
Following an exercise program will be more effective with a healthy diet, rich in protein, vitamins, and nutrients. It may be challenging for seniors to cook their own meals every day, but at our retirement communities, seniors are treated to meals prepared by Red Seal chefs. The meals are healthy yet still delicious, so they get the best of both worlds.
Promote the Benefits
Aside from the amazing increase in strength and flexibility, exercise provides many other benefits. If your senior loved one has been feeling lonely, tired, or stressed, exercise can help. Our amenities include gyms where seniors can exercise and socialize at the same time. They can see old friends, make new ones, and enjoy the boost of working towards better health with their peers. Regular exercise can also increase overall well-being and energy levels, which will do wonders for how seniors feel.
Try Something New
If going to the gym isn’t your loved one’s favourite way to exercise, there are many other ways to increase fitness. AquaFit, Zumba, Yoga, dance, and Pilates are other fun and creative ways to get moving and enjoy exercise. If your senior loved one is unmotivated to work out, suggest that they try out the amenities at their retirement community and experiment with something they’ve never tried before. The instructors will provide senior exercise tips that work well for beginner and experienced members.
Why Choose V!VA Retirement Communities?
Are you looking for the right retirement community that provides active living for seniors? You’ve come to the right place! While there are many options to choose from, V!VA Retirement Communities strives to provide active senior living that goes above and beyond expectation. We offer more than a comfortable place to live; we provide our Community Members with a safe, trustworthy environment where they can build new friendships. We care about our seniors and that is reflected in the approach of our Team Members. They each understand our core Orange Dot Values: Be a Friend, Make It Better, Love What You Do, Work as a Team, and Have Fun.
As one of the few strong and successful privately-owned and independent developers in the senior living field, V!VA Retirement Communities provides exceptional services to its Community Members. We have locations in Barrhaven, Mississauga, Pickering, Thornhill Woods, Ancaster, Carleton Place, Oakville, and Whitby.
To learn more about our retirement living options and to find out if V!VA Retirement Communities is right for you or your loved one, e-mail us at info@vivalife.ca, or call us at 1-888-984-8482.
