Most of the time, exercising is one of the top three healthy habits a senior can pick up. Unfortunately, it can be hard for older people to start being active if they haven't been pretty active for most of their lives. A good thing about physical activity for older people is that it doesn't have to be hard for it to be helpful.
Most places that offer assisted living make it easy for people to stay active because they know how important it is. For example, All American Assisted Living Communities have gyms and transportation services for seniors who want to do something specific.
Top 5 ways for older people to keep in shape
There are many ways to stay physically active, but here are 5 of the best ways for seniors to stay physically active as they age.
Walking
Seniors can stay active by walking, which is easy and probably what most of them do. People 65 and older should get at least 150 minutes a week of light activity like walking or at least 75 minutes of more intense activity like hiking or jogging, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Getting a small dog as a pet can be a great way to get an older person to go outside and walk. Or, you could get together with a few friends in the neighborhood and go for a walk in the morning.
Getting fit
If someone lives in a community for seniors, they won't work out to get ripped or put on muscle. But the CDC also says that you should work out at least twice a week. Lifting light weights or building muscle are both great ways to stay active.
It's important for a senior to talk to a professional before lifting weights or building muscle to make sure they're doing it safely. And they need to know their limits so they don't hurt themselves.
Dancing
Dancing isn't for everyone, but it can be a great way for a senior to stay in shape. It's a good way to work out your heart and lungs, and it also helps you improve your balance and coordination. Many communities offer dance lessons. But if they don't, there is usually a way for them to get to other places nearby if they don't have a car.
Swimming
Like dancing, swimming is a great way to get your heart rate up. Also, being in the water helps sore joints feel better, makes you more flexible, and helps you build muscle. The nice thing about many swimming pools is that they often have special times when certain areas are set aside for seniors to swim or take water workout classes.
Gardening
One might not immediately think of gardening as a form of exercise. But it's a great thing for older people to do. It not only gets them outside in the fresh air, but it also gets their brains working. In fact, there is evidence that gardening helps with a number of things, such as having a general sense of well-being, reducing stress, and even helping with dementia symptoms.
Why physical activity is important for seniors
One of the best things about being physically active as an older person is that it usually makes life better in the later years. When combined with a healthy diet, exercise can help lower a senior's risk of getting some diseases or problems that come with age.
Even if the older person already has problems, staying active and eating well can help lessen their effects. For example, a person with arthritis may feel more pain if they do too much. But swimming or other exercises that take place in water can help a lot with some of the symptoms.
One important thing to remember about physical activity is that any movement is better than none. Even if all someone can do is take a short walk every day, that's better than doing nothing.
How to get an older person to stay physically active
As we said, sometimes it's not about staying physically active, but about getting active in the first place if the person has never been one to go outside.
Here are a few things you can do to get or keep seniors active:
- Find out what they like and use that in their physical activities. For instance, if they like to watch birds. Find a place where they can walk where there are a lot of birds.
- Join in: If all you do is tell them what to do, they might not want to take part in the activity. But if you join in and show them how to do it, they may be more likely to do it.
- Get the right gear. Some exercise gear is better for advanced workouts for people who are very fit. Making sure the older person has the right gear for their activity is important to get them to keep doing it and to do it safely.
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