As senior adults grow older, maintaining an active lifestyle becomes increasingly important for staying healthy. This proactive approach to aging not only helps maintain physical health but also nurtures mental well-being, enriching overall quality of life. Join the experts at Copeland Oaks below as we consider the benefits of embracing an active lifestyle in your senior years.
Understanding the Need for an Active Lifestyle in Retirement
Did you know that Newton’s first law of motion, an object in motion stays in motion, can be applied to senior health and the aging process? Simply put, a body in motion stays in motion.
As senior adults near retirement, it’s natural for their lives to slow down. While they’ve certainly earned a relaxed season of life, slowing down too much can be detrimental to the health of seniors. Statistics show that about one in three men and one in two women engage in no physical activity by age 75. Without a schedule that gets them out of the house and moving around on a regular basis, it is easy for seniors to fall into a sedentary lifestyle. Once aging adults lack consistent movement, it is increasingly difficult to get moving again. Unfortunately, this lack of physical activity has negative effects on an aging adult’s physical, mental, and emotional health.
A body in motion stays in motion. Seniors must keep moving in order to stay moving – which allows them to thrive throughout their golden years. Luckily, many independent living communities such as Copeland Oaks prioritize workouts for seniors in their daily programming.
The Benefits of Maintaining an Active Lifestyle
Maintaining an active lifestyle offers a multitude of benefits that contribute to the overall well-being of senior adults. From improving cardiovascular health and maintaining a healthy body weight to supporting mental and emotional well-being, the advantages are serious. Regular physical activity not only strengthens muscles and improves bone density but also plays a crucial role in preventing falls, a common hazard for older adults. Below, we will consider the specific benefits of staying active after retirement.
Improve Cardiovascular Health
Maintaining an active senior lifestyle strengthens the heart muscle, which helps lower blood pressure and reduces the risk of heart disease. Additionally, regular physical activity enhances circulation by promoting better blood flow in the arteries and veins. Having a strong heart and good blood flow reduces the risks of cardiovascular conditions – a frequent complication among senior adults.
So how can seniors get their cardio in? Attending an aquatics fitness class is a great option. Being in the water is beneficial for the joints of aging adults and is a great way to get the blood pumping. At Copeland Oaks, our assisted living communities enjoy an Aquatics Program with water aerobics, lap swimming, water polo, synchronized swimming, and more.
Maintain Body Weight
Maintaining a healthy body weight is vital for aging adults because it reduces the risk of chronic diseases, supports joint health and mobility, and more. Significant weight loss is often one of the first signs that a senior’s health is trending downward. The ideal way to maintain a healthy body weight is to consume a balanced diet, get an adequate amount of sleep, and stay active every day.
Improve Mental and Emotional Health
As seniors focus on staying active, they will reap benefits not just physically – but also mentally and emotionally. This is because as senior adults focus on regular movement, they can maintain more independence in their lives. We know that maintaining independence is a large contributing factor to our resident’s mental health.
Additionally, staying active is an ideal way to connect socially with peers. In fact, many independent living communities run physical wellness programs not just to keep residents moving, but also to keep them socially connected to one another. This pairing of physical activity with social connection supports the mental and emotional health of senior adults – an age group that is already susceptible to depression and isolation.
Strengthen Muscles and Improve Bone Density
Movement plays a crucial role in strengthening muscles and improving bone density in older adults. Maintaining strong muscles and bones supports overall health by enhancing coordination and joint health, preventing osteoporosis and keeping hormones balanced. Light strength training is an ideal workout for seniors – it’s even a good memory care activity idea.
Prevent Falls
Slips, trips and falls are a universal hazard for aging adults. In fact, a bad fall can have a trickle effect and cause a senior’s health to go downhill fast – especially if they weren’t previously active. Consistent movement not only supports the coordination of an aging adult, but also helps with recovery if a fall does occur. When senior adults focus on movement, they can be confident in their balance and coordination skills, maintaining independence as they age.
The Wellness Program at Copeland Oaks
Copeland Oaks is a senior community for adults 55+ that takes wellness seriously. We encourage an active retirement by offering exercise classes, an aquatics center, walking trails, and more. Our team understands that getting active not only adds years to your life, it can also add life to your years. Contact us today to learn more or schedule a tour!