At Sagora Senior Living we are constantly creating new experiences to engage our residents and find exciting ways to showcase our amazing communities and how we truly embrace each moment we create together! As we highlight all that we do in our communities, a very important aspect that we focus on is the health and wellness that comes from being active! Our skilled team members ensure that there is always something for everyone when it comes to physical fitness.
It’s never too late to get moving. As an older adult, staying active as you age can work wonders for your physical and mental health, and lead to a longer life with greater independence. Routine exercise can help improve your overall health and well-being and may even help prevent some age-related health conditions.
What Does Staying Active Mean?
Staying active means different things to different people. In fact, it doesn’t necessarily mean going to the gym every day or running a marathon. Instead, staying active can just include incorporating some form of physical activity into your daily routine, even if it’s just a short walk around the block. The important thing is to find an activity that you enjoy and that you can stick with over time.
Health Benefits of Staying Active
There are many benefits to staying active as you age. While some are more well-known than others, keeping physically fit into your golden years provides several different health benefits. While there are many benefits to seniors staying active, the major benefits are:
- Prevent Disease
Studies have shown that maintaining regular physical activity can help prevent many common diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes. Exercise improves overall immune function, which is important for seniors as their immune systems are often compromised. Even light exercise, such as walking, can be a powerful tool for preventable disease management.
- Improved Mental Health
The mental health benefits of exercise are nearly endless. Exercise produces endorphins (the “feel good” hormone), which act as a stress reliever and leaves you feeling happy and satisfied. In addition, exercise has been linked to improving sleep, which is especially important for older adults who often suffer from insomnia and disrupted sleep patterns.
- Decreased Risks of Falls
Older adults are at a higher risk of falls, which can prove to be potentially disastrous for maintaining independence. Exercise improves strength and flexibility, which also helps improve balance and coordination, reducing the risk of falls. Seniors take much longer to recover from falls, so anything that helps avoid them in the first place is critical.
- Social Engagement
Whether you join a walking group, go to group fitness classes or visit a gardening club, exercise can be made into a fun social event. Maintaining strong social ties is important for aging adults to feel a sense of purpose and avoid feelings of loneliness or depression. Above all, the key is to find a form of exercise you love, and it will never feel like a chore again.
- Improved Cognitive Function
Regular physical activity and fine-tuned motor skills benefit cognitive function. Countless studies suggest a lower risk of dementia for physically active individuals, regardless of when you begin a routine.
The list doesn’t stop there! exercise can provide additional benefits and help seniors to:
- Control your weight
- Strengthen bones and muscles
- Increase energy levels
- Improve mood
- Reduce pain
- relieve stress
- Improve overall health
- Increase “good” cholesterol
If you aren’t already active, it can feel daunting to begin a routine. Ask your doctor what kinds of exercise will work best given your current activity level and discuss any existing health conditions Next, start slowly and gradually work up to a level you’re comfortable with. When it comes to being active, there’s something for everyone: walking, yoga, tai chi, swimming, water aerobics and weight training, to name a few. Try different activities until you find something you enjoy—you’ll be much more motivated to stick to it.
Whatever you decide, the most important part is that you get your body moving! Exercise is good for you; it’s just a matter of making it a priority and habit in your daily life. In the aging population, exercise has been shown to prevent disease, lower the risk of falls, improve mental health and well-being, strengthen social ties, and improve cognitive function. Regardless of your age, we hope this will motivate you to incorporate exercise into your life.
We are proud to play a vital role in helping seniors live longer and the best life possible. With 62 communities in 12 different states, Sagora Senior Living offers seniors the chance to live in active, social communities where they can thrive on a daily basis.
To find out more, tour your local Sagora Senior Living community!t