Why Encourage Your Senior Loved Ones to Be More Active

Posted by oysterbayseniorcampus on December 27th, 2019

People's bodies are bound to grow weaker as they get older. One can't reverse the aging process, but there are ways to tone down its effects. These include taking maintenance medicines, eating more nutritious food, and visiting doctors regularly for checkups. Senior citizens should also engage in an active lifestyle to preserve their physical and mental health. Here's why:

Prevention of Chronic Diseases

Organs, bones, muscles, and nerve tissues deteriorate over time. As a result, an older adult becomes more susceptible to chronic illnesses that affect their cardiovascular, respiratory, skeletal, digestive, and other bodily systems. These diseases include pneumonia, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, Alzheimer's, and even some types of cancer.

Having an active lifestyle can potentially prevent these illnesses. Working out regularly keeps the bones, muscles, heart, and lungs in good shape.

Decreased Risks of Falling

Having mobility issues is one of the most common problems faced by aging adults. Older people often lose balance and fall, which can lead to minor injuries, like abrasions, bruises, and scratches. In the worst case, it can result in a hip fracture.

Exercising regularly can increase an older person's flexibility and mobility. They won't lose their balance easily even in their advanced age. Their bones will also get stronger, which prevents the risks of fractures and severe injuries.

Improved Mental Health

Working out has numerous mental health benefits, particularly for older adults. For starters, exercising regularly stimulates the brain to produce more endorphins, which is widely known as the "feel-good" hormone. As a result, a person feels relieved of stress, relaxed, and satisfied. According to studies, an active lifestyle is also linked to sleeping soundly, which can benefit senior citizens who find it hard to doze off at night.

Exercising also helps an older person maintain social engagement. It happens when they interact with people at the gym or get acquainted with other senior citizens who are also trying to engage in an active lifestyle. This can make them feel less lonely, which helps prevent symptoms of depression.

Types of Exercises for Older Adults

Light workouts are the best for older adults because these exercises won't make them overly fatigued even after a long period. Among the most common examples are squats, leg raises, wall pushups, and shoulder blade squeezes. They can also engage in yoga, freestyle swimming, biking, and brisk walking.

Your senior loved ones may feel a little tired after going to the gym. When they get back to your residence, be sure to give them a proper meal and enough rest. Then, have a nurse or medical professional who provides home care in New York City check whether their vital signs are at normal levels.

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