Staying Active When Elderly: How Jackson Seniors Stay Engaged
Staying active when elderly can benefit your mental and physical wellness. You can find wellness programs for an active retirement in TN through your senior living community.
According to the World Health Organization, about 31% of adults worldwide (1.8 billion people) don't meet the recommended levels of physical activity. Levels of inactivity worldwide could reach 35% by 2030.
Physical inactivity could compromise your mental, physical, and emotional wellness. Before that happens, consider adding wellness programs to your routine.
Staying active when elderly could improve your quality of life and longevity. How can you start aging in place during retirement in Jackson, TN? Read on to find out!
What Is the Importance of Active Retirement TN?
According to the National Council on Aging, regular activity can positively impact your mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Potential benefits of living an active retirement in TN include:
- Counteracts bone loss
- Reduces risk of falls and injuries
- Live independently longer
- Reduces osteoarthritis pain and stiffness
- Stronger muscles
- Reduces inflammation and pain
- Mobility support
- Protective effect against chronic illnesses (colon cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity, hypertension, etc.)
- Helps reduce cognitive decline
- Stronger immune system function
- Eases anxiety and depression symptoms
- Increases relaxation
- Creates an overall sense of well-being
Regular exercise could extend your longevity.According to the American Medical Association, exercising beyond the recommended physical activity guidelines may lower your risk of death.
According to the study, exercising between 300 and 599 minutes a week can reduce your all-cause mortality by 26 to 21%. Beyond that, exercising is a fun way to spend time with members of your Jackson community.
What Types of Exercise Are Good for Seniors?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that older adults get:
- 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity weekly
- At least two days of muscle-strengthening activity weekly
- Activities to improve balance
Moderate-intensity aerobic activities will increase your breathing and heart rate. These can include:
- Walking for health
- Hiking
- Riding a bike
- Dancing for fitness
- Water aerobics
Vigorous-intensity aerobic activity will further increase your breathing and heart rate. These activities include:
- Riding a bike fast or up hills
- Running
- Aerobics classes
- Swimming
- Hiking uphill
- Martial arts
- Dancing for fitness
Muscle-strengthening exercises require you to complete sets of the same motion. These activities include:
- Yoga
- Pilates
- Tai chi
- Lifting weights
- Carrying heavy shopping bags
- Working with resistance bands
- Using your body weight for push-ups and sit-ups
- Heavy gardening
You can find wellness programs for each type of exercise through your senior living community.
Tips for Staying Active When Elderly
Before applying these exercise tips, consult a physical therapist, doctor, or trainer. They can ensure you choose exercises that align with your physical abilities and needs. Here are a few tips for healthy lifestyle engagement.
Adjust Over Time
When you first begin working out, start with easy, low-intensity workouts. You can gradually increase the intensity over time. This can help you avoid potential injuries.
As your workouts become too easy, consider increasing the:
- Frequency of each movement (adding more reps to a set)
- Intensity (to get your heart pumping faster)
- Duration of your workouts
Starting low and slowly increasing your intensity will help you build self-confidence. It can also ensure you're using the proper techniques during your workouts.
To avoid injuries, warm up before and cool down after workouts.
Set SMART Goals
Consider establishing SMART goals for your new workout regimen. These goals are:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Attainable
- Results-driven
- Time-sensitive
Setting SMART goals can keep you motivated as you begin your fitness journey. It can also help you track your progress. Once you establish your larger SMART goal, break it into smaller, easily achievable chunks.
As you accomplish each smaller goal, celebrate your success! This can help you stay motivated and demonstrate how far you've come.
Identify Obstacles
Don't let obstacles stop you from accomplishing your fitness goals. These may include:
- Lacking motivation
- Bad weather
- Feeling too tired to work out
- Being unable to afford gym equipment
Find creative solutions to the obstacles you're facing.For example, if you can't afford gym equipment, explore your senior living community's fitness center. If the weather isn't great for a walk, use the treadmill instead.
Diversify With Wellness Programs
Constantly following the same workout schedule can get boring. Diversify your workouts by exploring your senior living community's wellness programs, such as:
- Tai chi
- Pilates
- Pickleball
- Dancing
- Water aerobics
- Yoga
Recharge With Lifestyle Engagement
Give yourself the chance to recharge by adding fun and relaxation to your routine. Explore your senior living community's events and activities calendar for lifestyle enrichment. Adding hobbies to your routine may help boost your mood and enhance your cognitive health.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can You Find Motivation to Exercise?
When you don't feel motivated to exercise, consider:
- Writing down a list of reasons you want to exercise (losing weight, increasing your energy, etc.)
- Using a fitness app to track your progress
- Setting challenges for yourself
- Competing for a cause
- Going for a 10-minute walk before breakfast with friends
- Finding exercise classes through your senior living community
- Exercising with friends who will motivate you
- Scheduling it on a calendar
What Are the Benefits of Exercising With Friends?
Exercising with friends may help:
- Ensure safety
- Stimulate the growth of new brain cells
- Exercise the brain
- Keep you motivated
- Keep you on a schedule (they'll hold you accountable)
- You discover new exercise classes and techniques
- Reduce your risk of social isolation and loneliness
- Make exercising more fun
Exercising with friends is a great social activity. Socializing will reduce your risk of isolation and loneliness, which is associated with chronic stress, depression, and premature death.
Healthy Aging in Place
Staying active when elderly is easier than you may think! Use these tips for healthy aging in place to add exercise to your daily routine. Remember, you can find fun exercise classes through your senior living community's wellness programs.
Jackson Meadow is a recently renovated community dedicated to supporting comfort, connection, and peace of mind. We offer independent living with supportive services, allowing you to enjoy an active, maintenance-free lifestyle with the care you need.
Enjoy three chef-prepared meals a day, events and activities like card tournaments and live performances, or fitness classes like yoga and pilates. Contact us now to schedule your tour.