Tag:

Aging Exercises

5 of the Best Exercises for Seniors

by Richard Bitner April 19, 2023

written by Richard Bitner

Staying active in your older years isn’t always easy, but choosing the right activity can make all the difference. When you’re able to enjoy the time you spend keeping active, it’s much easier to keep up a regular fitness routine. It’s also important to find a low-stress, senior-friendly activity: one where your risk of strain or injury is lowered.

At Visiting Angels, our home care providers have been helping seniors for nearly twenty years. Below, we’ve collected five of the best exercises for seniors. All of these activities offer light or moderate exercise, a low risk of strain and injury, can be easily worked into seniors’ weekly routines, and are an enjoyable way to stay active during retirement. 5 of the Best Exercises for Seniors

Ping Pong

Among the elderly, ping pong is becoming an increasingly popular sport — and with good reason. Ping pong is fantastic exercise for seniors, offering a range of physical and mental benefits. Ping pong can increase strength, is a boon to hand-eye coordination, and has positive benefits on cognitive performance. In fact, some dementia care programs now include ping pong as an alternative form of therapy.

Swimming

Swimming is one of the best exercises for seniors, exercising all parts of the body with minimal risk of injury. Water ensures minimal stress on seniors’ joints and bodies, making swimming a great activity, even for those with knee or back issues. Of course, seniors should always be aware of pool safety. Take precautions to avoid slips around pool decks and make sure to never swim alone.

Golfing

Golf is a fantastic way for seniors to stay physically active. Golf’s leisurely and meditative pace makes it a great way to get in light exercise and relax. Even better, as an outdoor game that take’s place in green space, it’s a fantastic way for seniors to get fresh air and connect with nature. And as a communal game, it’s a great way for seniors to maintain and build relationships.

Gardening

Speaking of ways for seniors to connect with nature, no activity accomplishes the job quite like gardening. While some seniors think of maintaining their garden as a chore, for many others, the time outdoors is the perfect time for quiet contemplation and a refreshing way to disconnect from everyday stresses and worries. 5 of the Best Exercises for Seniors

Dancing

Dance classes for seniors are a great way for seniors to mingle with friends, perform light-to-moderate cardio, and learn new steps for the dance floor. Most dance classes follow a regular schedule, meaning seniors develop a regular routine for exercise. As with golf, dance classes are a superb social activity for seniors, offering a way to forge the kinds of relationships that have been tied to positive physical, mental, and emotional health outcomes. 5 of the Best Exercises for Seniors
Looking for help staying active? The home care providers from your local Visiting Angels can help you or a person you love live a more active and healthy lifestyle. Contact your local office for a no-cost care consultation today.

5 of the Best Exercises for Seniors 5 of the Best Exercises for Seniors

5 of the Best Exercises for Seniors 5 of the Best Exercises for Seniors 5 of the Best Exercises for Seniors 5 of the Best Exercises for Seniors

April 19, 2023 0 comment

Exercise & Fitness

Exercises That Help Slow Aging

by Guest Blogger September 4, 2020

written by Guest Blogger

Getting older might inhibit how much you can exercise, but even small, gentle bouts of fitness go a long way to making your body and mind more youthful. A Swedish study found that physical activity is the main contributor to a longer life, even if you only start working out during your later years! Here are some of the best “fountain of youth” exercises to add to your day. Exercises That Help Slow Aging

Squat!

Simple squatting exercises are great for strengthening your legs, which in turn keeps your mind young. Yes, really. According to a study published in Gerontology that monitored twins over a decade, researchers found a positive link between strong leg muscles and brain performance when it came to things like thinking, learning, and memory. Although scientists don’t know exactly why this is the case, it’s proof that exercise has all-round benefits for your wellbeing.
If you feel unsteady while doing squats, hold the spine of a chair for support.

Lift Weights

Lifting weights regularly makes a huge difference to your bone health. In fact, just doing it three times a week for half an hour at a time will combat osteoporosis, according to an article in the Huffington Post. Why? Weight-lifting helps to prevent bone loss while increasing bone density.

HIIT

High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is when you exercise for short, intense bursts, followed by minutes of gentler movement; for instance, if you sprint for a few minutes and then walk for a few minutes. One of the main reasons why HIIT is so good for you is that it forces your mitochondria to work much harder. The mitochondria are minute energy factories inside all of our cells that make use of energy. If you have more mitochondria, you’ll be using energy much more effectively. If you’re feeling low on energy as you get older, your mitochondria could be to blame, so HIIT workouts make you youthful and feel more energized. Exercises That Help Slow Aging

Visit The Treadmill Instead Of The Doctor

There are some serious illnesses that can be prevented by exercise, such as diabetes, stroke and depression, to name just a few. Exercise prevents disease because of its effect on the body’s telomeres. These are DNA strands on chromosomes that protect it against damage. Over time, these telomeres start to break down, which kill off healthy cells, causing disease. Exercise helps to prevent these telomeres from wear and tear. Exercises That Help Slow Aging
How much exercise do you need to reap the benefits? Approximately 14 minutes a day! Walking is an easy way to prevent telomere damage because it’s simple to incorporate into your days. You’ll be racking up the minutes of exercise and its benefits in no time!

Tai Chi

As you get older, you increase your risk of experiencing falls and fractures. This is because your spine and muscles are not as strong as they used to be. Luckily, you can turn back the clock with age-defying Tai Chi. This Chinese martial art aligns your mind, spirit and body. It’s focused on improving your balance, which can help to prevent falls, as well as boosting lower body strength. It also encourages deep breathing, which is a bonus because meditation sharpens the mind while reducing stress, preventing age-related cognitive decline.
If you make exercise a part of your regular routine, your brain and body will be healthier and younger. Exercise extends your lifespan while keeping serious illnesses at bay, so get moving and reap the rewards.

By Jackie Edwards

Jackie started her career in the health care sector, but after becoming a mom refocused and decided to spend more time with her family. When she’s not writing, she volunteers for a number of local mental health charities and also has a menagerie of pets to look after.

Exercises That Help Slow Aging

September 4, 2020 1 comment

Health Tips

Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active

by Jeff Dailey May 21, 2017

written by Jeff Dailey

Senior Citizens are the new cool generation. The U.S. population of people over 65 is bigger than it’s ever been and growing every day. And many baby boomers are not creeping into old age quietly. More than any time in human history the ways and means to stay vital and active into old age are available. Take advantage of this abundance of information and learn how to make your golden years fun, healthy and happy. Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active
Let’s explore ways to stay healthy and active. At the top of the list is the food you eat. By giving your body optimum nutrition, maintaining a healthy weight and trying with all your wits to stay out of doctors’ offices, you are advancing your own wellbeing. Choosing the best foods is a priority. Research indicates that a plant-based diet may be the best all-round choice you can make. Check out the movie, “Forks Over Knives.” Or read this article in U.S News and World Report. Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active

Exercise is not a dirty word

It is the amazing ability your body has to move, bend, stretch, walk and run. You can only be physically active if you use your body and keep it moving. If it’s been a while since you felt strong and flexible, start slowly. Some simple stretches from your favorite chair are good ways to begin. You could also take a slow walk around your neighborhood. Get out during your favorite time of the day and take a stroll. Walk the dog. Meet a friend at the high school track. There are endless ways to get your body moving again. Once you feel you are ready, look for a swimming pool in your community, tennis courts or a yoga studio that you can join. Your body is what propels you through life, keep it in the best shape possible.

Sleep Patterns

You have probably noticed that your sleep patterns are a tad wacky: waking up in the middle of the night, feeling sleepy after lunch then wide awake again at midnight. That is all okay. You are lucky if you can just go with it. One nice thing about retirement is you can take naps. Sleep when tired. Get up when wakeful. Don’t stress about it. And when you do find yourself awake in the middle of the night use it to your advantage. Read, pray, meditate and thank your lucky stars you’ve made it this far. Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active

Get out an see the world

This might be the time in your life that you finally get to travel. Go visit your far-flung family. Check in with the senior center in your community and join an organized trip. You might even make new friends. Or go solo and vacation in a place you’ve never been before. Get out there and see the world. And take advantage of every senior citizen discount there is. Reduced fares on all modes of transportation, discounts on goods, services and entertainment are all icing on the cake.
Whew! The kids are grown, jobs are minimized and you get to sit back and rest on your laurels. Or at least rest on your backsides. You deserve it. The time for self-reflection is at hand. If you belong to a church, continue going. If you have yet to find a place of worship that is right for you, keep looking. Or explore other spiritual and meditative practices. Spending time alone in peace and prayer can be empowering.

Learning Never Stops

Leonardo da Vinci said, “Learning never exhausts the mind.” An active mind can be just as vital in old age as an active body. Do yourself a favor and keep learning. Read books. Join a book club. Get on a computer and start searching. Join a class to learn how to get on a computer. Keep learning and growing and expanding your mind until the very last second of your life.op Ways to Keep Active as a Senior Citizen

Carpe Diem

This is it. The home stretch. Whether you live another 30 years or just 3 more days. Grab it. Make the most of every minute. You matter. You get to choose how you want to go out. Take good care of yourself. Make friends. Reconnect with family. Learn something new. There are so many ways to stay active and engaged with life. Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active
Ryan Bridges is a contributing writer and media specialist for the Partners in Home Care. He regularly produces content for a variety of lifestyle and living blogs, based around the transitional challenges which comes with staying active.

Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active

Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active

May 21, 2017 0 comment