30/Dec/2009
Young
at Heart: Keeping Seniors Fit
By: John A. Stassi II, President & CEO
CommCare Corporation
Most senior citizens claim they are young at heart. Combine
that with energy and physical health and they can do just about anything. The
holidays are right around the corner and that means lots of food, family and
holiday cheer. But the arrival of the holidays also means your New Year’s
resolution is just around the corner – join a gym, eat better, take more time
for themselves. But why wait? Why not start now?
There are simple steps seniors can take now help minimize
the amount of work they have to do come January.
Don’t think joining a gym is worth it? Can’t keep up with
the younger crowds who line the treadmill, elliptical machines, kick box and
even worse voluntarily sign up for boot camp? There are things seniors can do
as they age, to make sure they remain young at heart, mind and body.
Consider making some of these simple changes:
Health & Wellness
-Keep yourself hydrated by drinking
plenty of water
-Eat healthy by cutting out more
saturated fats
-Take a daily multi-vitamin,
especially one engineered for seniors
-Monitor heart rate, blood pressure
and cholesterol levels
Exercise
-Consider joining the local YMCA or
health club (one with a community focus)
-Go for walks around the
neighborhood when the weather is nice
-Join a walking club with friends or
neighbors
-Join a mall walkers group – rain
or shine, they will be there
-Consider signing up for a senior
aerobics class or purchasing a senior aerobics DVD.
-Aerobics programs can help
strengthen muscles, lose weight, keep the heart healthy, promote well-being and
relieve depression
-Consider water/pool aerobics which
can be easier on joints
-Consider resistance training even
if it is just one day a week – it can help maintain strength and avoid injury
-Children’s toys and soft clay like
products or soft balls made for children can be squeezed to help strengthen
hands
-Games such as Scrabble or card
games can help stimulate the mind
As senior citizens age, they become less active mostly due
to lower energy levels and because their muscles are not as strong. Thus,
continuing or starting to exercise will increase energy levels and strengthen
muscles, making injury, falls and fractures less likely and severe. Exercise
can also improve blood circulation and balance.
Aside from the physical benefits of exercise, seniors can
also lessen their chance of depression as endorphins are released during
exercise routines. Endorphins are natural mood enhancers that can help decrease
the chance of depression.
Of course, you will want to consult with your physician
before participating in a rigorous exercise program.
Thus, exercise can benefit the mind, body and soul. Making
seniors more healthy and happy, it is definitely something to put on the to do
list – only do it today. There is no need to put off exercising – no need to
wait for the New Year to find the New You!
For more information, visit the American Senior Fitness
Association at
www.seniorfitness.net.
CommCare
Corporation,
founded in
1994, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization which operates skilled
nursing facilities and community mental health centers. For more information,
please visit
www.commcare.com or call (504) 324-8950.
