Staying active is one of the hardest things to maintain in old age. Even for the most active adults, dealing with the aging of the body makes it more challenging to stay on top of one’s physical fitness. It is a challenge of the utmost importance, though, because physical fitness becomes more important for overall health as the body ages. If the body does not have an active routine then the musculature will begin to weaken, bones themselves will get soft, and respiratory issues are bound to arise.
Staying active for seniors is easier if activities are done in a group. Some form of group physical activity is always offered in elder care homes and retirement village communities. Inspiration can be found in an assisted living community in Villanova that rents a shuttle bus to take interested seniors to a nearby gold course every weekend. Getting outside and enjoying the weather while being active is of course ideal.
Here are a number of activities that will keep seniors in shape:
Gardening
Gardening is a great way for seniors to keep their body agile without worrying about injury or strain. It allows for creativity and planning, the two best ways to keep people interested. Cultivating produce in a raised bed will also be relatively light on maintenance work because the raised bed takes care of most of the weeds.
Fishing/Bird Watching
Unlike gardening, fishing and bird watching are ideal group activities to be done all morning or afternoon. Fishing requires a little bit of preparation, but bird watching can be done on a whim.
A Daily Walk
The most effective form of physical activity for seniors is walking. Even if it is just a ten-minute stroll around the block it will have benefits for the body and mind. Combining a walk with arm movements will go a long way in ensuring that mobility stays strong in older age.
Lawn Bowling
Lawn bowling is a low-intensity sport based on rolling a weighted ball across a trim lawn. They are usually located in combination with a Tennis Club and are real favorites for those who no longer have the strength or mobility to play tennis.
Golf is a game with universal appeal that can be played until late in life. Like lawn bowling, the main challenge of gold is mental rather than physical. It is popular for assisted living villanova and surrounding areas to organize a shuttle bus to a local golf course every weekend of the summer. It is just as popular amongst women as it is amongst men.
Any of these physical activities will make a big difference on the overall of senior citizens. It helps that they are all outside and generally fun to undertake.
