Staying active as a senior is vital for heart health, mobility, and mental health. But it can be difficult as we age to keep active. That means we need to make adjustments to suit our tastes and limitations.
There are ways to stay active without risking injury or strain. No one will expect you to run a marathon, but you can still stay active and enjoy the activities while keeping your health in check.
Daily Activities for Seniors
Keeping active not only helps your heart but it helps to keep your weight down, helps with mental health, and can even help keep you engaged with friends and family.
Walking
Walking is one of the easiest and best ways to stay active. A brisk walk is best but there is no need to push yourself. Walk at a pace you are comfortable with. You can add a bit of speed or other challenges, like slight inclines, as you progress.
Make sure you have proper walking shoes that protect your feet and ankles. They should have a slip-protective sole and fit well. Wear them around the house before you wear them out to make sure they are not rubbing you wrong, causing blisters.
Water Sports
Swimming, water aerobics, or just walking through water is a great way to keep fit and increase your heart rate. The water acts as a resistance to keep your joints from jarring.
Water sports can be fun and you can do it in a group or with a friend. It doesn’t feel like you are getting exercise because it is warm and enjoyable. It will help with breathing, heart health, weight control, and it is low impact.
Stationary Exercise Equipment
Stationary bikes, tread machines, or weight-lifting equipment can also help increase your heart rate, help keep muscles strong, and keep extra weight off. Stationary equipment is perfect for those who may not get out much.
You can use them in the comfort of your own home and use them whenever you like. The newer machines have built-in fitness trainers that can be live or virtual. This is perfect if you can’t get out of the house often due to illness, mobility, or bad weather.
Bowling
A weekly trip to the bowling alley can be a great deal of fun. Join a league, go with friends, or plan an outing with the family. Bowling can be great exercise and also a lot of fun.
The great thing about bowling is that you don’t have to be good to have fun and reap the benefits. It might be a great place to start if you have been inactive for some time.
Group Activities
Seniors on their own tend to withdraw and stop socializing altogether. A group activity will offer variety, companionship, and activities for everyone. This might be a walk in the park, a bike trip, a visit to a museum, or even a gym class.
People, in particular, seniors, often thrive more around their peers. Loneliness can be devastating for people’s health, as all too often, people on their own tend to stay that way.
Household Activities
Once people start to get older, often their kids start to do a lot of the chores around the house for them. Let your son clean the gutters, but gardening, vacuuming, laundry, sweeping, all of these are good activities.
The best part is you don’t feel like you are exercising, so the results are twofold. You get a workout and the house and yard look great. Having to go up and down stairs to the laundry is great exercise.
Yoga
Stretching and aiming for more difficult yoga poses is great for the heart, mind, and body. You can take a beginner’s class or find beginners’ yoga online for free. You can do these activities in a class or at home.
Don’t strain yourself to begin with. Only stretch as far as is comfortable for you. The flexibility will come as you progress through your lessons. It is a great activity for relaxing, meditation, and it is a full-body workout.
There are various types of yoga, so you can even start with seated yoga moves. This helps to build muscles and avoid injury. You can do seated yoga every day, and even if you are not steady on your feet or able to get down on the floor.
Dance Class
A dance class will get you moving and allow you to meet more people with the same interests as you. Dancing is ideal for raising your heart rate, building muscles, controlling balance, and coordination.
Exploring the Option of a Medical Alert System
To enhance peace of mind, seniors and their families might consider the additional of a medical alert system. These systems offer quick access to help during emergency and non-emergency situations, offering a sense of reassurance and safety.
Incorporating these heart-healthy activities into daily life can substantially improve the well-being and quality of life for seniors. Engaging in such activities promotes physical health, fosters social engagement, and contributes to overall vitality.