There comes a point in life when the aches and pains in your joints are too frequent for you to ignore. Our bodies may be miracles, but as we age, few of us escape the sense that our bodies aren’t quite what they used to be.
However, that’s no reason to think this change is inevitable.
There are lots of surprising ways you can boost your health in old age, and not just by going to the gym. Read on to learn how to embrace a healthy lifestyle in assisted senior living.
Benefits of Senior Activities: Health and Fitness
As we age, the increased prevalence of health issues can be a worry. But it’s possible to offset some of these risks by staying in optimum health.
That doesn’t mean hours at the gym once you are past retirement age, but it does mean regular exercise that you enjoy.
Not only can it help with your physical health, like strengthening bones and muscles, but it can also be an excellent support for your mental health. Plus, keeping your body in good shape increases flexibility, balance, and mobility, helping you avoid falls and injuries.
On your list of health-focused activities should be some form of physical exercise. Here are some ideas to get you thinking:
- Gentle or power walking
- Swimming or water aerobics
- Stationary cycling
- Light weightlifting
- Conditioning
- Aerobics
Remember that part of the reason for exercise is cardiovascular health. So, ensure you pick an activity that will raise your heart rate, even if only slightly. However, don’t over-exert yourself.
Too much pressure on your joints can put you at risk of injury.
Mental Activities and the Health Benefits for Seniors
It’s not only your body that needs to stay active in your senior years; your brain needs to, too.
There are plenty of activities that are great for sharpening cognitive skills, and evidence shows that these types of activities are a vital step in protecting against mental slowdown as we age. You could try:
- Puzzles and board games
- A quiz night
- Music appreciation or book club
Like physical activities, it’s essential to find something you love. Even a quiet five minutes on a sudoku puzzle can be enough to help your brain.
Social Activities
Loneliness in old age can lead to mental health issues like stress and depression. So don’t underestimate the power of social activities on our health and well-being.
Connecting with others via group activities is also a great way to keep our minds sharp. Social activities could include:
- Movie nights
- Social outings to nearby shops
- A celebratory dining event for a special occasion
Seniors with strong social connections lead healthier and happier lives. Social activities are the perfect spot to begin building these support networks within a senior living community.
Holistic Wellness Programs for Seniors
Some activities offer the perfect balance between support for your physical, emotional, and mental health. Here are the most popular senior classes:
- Yoga
- Tai chi
- Meditation
- Mindfulness classes
Mixing some of these activities into your weekly routine is a smart move because they offer a wide range of benefits.
All are proven ways to reduce stress, for example, and that, in turn, helps your health, particularly heart health. They’re also excellent support for your mental health and can ease symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Activities like yoga are also there to stretch the body and can help with flexibility and balance. Adding them to your morning senior living activities list can ensure you start the day revitalized and calm.
Promoting Senior Health Via Nutrition
What we put into our bodies can help or hinder our health. And there are several ways to embrace healthy eating in a senior living community.
The first is through educational support, such as nutritional workshops, to help you make more informed decisions about what you eat. The second is through nutrition-led community dining.
High-quality communities such as ours have experienced and talented teams of chefs on hand to create balanced, varied meal plans for residents.
That means food with the right macros, minerals, and vitamins our bodies need in their senior years. These teams can also cater to specific diets to support health, such as gluten-free, low-fat, or low-sugar.
Senior Assisted Living Activities: Therapies
Healthy living might mean returning to optimum health after an illness or an injury. It could also mean supporting your health when you face a chronic condition.
There are a number of specialist therapeutic activities that can help alongside more traditional things like exercise and healthy eating. That might include:
- Aquatic therapy
- Low-impact exercise after an injury
- Music therapy for cognitive conditions like dementia
- Breathing techniques to handle chronic pain or stress
It’s always worthwhile investigating therapies that can help with specific conditions. So, speak to your care team to see if they can suggest some ideas.
These therapies can help you feel more empowered about handling a condition mentally and physically, and they contribute to a higher quality of life.
Connecting With Nature
Being in the fresh air, surrounded by trees, meadows or the sunshine, can make us feel more energized and it’s excellent for our health. It’s also the best source of vitamin D.
Outdoor activities should be on your priority list in your senior living community. You could join a group on an outing beyond your community, such as a walk in the park or hiking in a nearby beauty spot.
You can also enjoy the outdoor space and gardens within your community grounds.
Even something like reading a book in the fresh air can be a fantastic therapy, so don’t underestimate the power of nature to contribute to excellent health in old age.
Assisted Senior Living: Creating a Healthy Retirement
One of the best features of assisted senior living is that you’re surrounded by opportunities to improve your health. Whether that’s through a simple exercise program or a regular walk in the fresh air, you’ll always have the chance to feel your best.
Morada Quintessence in Albuquerque, NM, has been carefully designed with healthy living in mind. From our range of activities to our attractive surroundings, it’s your chance to enjoy a healthy retirement. Discover more about our amenities here.
