Getting enough exercise is important for everyone but can be especially beneficial for seniors. Not only does it improve their quality of life, but it may also provide many health advantages. It is recommended that people 65 and older should have at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. This doesn’t need to be strenuous or labor-intensive, but just enough to get the body and brain up, moving, and stimulated.
By simply making some slight adjustments to your everyday lifestyle, you may experience better overall health. For example, opting to take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator can be one way to ensure an adequate amount of exercise without disrupting your daily routine. Liberty Resources Home Choices provides home care services in Philadelphia and eastern Pennsylvania. Here, we discuss the many benefits of walking for the elderly.
Maintain Muscle and Bone Strength
As you grow older, muscles and bones naturally begin to deteriorate. This process may cause stiffness, pain, inflammation, and the onset of certain bone diseases. Without proper exercise, a person may be more likely to develop diseases and uncomfortable symptoms. By engaging in daily exercise and walking, you will better maintain muscle and bone strength. This activity can give you freedom and independence into older age, as well.
Since weak muscles and bones often trigger more frequent accidents and falls, failure to receive adequate exercise might increase your chances of requiring assistance for daily tasks. Strengthening bones may also help prevent osteoarthritis or osteoporosis. In addition, walking decreases the likelihood of fracturing your hip because the motion of walking lubricates the joints and strengthens muscles.
Decrease Risk of Diseases
While daily walking may prevent the development of bone diseases like osteoporosis, it can also keep other diseases from occurring. For example, daily walking might reduce the likelihood that you will have diabetes or heart disease in the future. Walking improves blood flow and circulation, ensuring all parts of the body and brain receive enough oxygen to stay healthy. In addition, it can aid with hypertension and blood pressure issues, which also decreases the chances of developing heart disease.
Frequent walking and exercise for the elderly may lessen the likelihood of having a stroke or certain cancers, like colon cancer. Additionally, walking daily gives your body the power and energy it needs to increase your immune system function. This means your body can fight off infections easier and with more efficiency.
Improve Balance
As you get older, you may become more susceptible to accidents and falls. When these accidents occur, you face the risk of serious, permanent injury. However, when seniors receive adequate exercise, they can improve their balance. This is especially true for walking as it strengthens coordination skills. Greater stability prevents you from experiencing debilitating falls in the future.
Better Overall Quality of Life
Going for frequent walks not only allows you to maintain good health but also preserves your quality of life as you grow older. Daily exercise is a great way to keep you out, active, and moving. This is essential for increasing energy levels and stamina, which enables you to accomplish more during the day. In addition, walking may improve sleep habits, preventing insomnia and giving you the energy needed to enjoy the day.
Some seniors living in isolation, whether voluntary or involuntary, develop depression or anxiety. Joining a walking or exercising social group is a simple yet effective way to ensure they receive ample exercise while remaining social and interacting with others. Also, walking with friends keeps them on track for engaging in daily exercise.
Maintain Brain Function
As individuals grow older, brain function and memory can begin to fail. Walking often improves brain function as it stimulates more blood flow and circulation to the brain. As a result, the brain stays sharp and works at its best capacity for longer.
Receiving daily exercise may also thwart the development of depression and anxiety because it allows the body to release natural endorphins. Endorphins are a chemical in the brain responsible for feelings of happiness, which significantly improves mood. They typically release when people exercise. By walking, you can maintain essential brain functions and augment your mood.
Walking for the Elderly and People With Disabilities
At Liberty Resources Home Choices, we believe that every senior and individual with a disability deserves a high quality of life, even if they cannot care for themselves. Our team of professionals is dedicated to each person, providing exercise and group activities for people with disabilities and seniors, as well as other services to ensure individuals live the highest quality of life possible. To learn more about home care for seniors and people with disabilities or to find a caregiver in Philadelphia or eastern Pennsylvania, contact us today.
