Five 2019 New Year’s Activities Perfect for Howard County Seniors
Helping Howard County Seniors Stay Active this new year with five senior fit activities that will keep your loved one active
Pursue an active and vital lifestyle through the many offerings at Howard County’s senior 50+ Centers. Centers offer a wide variety of programs and services including fitness programs, educational opportunities in the arts and humanities; wellness classes and many opportunities for social and recreational activities, including volunteer opportunities. The new Go50+ fitness center membership packages are designed to enhance the quality of life, health and well-being for those 50 and over.
Exercise and physical activity are good for just about everyone, including older adults. There are four main types and each type is different. Doing them all will give you more benefits.
- Endurance, or aerobic, activities increase your breathing and heart rate. Brisk walking or jogging, dancing, swimming, and biking are examples.
- Strength exercises make your muscles stronger. Lifting weights or using a resistance band can build strength.
- Balance exercises help prevent falls
- Flexibility exercises stretch your muscles and can help your body stay limber
1. Walking or rolling
One of the most popular endurance activities for seniors (that also helps with balance) is taking a walk. If your senior needs adaptive equipment, such as a walker, this activity is still within reasonable limits. The beauty of taking a walk is your senior gets outside to breathe fresh air. You can travel together to beautiful surroundings, such as a park or nature preserve, and enjoy the scenery as you stroll.
2. Going to a gym
Fitness center memberships are open to everyone. They feature a variety of strength-building machines, plus treadmills, hand weights and sometimes pools. Some gyms even offer classes specially tailored to senior fitness. Check to see what’s available in your area and work with your senior and their family to determine what they may be interested in. The great part about using a gym is you don’t need to worry about the weather—it’s always the same temperature inside!
3. Hand weights and resistance bands
These are easily transported and come in a range of styles and pounds, so you can match the right weights to your senior’s needs. Check out these weight lifting ideas from the National Institute on Aging—complete with photos and descriptions. Your elderly companion can do many of these exercises in a seated position if they have trouble standing.
4. Tai Chi
If you have classes available in your area, this ancient martial art helps improve balance, bone and heart health, and pain and stiffness associated with osteoarthritis. If your senior feels unsteady, they can always participate in Tai Chi with a sturdy chair nearby for support.
5. Stretching
An important final activity for any workout, stretching also helps your senior’s flexibility. As with all fitness, it’s important to maintain the proper form to prevent injury. You can find a variety of stretches by visiting the National Institute on Aging online.
Fun is an important ingredient
One of the most important aspects of sticking with a fitness plan is choosing something your senior enjoys. Just like you may interact with your own grandparent, it is important to choose activities you both will enjoy participating in.
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Source: https://www.joinpapa.com/five-great-senior-exercise-and-fitness-activities
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