Studies have shown that older adults who engage in regular exercise, besides having the support of a strong network of friends and family, enjoy healthy aging. Your access to walking trails is thus an important factor in determining the state of your mental, emotional and physical health. Read on to know more about how you can age healthily!
Eliminating Loneliness and Depression
Many older adults aged 50 and above live in social isolation, due to their children moving out of the family home. In addition, their friends and close family may also choose to live elsewhere due to changing life circumstances, resulting in a reduction of shared stimulation and sense of togetherness, and an increase in feelings of isolation for retirees. Humans are ultimately social animals and need social interaction with others to maintain mental well-being. Unfortunately, many in the older adult population face loneliness and social isolation daily for different reasons.
This is why going on walking trails or being a part of a retirement community that puts you in the company of like-minded people who share the same interests and concerns as you is important. Social interaction through friendship is critical for positive mental health. Such retirement communities often organize walking trail events that put you in the company of people who understands you. On such hiking outings, you can develop and strengthen social connections. The combination of walking in nature and conversing with a friend can have a major impact on boosting cognitive health.
Enhancing Mental Acuity and Cognitive Health
It was previously thought that the brain’s ability to grow and learn was finite and hardwired. However, according to recent studies on neuroplasticity, it is said that the brain change, rearrange and create new pathways continuously. This means that human brains can adjust and stay sharp well even in the older years. One way to keep the mental state sharp is to form new connections.
Even if you are walking alone, the experience of being in nature itself, listening to the sounds of nature and being immersed in fresh, clean air would do wonders to your mental and emotional well-being.
These benefits of walking trails have been recognized at the highest level. In the United States, “greenways” have been created as open spaces that protect natural resources, and preserve beautiful, scenic landscapes and places of historical value. For older adults, such spaces offer invaluable opportunities for recreation and the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle. The greenways network in the United States has grown to include recreational trails in many states today. These trails benefit older adults as they provide an outdoor space for socializing and exercise. In short, walking trails combat a sense of loneliness and more importantly, depression.
Healthy Aging With Seaton Voorhees
Our retirement community emphasizes the physical, mental and emotional health of our residents. We frequently organize hiking trips as a community and prioritize the well-being of our residents. Don’t hesitate to contact us today to find out more about the comprehensive range of amenities we provide at our retirement community today!
