Did you participate in the National Senior Health and Fitness Day?
Celebrated on the last Wednesday of May, the next National Senior Health and Fitness Day will fall on May 28, 2025. As the name implies, it’s a day highlighting the importance of senior fitness and well-being.
As an older adult in an assisted living community, do you know how vital exercise is for seniors? How do you take advantage of senior fitness classes offered in Hagerstown, MD?
Let’s talk about the benefits of workout programs for seniors in assisted living, plus tips on staying fit and healthy in your golden years.
Seniors in Assisted Living: Why You Need to Exercise
If you’re feeling aches and pains, it may be a sign you need to be more active. You see, as one ages, their muscle fibers shrink. This can lead to a loss of muscle mass.
Additionally, the cartilage dries out, causing joints to rub against each other. This then increases one’s risk for osteoarthritis.
One way to combat these physical effects is through regular physical activity. Especially if you reside in a senior living community, you’ll need to keep fit to participate in social and local events.
Fitness and wellness activities can also help keep serious health problems at bay. There are also psychological benefits that can significantly improve your quality of life.
Elderly Fitness: Guidelines for Seniors in Assisted Living
The goal is to move daily, as much as your abilities and conditions allow. Keep in mind that you don’t have to do high-intensity exercises for your workouts to count.
Following the CDC’s recommendations, you must exercise at least 150 minutes weekly. The ideal mix is moderate-intensity aerobic exercises, strength-building, and balance activities. Given the recommendations, you can break them down into two days of strength workouts and 30 minutes of aerobics for five days.
Try to do balance activities such as yoga poses or Tai Chi moves throughout the day. You can also do 10 minutes of balance exercises before or after your cardio or strength routine.
How to Navigate Senior Fitness Classes in Your Hagerstown Community
Does your community in Hagerstown, MD, offer fitness programs for seniors? One of the best aspects of assisted living is the sense of community. So, if the thought of senior exercise doesn’t excite you too much, you can always find a fitness buddy and motivate each other.
Once you find a workout pal (or pals), you can check out different senior fitness classes. Find activities that work for your schedule and health needs. For example, if you have arthritis, morning workouts might be challenging if you’re experiencing stiffness in your joints.
There’s another benefit to working out in the afternoons. Exercising before bedtime could help you sleep better if you have trouble sleeping at night. Beyond classes, you should also take advantage of walking paths, swimming pools, and other outdoor features your community might offer to help you stay active.
Choosing the Right Wellness Program for Seniors
Formal wellness programs cover the best exercises for seniors and other components like nutrition, social activities, etc.
Remember that physical activity is just one dimension of wellness. You can’t out-exercise a poor diet. That’s why your assisted living community wellness program must include nutritious meals. Also, their meal plans must consider cultural preferences and medical conditions requiring dietary adjustments.
In addition to balanced meals, wellness programs have to be educational. Residents do better on their fitness journey when they understand the hows and whys of regular exercise and good nutrition. If your community has classes on preparing healthy meals, avoiding workout-related injuries, and the like, be sure not to miss them.
Now, if you feel your community’s current fitness and wellness program is okay but lacking a certain something, it could be missing family involvement. Even if family members aren’t allowed to join fitness classes, it would be good if they could participate in educational programs.
Your community should also emphasize the importance of social activities since these have a positive impact on residents’ emotional and mental health.
Overcoming Barriers to Exercise: Accounting for Chronic Health Conditions
A persistent myth that keeps some older adults from exercising is that working out isn’t safe for seniors. While it’s true that there’s a risk of injury, especially if you don’t warm up, cool down, and follow the proper form, exercise is generally safe for most older people.
However, if you have a medical condition, it’s best to get clearance from your doctor. This applies to younger people who also have chronic health issues as well.
Sometimes, you may need to modify your workouts to avoid pain, or your doctor might recommend specific exercises that won’t worsen your condition. Don’t forget that some activity is better than sitting or lying on your bed all day.
Workout Recommendations for Specific Health Issues
For seniors with autoimmune disorders, consider gentle exercises such as walking, swimming, and yoga. Low-impact resistance training is also advisable, as this won’t exacerbate muscle or joint pain.
As for residents with cardiovascular issues, following the CDC’s recommendations will help a lot. Regular physical activity can strengthen your heart. Exercising will also help you keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels in check.
If you have diabetes, try Tai Chi, swimming, or dancing. Walking helps, too, as you can do it almost anywhere. Tai Chi is also worth considering since it can help increase mobility, and the gentle movements won’t cause pain. Meanwhile, swimming and dancing can help you lose weight, which is crucial for managing Type 2 diabetes.
Exploring Fitness Options in Hagerstown, MD
Are you looking for the best senior living community in Hagerstown? By best, we mean a community that can help you look and feel your best in your golden years.
If yes, consider the senior living options in Seaton Hagerstown. Here, we believe in personalized care so our residents can lead healthy, fulfilling lives. Besides our amenities and services, we have senior fitness classes that can help support your wellness needs.
Our wellness classes, for example, are tailored to all levels and abilities. Contact us to learn more about our wellness program and other offerings.
