The Secrets to Staying Fit in a Senior Living Community

What’s the secret to staying fit at any age? Motivation! Finding that champion spirit that inspires you—to stay active--regardless of your age or abilities. Senior living communities can offer that extra inspiration and motivation to help you in reaching your fitness goals.

Who knew it would be even easier to stay fit as you get older? The trend in senior living communities is creating an environment for residents to maintain a healthy lifestyle and a level of fitness that meets their individual needs.  Therefore many assisted living communities are installing professional fitness centers designed to accommodate various levels and abilities. . This is a great reason to start up a fitness program, if you haven’t done so already.

Inquire about Fitness Offerings before Moving into your New Senior Living Community

Exercise is a sure route to enhancing your health and increasing your quality of life. Before moving into a senior living community, be sure to inquire about their fitness offerings. Not only will you want to inquire about these offerings, but you may want to see their programs and equipment in action as well. Some senior living communities provide state-of-the-art fitness equipment including treadmills, recumbent bicycles, hand weights and exercise bands, to name a few. Also offered are personal fitness trainers, for “no nonsense fitness- -buffs” who enjoy having their own designed workout routines..  Other communities that don’t have equipment may have a relationship with a local fitness center or YMCA and provide transportation to their residents.  Regardless, look for a varied exercise program that includes fun activities such as Zumba, belly dancing, balancing and stretching, and “Sittercise” for improved fitness and health. 

“Doctors Orders”: Start Your Exercise Outdoors

If a pre-existing health condition is forcing you to start a fitness program--in other words, “It’s the doctor’s orders,” but you still lack the motivation—try starting your exercise outdoors. The energy from the sun’s rays is quite an effective motivator! Utilize good weather days to take walks, engage in deep breathing exercises and improve your cardiovascular health. Take advantage of portable strength training devices to add variety to your outdoor workout. Many senior communities have access to low impact equipment such as foot pedals/swings and physiotherapy bands which can be used either inside or outside, and while standing up or sitting down, depending on your health goals.  

There’s Nothing Better than Having Your Peers “Support You”

If you’ve ever thought: “Working out would be so much better if I had a work-out buddy to encourage me along,” then you’ll feel right at home in any senior living community. This is where you will find a multitude of “work-out buddies” to get you motivated! Residents in senior living communities stay active by participating in regularly scheduled physical activities. You can participate in group classes like swimming, aerobics, yoga, dance and more while having a partner or a group of friends to interact with. In this way you can still benefit from a regular exercise routine and enjoy being social at the same time. Increasing your level of physical and social activity can work wonders for keeping the brain sharp as well!

Everyone knows the benefits of exercise. However, many of us lack the drive to stick to it, especially as we get older. Senior living communities, by design, place a high priority on health and wellness. Residents are offered ongoing support through services and amenities like daily scheduled activities and onsite fitness centers, to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Key Takeaways:

• The trend in senior living communities is to create an environment for residents to maintain a healthy lifestyle and a level of fitness that meets their individual needs.
• Before moving into a senior living community, be sure to inquire about their fitness offerings; you want to see their programs in action.
• Utilize good weather days to take walks, engage in deep breathing exercises and improve your cardiovascular health.
• Residents in senior living communities stay active by participating in regularly scheduled physical activities.
• Having a group of peers to support you while you work out helps you stay motivated and allows you to reap the social and physical benefits of exercise.

Learn More About United Methodist Homes 

If you are interested in learning about the fitness options available at our United Methodist Homes Assisted & Independent Living Communities in CT and TN, please visit our website to learn more.