Seniors living in retirement communities have access to
fitness classes which are usually tailored to their physical ability.
Communities where there are no fitness classes usually have a fitness room or
someone on staff to work with elders who need some type of physical activity.
But more importantly, Health Briefs suggests adding some light weight training
to keep older muscles and joints strong and agile.
Strength training is something that most of us think of as
weight lifting. For the older generations, lifting a two or five pound dumbbell
can be challenging. Small wrist and ankle weights are better bets to work tired
muscles. It is essential to overall good health that people aged 65 and older
do something to maintain muscle strength. Sturdy muscles are an aid to opening
jars, standing up from a chair or sofa without help and supporting their own
body weight. Older folks can do leg lifts without ankle weights to begin and add
small weights when they feel able. Standing up on one’s own from a sitting
position can be practiced every day until one can get up without the help of
someone else. While arthritis can wreak havoc on older hands, they can still be
used to take lids off of jars, bottles and cans.
Health Briefs knows of several senior fitness classes
offered around the country in both community centers and retirement facilities.
They are low-cost or free and usually covered by Medicare or private insurance.
Encourage the seniors in your life to try a class or two. The social aspect of the group is often one
of the hidden benefits that these classes offer.
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