As you age, you need to focus more on staying active and participating in engaging and wholesome activities to boost your emotional and physical well-being. A report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Research Center has revealed that older adults can achieve better physical, emotional, and social health and have a decreased risk of hospitalization if they stay active.
Exercising and taking part in engaging activities also helps to maintain a sense of independence and build strength.
Let’s take a look at how physical and social activities can enhance seniors’ well-being in senior living communities.
Why Staying Active and Engaged is Essential For Senior Health
Exercise is crucial for the mind, body, and soul; no qualms about it.
As one advances in age, it becomes even more incredibly important to challenge the mind and the body to build more focus and improve memory and problem-solving skills. Even volunteering and taking part in the community can help people improve their overall quality of life and find more meaning and purpose.
A study from 2020 from the American Journal of Preventative Medicine showed that if someone volunteered for at least 100 hours per year, they experienced increased physical activity, have reduced risk of physical functioning limitations and risk of mortality.
Some other benefits include:
- Isolation prevention: Taking part in stimulating activities with other people helps you find companionship and build cognitive skills at the same time. With age, it can become difficult to remember names and compose sentences, but staying actively engaged in different activities can improve cognitive systems.
- Have more control: Engaging in activities can give you a sense of control and help to build a more positive outlook on life. Aging adults that are experiencing mental and physical health challenges can often feel like they have no control over their life, which can be quite overwhelming and upsetting. This is when exercise and social activities can improve their mood by having more control and purpose in their life.
- A mind workout: Daily taking part in engaging activities improves brain function and other cognitive functions like processing speed and executive function. This will help improve their social life and provide socialization.
The Best Engaging Activities for Enhanced Senior Health
Here are some of the best engaging physical and mental activities that will improve cognitive function and physical health in senior adults.
Playing Pickleball
Pickleball has become one of the most popular sports in the US. There is plenty of research that shows that paddle-powered sports are very beneficial for senior adults. This sport is a hybrid between ping-pong and tennis and is a fast-paced sport that increases hand-eye coordination, agility, muscle strength, and function.
Another study also showed that playing pickleball regularly can boost cardiovascular health and improve cardiorespiratory fitness, reducing blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Dancing and Karaoke
Dancing and other types of performance arts can be super exciting to participate in. These activities help to enhance the mind-body connection and finally get the chance to get off of the couch and get in the groove.
Other benefits of dancing include:
- Improved cardiovascular health
- Improved strength and balance
- Easy for people who have chronic health issues or limited mobility
- Improved cognitive performance
- Improved mood
So whether you’re into tango, line dancing, or Zumba, it’s time to get that body moving for better physical and emotional health.
Nature Walks
Whether you take a stroll by the beach, along a creek, or on a mountain, walking in nature and on various terrains is the most effective way to boost your mental and emotional health. This challenges the body’s proprioception and helps to improve balance, strength, and agility.
The benefits include:
- Lowered risk of respiratory diseases
- Improved sleep
- Reduced depression and anxiety
- More stamina
- Better mental health
- Stronger immunity
- Improved emotional well-being
Explore Volunteer Ideas
One effective way to improve your health and get more socialization opportunities is by signing up for volunteer work. You can explore different volunteer ideas and find an organization that is reputable and has a mission statement that signs with your goal and personal belief.
You can also consider volunteering with a nonprofit organization. Just make sure that you find the agency’s 501(c)(3) information on its website.
Find the Most Reliable Senior Living Communities with Next Level Senior Advisors
Not sure how to take part in all of these activities? Why not join a reliable senior living community and build your new life today?
If you’re looking for a suitable senior assisted living in Des Moines and other areas, our professional experts at Next Level Senior Advisors are here to help.
With more than a decade of experience providing professional advice on finding the best memory care, assisted living, or home care community in Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Iowa, and Pennsylvania, you can rely on us to help you begin your new life in a safe and nurturing community today.
Contact us now to get started with us today.
