April is a good time for seniors to take the “spring forward” challenge and get moving. Since April is “National Move More Month” in the U.S., it’s time to assess if you’re moving enough during the day.
National Move More Month is the brainchild of the American Heart Association (AHA) and has a goal to improve the general health of adults. The key message of the campaign is especially important for seniors who may not be moving enough during the day, especially after the winter doldrums.
The important thing to remember is that simply getting up and moving is critical to enjoying good health. Movement also has benefits for your body, mind, and heart.
How Much Exercise Should an Adult Get?
A general recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is that adults should get 150 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity each week. The CDC also recommends for adults getting in two days of muscle strengthening activity each week.
If 150 minutes of physical activity a week sounds like a lot, don’t be discouraged.
Don’t be intimidated by 150 minutes of physical activity. You can break it down to smaller chunks and you don’t have to do it all at once.
For example, five days of 30 minutes of activity can get you to that goal of 150 minutes of physical activity. You could even spread it out into smaller chunks if you want to do physical activity for 20 minutes a day for six days, then one day of 30 minutes of activity.
The Benefits of Getting Moving
It’s no secret in today’s world that too many adults in the U.S. are sitting for too long during the day. Statistics show that here in the U.S., 25% of adults sit for longer than eight hours a day.
So why get up and move? The benefits of getting up and moving instead of sitting are many. These benefits include:
- A reduction in stress
- Lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke
- Improving mental health
- Lowering the risk of depression
The AHA puts it simply: Moving and staying active helps your overall health. Studies cited by the AHA show how higher fitness levels lead to better attention, improved learning, better memory, and being able to solve problems. These are all very important to seniors in the aging process. Even better, the studies show you can live longer.
Getting Moving Doesn’t Have to be Hard
Don’t feel like you have to jump in and do it all at once. Think more about changing habits — one step at a time! If you’re inactive and find yourself sitting a lot during the day, it’s fine to start your new moving habits with just five minutes of movement. Then you can build up from there.
You may need to split up your time during the day to build up toward the goal of 20 to 30 minutes of steady movement, or more. Now that the weather has gotten warmer, take advantage of the fresh air, sunlight and Vitamin D, and other ways to improve your physical health. It only takes a little effort!
A CARING-FIRST ENVIRONMENT
Senior living communities like Bellaire at Stone Port are precisely that—a community. Residents become friends and even family, and a caring team is there to help them maintain their quality of life.
At Bellaire at Stone Port, we offer both Assisted Living and Memory Care and we care with Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Residents first and Teamwork. We like to call it Caring with H.E.A.R.T.™!
If you believe a senior living community would benefit your loved one, get in touch with us. Schedule a visit or download a brochure today!