Staying Active When Elderly: Life at The Atrium at Gainesville
Staying active when elderly is achievable, enriching, and fun! However, only 23.1% of older adults met the federal recommended levels of physical activity in 2019.
At Atrium at Gainesville in Gainesville, Florida, older adults can enjoy supportive independent living, with programs designed to enhance movement, social engagement, and independence. You can enjoy an active lifestyle that meets, or even exceeds, recommended activity levels! Nestled in a beautiful, tree-filled neighborhood near the University of Florida, our community offers the perfect blend of convenience, charm, and active living.
How Can the Elderly Stay Active?
When you think of senior movement programs, do you imagine a group of older folks heading out for a gentle walk? While there's nothing wrong with that, there are many ways older adults can remain active beyond strolling around their homes.
At Atrium at Gainesville, residents can enjoy the community's beautiful grounds, but also benefit from scheduled activities. The activity calendar changes all the time, but often includes:
- Water aerobics
- Forever Fit exercise classes
- Strength and Stretch exercise
Notice that our classes are about more than just cardiovascular exercise. While this is crucial at all ages, strength exercises for older adults were often overlooked in the past. Now we realize that strength training (side note: that's totally different from bodybuilding) is essential for older adults to remain healthy.
Embracing a Routine of Motion and Connection
Fitness for older adults means more than just formal exercise. It's about embracing an active way of life that integrates movement and social connections into everyday life.
At Atrium at Gainesville, seniors can stroll through the beautifully maintained grounds along the safe walking paths. You are never far from the reassuring assistance of our care team as you explore the premises.
For seniors who want exercise with more structure, the regular water aerobics and fitness classes are ideal. They allow you to participate in appropriate activities under the watchful care of a qualified instructor. Participating in these activities with other seniors provides encouragement and support and strengthens your social connections.
How to Build an Active Lifestyle
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that older adults do the following each week:
- 150 minutes of moderate exercise, or
- 75 minutes of vigorous exercise
- 2 days of muscle-strengthening activities
- Regular activities to improve balance
Does that all sound a little overwhelming? It could do without support, but at Atrium at Gainesville, help is always at hand.
Here's how our physical wellness activities can help you meet the CDC's recommendations:
- One session of aqua aerobics a week
- One 30-minute walk at moderate intensity
- One session of Forever Fit
- One session of Strength and Stretch
Our carefully tailored program makes hitting those recommendations and getting the benefits a breeze.
Does Staying Active Help With Aging?
Yes, it absolutely does. According to the CDC, there are both immediate and long-term benefits.
The immediate benefits include:
- Better sleep
- Reduced anxiety
- Lower blood pressure
The long-term benefits include:
- Lower risk of heart disease
- Less weight gain
- Reduced risk of developing dementia
- Better bone health
- Lower risk of certain types of cancer
Maintain Your Independence and Mobility
All seniors want to stay independent for as long as possible. Regular exercise is crucial for this, according to Utah State University.
The University especially recommends strength training. Enjoying regular strength training can help you remain balanced and confident on your feet. It can be done in a number of ways:
- Using gym machines
- Lifting free weights
- Using resistance bands
The key is to check with your doctor first and start slowly. Starting with bodyweight exercises and gradually adding weights is a safe way to increase your strength and stability.
As you do so, you should find that you feel more confident when walking. You'll improve your core strength, which will lead to greater stability. Regular strength training can result in fewer falls, which often lead to complications in older adults.
The exercise programs at Atrium at Gainesville are the perfect way to safely begin to incorporate strength training into your daily routines.
Improve Bone Strength
As we age, our bone density naturally diminishes. But that doesn't mean there's nothing you can do about it.
According to the National Council on Aging, it is still possible to exercise, stay fit, and maintain your bone health even when you have age-related pain. It recommends a combination of:
- Strength training for bone strength and muscle health
- Flexibility training for better balance and physical function
- Endurance training for cardiovascular health
The fitness programs at Atrium at Gainesville can help you achieve this ideal balance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can the Elderly Stay Active When Mobility Is Limited?
We encourage even seniors with limited mobility to remain active at Atrium at Gainesville. Chair-based exercises are a great way to do this. Our fitness classes can be tailored to seniors with different levels of mobility, so all can have a share.
Is Staying Active When Elderly Worth It?
Absolutely. Aside from the health benefits of staying active discussed above, exercise also helps you feel better and promotes social wellness.
When you start moving, your body releases endorphins. According to the Mayo Clinic, these brain chemicals can lift your mood and improve your overall sense of well-being. They are even associated with reduced symptoms of depression.
What Role Does Nutrition Play in Keeping Active?
Nutrition is vital to staying active in your senior years. The wrong food can make it harder to exercise and leave you more prone to weight gain.
At Atrium at Gainesville, our residents enjoy delicious meals three times a day. These meals are carefully chosen to be deeply satisfying yet provide the nutrition seniors need to remain healthy and active.
Time to Discover Active Aging in Gainesville
Staying active when elderly is not always easy. But at Atrium at Gainesville, we make it accessible, achievable, most of all, enjoyable!
Our fitness classes are not about making you the next Hulk Hogan. They're there to help you reach your activity goals, remain flexible and strong, and get your heart pumping. Our beautiful grounds and senior-friendly accommodation promote an active life that's rich in meaning and fulfilment.
Find out what all the fuss is about for yourself! Schedule a tour, and we will be delighted to show you everything Atrium at Gainesville has to offer.