Top guns – exercise for the elderly

As the days get shorter and the temperature gets colder, visions of staying snuggled up on the sofa until mid-March are tempting. Which is why we thought it worthy to flag up how important it is to get up and get out – despite the winter weather. Regular exercise is worth its weight in healthful benefits – especially for older adults and the elderly.

These benefits can include improvements in medical conditions, pain, immune functions, heart health, blood circulation, flexibility, bone density, sleep, mood and mental agility. And speaking of the brain, exercise may help ward off dementias. According to the Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention Foundation, physical exercise reduces your risk of developing the disease by 50 percent.

If it all seems a bit much, don’t forget that starting small and choosing enjoyable activities will make things easier. It’s also worth being realistic. No one’s too old to exercise but the activity must match ability level and interest. Brighton and Hove City Council lists several programmes which are all suitable for beginners and a wide range of abilities.

And of course The Private Care Company can also help by getting you to and from activities or even doing some of them – like going out for a walk – with you. Our bottom line is… make it regular and make it fun.