Staying Active at Any Age Or Ability

The COVID-19 pandemic taught us a hard lesson about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. Nowadays, we know that exercise and eating right are essential for your well-being, but research has shown older adults don't get enough physical activity! Overall, 27% percent of 50-year-olds are not active on at least two days per week, leading to many health problems later down the line, such as arthritis or heart disease.

The COVID-19 pandemic taught us a hard lesson about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. Nowadays, we know that exercise and eating right are essential for your well-being, but research has shown older adults don't get enough physical activity! Overall, 27% percent of 50-year-olds are not active on at least two days per week, leading to many health problems later down the line, such as arthritis or heart disease.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, here are just some of the many benefits of staying active.

Benefits of Physical Activity

• Helps maintain the ability to live independently and reduces the risk of falling and fracturing bones.
• Reduces the risk of dying from coronary heart disease and developing high blood pressure, colon cancer, and diabetes.
• Can help reduce blood pressure in some people with hypertension.
• Helps people with chronic, disabling conditions improve their stamina and muscle strength.
• Reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression and fosters improvements in mood and feelings of well-being.
• Helps maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints.
• Helps control joint swelling and pain associated with arthritis.
• Beyond the obvious physical reasons, staying active also has many benefits when it comes to mental health. The mental health benefits of exercise are nearly endless. Exercise produces endorphins (the "feel-good" hormone), which act as a stress reliever and leave you feeling happy and satisfied. In addition, exercise has been linked to improving sleep, which is especially important for older adults who often suffer from insomnia and disrupted sleep patterns.

Everly House in Macomb, Illinois, has been serving as an independent living center with the security and comforts of home since 1953! The facility was constructed in the early 1950s with funds from the Everly Trust for senior living purposes. Residents enjoy spending their time in several ways - playing games in the lovely sunroom, walking the path around our landscaped pond, enjoying various programs, or just visiting over a delicious meal. We can furnish your room, or you may bring your treasures with you. So join us in one of our 30 apartments; you'll feel right at home with us!

Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/sgr/olderad.htm#:~:text=regular%20physical%20activity.-,Benefits%20of%20Physical%20Activity,in%20some%20people%20with%20hypertension.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/mm6536a3.htm#:~:text=Inactivity%20prevalence%20significantly%20increased%20with,adults%20aged%20%E2%89%A575%20years.
https://thegreenfields.org/5-benefits-exercise-seniors-aging-adults/#:~:text=Improved%20Mental%20Health&text=Exercise%20produces%20endorphins%20(the%20%E2%80%9Cfeel,insomnia%20and%20disrupted%20sleep%20patterns.