The benefits of exercise speak for themselves, ensuring improved fitness levels and mental and physical health no matter our age. However, as we get older, additional home care and exercise become much harder to manage. Guided exercise classes are a fantastic way around this and for seniors, especially, they can be incredibly beneficial. Whether working around a range of different health conditions or simply struggling to get into a fitness routine, exercise classes for seniors certainly stand to help in the following ways.
Keeping fitness on the right track
Setting fitness goals is always essential for keeping exercise efforts moving forward, and classes are the best way to develop and track fitness goals within easy reach. For seniors, especially, working towards overall goals can help understand current capabilities and realistic expectations off the back of those.
Accountability
Holding ourselves accountable for exercise is complex. For seniors, especially, the aches and pains that can often come at the start of a fitness journey can make it challenging to continue. However, with classes, the support of a teacher and a group in the same boat can make a huge difference – ensuring that participants work to find solutions rather than throwing in the towel at the first sign of trouble.
Guaranteeing safety
Evidence suggests that seniors who participate in exercise programs typically fall less often than those who don’t. However, these health benefits aren’t without risks, and poorly executed exercise can exacerbate conditions like back pain, hip problems, and the like. As such, solo activity certainly isn’t risk-free when participants get past a certain age. By comparison, class efforts are carefully curated with senior limitations in mind, ensuring that adequate and informed safety measures are taken even in the case of specific health complaints.
Social interactions
Studies have found that seniors are at a higher risk of isolation due to living alone and not being able to get out as quickly. This is a problem given that, according to many experts, isolation can be as bad for health as smoking. Luckily, the group-based nature of exercise classes can drastically reduce the risks of this crippling problem. Typically, face-to-face classes can be a fantastic way to find friends in a neutral, fun setting. Even during Covid, Zoom classes have made it possible to keep seniors who would otherwise have been entirely cut off, both fit and mentally well, thanks to these interactions.
Take Care of Your Family Member Beyond Their Physical Needs
It’s plain to see that, for seniors especially, exercise classes are a fantastic way to get on top of physical health and mental well-being. The only issue is that accessing these classes can sometimes be a challenge. We recognize that here at Modern Health Home Care, which is why our team works hard to help our senior clients go about their daily activities, all-important exercise classes included. So, contact us at 215.995.2012 to find out more, and open your senior loved ones up to a healthier and happier lifestyle today.
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