ACTIVE LIVING FOR OLDER ADULTS

Key Messages

Keeping active is one of the most important things you can do to maintain your physical and mental health and quality of life as you get older.
Physical inactivity makes your body age faster
Facts: - 60% of older adults are inactive
Sitting or lying for long periods is a serious health risk
Inactivity leads to declines in: bone strength; muscle strength; heart and lung fitness; and flexibility
Inactivity is as harmful to your health as smoking
Benefits from regular physical activity:

Take a 10 minute walk each day, progressing as you can to a moderate or brisk pace
Wheel yourself to the park
Get off the bus one stop earlier and walk the rest of the way
Take the stairs’ instead of the elevators
Lift weights to strengthen your arms
Move around frequently
Stand up and sit down several times in a row to strengthen your legs
Do some stretching every day to increase your flexibility
Accumulate 30 to 60 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week, even if they are 10 minutes at a time
Check out your local senior centre for active living opportunities

Check with your physician prior to starting an exercise program
Physical activity, if done properly, will more likely benefit you, than be harmful.
Find specialty programs that relate to your health concern i.e. specialty arthritis program