Seniors Can Improve Their Fitness at Assisted Living

June 28, 2022 by ·

Getting in shape is often a goal of millions of Americans. It doesn’t matter whether they are in their 20s, 40s, 60s, or even 80s. Okay, for people in their 70s and 80s, physical fitness may not be a top priority, but it can be important, especially for those who understand they are naturally losing strength and muscle mass each passing year.

Although seniors may not think about assisted living for themselves, it can be a wonderful option. Most elderly people don’t have a fitness center in their home. Also, a growing majority of seniors, even if they had a membership to a local gym or fitness center, don’t keep it for long.

There are many reasons for that, not the least of which involves perception. A person in their 70s might go to a gym and see mostly 20 and 30-somethings working out. They may feel self-conscious about walking on a treadmill, riding a stationary bike, or doing other exercises at their age, in front of much younger people.

Wouldn’t it be great for those seniors who want to get some exercise to be surrounded by other men and women their own age? That can happen for those who have access to short-term or respite care services at assisted living.

 

Aren’t all assisted living facilities long-term?

Assisted Living Citronelle, AL: Seniors and Fitness

Assisted Living Citronelle, AL: Seniors and Fitness

No, they’re not. Some might very well be, but depending on capacity and other factors, quality assisted living communities are great elder care options for those who are seeking something short-term.

In fact, you may have an assisted living facility in your area that allows seniors to stay for just a couple of days a week, even scattered days like Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday.

If an elderly person has family or friends supporting them, but those days are toughest to get support, that could be a great option. Some seniors may need to stay at assisted living for a couple of weeks while their caregivers or family members are on vacation.

An assisted living facility that offers these options can be a great asset to aging seniors who need support. For those that have some type of fitness center, even if it is just a small room with a few machines or pieces of equipment, it can allow those same men and women the opportunity to get exercise, tone up muscle, and maybe even regain some muscle they might have lost recently.

 

This is a wonderful option for recovery as well.

For seniors who might be recovering from a heart attack, cardiovascular disease, heart failure, or other cardiac ailments, their doctor may have prescribed exercise to help strengthen the heart muscles.

The only way to really do that is through cardiovascular exercise, which means elevating the heart rate for at least 15 minutes every day. Seniors who rely on assisted living for short-term or temporary stays may be able to do just that.

It’s another option that could be afforded seniors when they need elder care at this stage in their life.

If you or an aging loved one are considering a move to an Assisted Living in Citronelle, AL, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living at 251-317-3017.

Filed Under: Assisted Living · Tagged: ,
About Cindy Johnson

Ashbury Manor’s Administrator since 2008, Cindy Johnson is a long-time expert in the assisted living field. Prior to her arrival at Ashbury Manor, Cindy managed acquisitions and crisis management for existing and new larger senior care project developments for eleven years. As regional manager for an Oregon-based assisted living management company, Cindy was directly responsible for operations for five 50-65 bed assisted living facilities. As manager during the transition to new ownership, Cindy reorganized internal operations and conducted leadership training for Executive Directors. As a result of her management and expertise, one of the company’s facilities (in Ocala, Florida) received a deficiency-free survey, resulting in the lifting of a moratorium on operation.

A nurse for 36 years, senior care has always been Cindy’s passion. Desiring to work more closely with residents, Cindy became a Category II Administrator in 2005. As Ashbury Manor’s Administrator, Cindy understands the complexities associated with dementia and cognitive impairment and she has fallen in love with seniors with dementia or cognitive impairment and their families.

Cindy is Treasurer of the local “Senior Coalition” chapter. She enjoys mentoring new candidates who want to become administrators.

As a 16-bed facility, with Cindy's training and experience, our residents and their families can be sure Ashbury Manor’s carefully selected staff provides the expertise of a larger facility while maintaining the individualized personal care of a small special needs home.
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