Staying Healthy
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The Importance of Regular Physical Activity
Engaging in regular physical activity is one of the most important things that seniors can do to maintain their health and independence. Not only can exercise improve stamina and muscle strength, it can also:
Improve balance and reduce the risk of falls
Help maintain healthy bones and joints
Reduce the risk of developing various diseases
Elevate overall mood and sense of well-being
Making Exercise Fun
Games provide an excellent opportunity to encourage senior engagement in both physical movement and cognitive wellness. When exercise is fun, seniors are far more likely to continue doing it. Nearly any game can be modified for seniors with physical or cognitive limitations.
A wide variety of senior-friendly games can help improve your loved one’s overall well-being.
Mental Stimulation Games
Tile, Puzzle and Board Games (Social interaction)
- Backgammon
- Dominos
- Chess
- Jenga
- Ticket to Ride
Video Games (Visual and auditory engagement)
- Candy Crush Saga
- Gummy Drop!
- Civilization
- Puyo Puyo Tetris
Word and Number Games (Cognitive sharpness)
- Crossword puzzles
- Scattergories
- Sudoku
- Word Search
- Scrabble
Card and Dice Games (Socialization)
- Spades
- Cribbage
- Bridge
- Phase 10
- UNO
- Farkle
- Yahtzee
- Bunco
Physical Movement Games
Ping Pong
Pickleball
Shuffleboard
Bean Bag Toss (Cornhole)
Horseshoes
Bocce Ball
Badminton
Recommendations from the National
Institute on Aging
You may also need to make modifications to the house to accommodate the changing needs of your loved one. Common home modifications needed for seniors living at home include:
Endurance
Any aerobic activity that increases breathing and heart rate counts! Examples: Brisk Walking, Yardwork
Strength Training
Exercising all major muscle groups 2 or more days a week.
Examples: Lifting Weights, Resistance Bands
Balance
Standing on one foot or heel-to-toe walking to improves balance.
Examples: Standing on One Foot, Heel-to-Toe Walking
Flexibility
Keeping your body limber through stretching
Examples: Calf Stretches, Ankle Stretches
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