What Can Walking More Do for Seniors?

Getting fresh air and spending time outdoors is always fabulous for seniors, but aging adults can walk more inside or outside and get some serious benefits from doing so. Many seniors might worry that as their mobility changes or they experience health issues, walking is too much for them. Seniors should always talk with their doctors before trying any new exercises, and walking is no exception. With the help of 24-hour home care providers, seniors can feel safer and better able to enjoy regular walking.

Improving Circulation

Walking helps to move every major muscle in the body, including the heart and the lungs. Taking a few extra steps each day helps seniors to reduce their blood pressure, improve heart functioning, and just generally improve blood circulation throughout their bodies. It doesn’t take a lot of movement to get this benefit, either. Just a few minutes a day can do the trick.

Strengthening Muscles

Aging adults tend to lose muscle tone as they age. One of the ways that they can get around this issue is by engaging in activities that help them to strengthen their muscles. Walking can do exactly that, especially when seniors are walking consistently. Elder care providers can help seniors to build routines around walking more often.

Supporting Joints

Joint function is often a problem for aging adults, particularly if they have arthritis or other chronic health issues that affect joints. As seniors walk more often, they build muscles and help to lubricate their joints. That extra movement reduces stiffness as well. Seniors might find that as they walk more, sore joints feel relief from that activity.

Encouraging Social Engagement

Walking is a lot more fun with a friend, or even an acquaintance. That means it’s a terrific option for seniors who need more social engagement in their lives. Professional caregivers make excellent walking partners, especially as they assist with mobility. But they can also help seniors to get to other locations, like senior centers or parks, so that they can meet up with friends to walk together.

Boosting Moods

Any type of exercise releases endorphins throughout the body. Those chemicals work to improve moods, heping seniors feel happier and get rid of negative mental health issues, like anxiety and depression. Walking regularly can help seniors to keep their moods high and give them something to look forward to doing every day.

Improving Sleep

Another big plus is that as seniors walk more often, they start to sleep better overall. They can then better use that energy to do the things they want to do during the day, which rolls over into better habits that continue to support better sleep. It’s a positive cycle that really pays off for seniors.

24-hour home care providers are there with seniors around the clock, which makes it easier for them to help aging adults build routines that support regular movement like walking. Professional caregivers offer support with lots of other daily tasks, too, like eating, bathing, and ensuring that family caregivers can take a break when they need to do so.

If you or an aging loved one are considering 24-hour home care in Bronxville, NY, please contact the caring staff at Griswold Care Pairing for Scarsdale & Yonkers today. (914) 337-5028.