As the temperature drops, staying active for seniors can be a real challenge. Senior health and temperature changes can often go hand in hand. The colder weather and short days have a tendency to make us want to stay indoors, but maintaining an active lifestyle is crucial for your overall health and well-being. With some thoughtful planning and the right activities, you can enjoy a healthy and active winter.
How to Stay Active in Retirement Homes
Staying active is a wonderful way to stay healthy, both in body and spirit, even when the temperature dips. Temperature dips for seniors means a change in lifestyle—so it’s important to take note of the helpful tips below.
Embrace Indoor Exercises
When the weather outside is frightful, indoor exercises are delightful. The comfort and warmth of your home can serve as the perfect backdrop for your daily workout routine. Consider the following indoor exercise options (after speaking with your healthcare provider):
- Chair Exercises: Seated exercises that focus on your upper and lower body are an excellent way to maintain mobility and strength. You can do seated leg lifts, seated marches, and seated stretches.
- Yoga: This can improve flexibility, balance, and reduce stress. Many online resources offer chair yoga routines designed specifically for seniors.
- Tai Chi: This is a low-impact, meditative exercise that improves balance, coordination, and joint mobility.
- Resistance Training: Simple resistance bands or light hand weights can add intensity to your strength training regimen.
Join a Senior Fitness Class
Many community centres and senior living facilities offer fitness classes tailored to older adults. These classes are led by certified instructors and provide a fun, social environment to exercise. Check with your local senior centre or fitness studio to see if they offer classes. Or check with your retirement home!
Stay Hydrated
Staying hydrated is just as important in the winter as it is in the summer. The colder air can be drying, and seniors are often less likely to feel thirsty, even when they need fluids. This is a very important part of cold weather safety for seniors.
Warm-Up and Cool Down
Before you start any exercise, remember to warm up properly. A gentle warm-up can prevent injury and prepare your muscles for the main workout. After your session, cool down with some light stretches to reduce muscle stiffness.
Indoor Walking
Walking is a fantastic, low-impact activity for seniors. If it's too cold to walk outside, try indoor walking. You can simply walk around your home, up and down the stairs (if safe), or even head to your local mall.
Dancing
Dancing is a joyful way to stay active, and you can do it indoors. Put on your favourite music and dance around your living room. Dancing not only gets your heart rate up but also boosts your mood.
Use Technology
Modern technology can be a helpful tool for staying active during the winter. There are various workout apps and YouTube channels that cater to seniors and provide guided exercises suitable for different fitness levels. Follow along with these video workouts from the comfort of your home.
Stay Safe
Safety should always be a top priority, especially in the winter when icy sidewalks and cold temperatures can present hazards. If you decide to venture outdoors, ensure you wear appropriate clothing to keep warm and prevent slips and falls.
Seek Professional Guidance
Before starting any new exercise routine, it's advisable to consult your healthcare provider, especially if you have any underlying health conditions. They can provide guidance and recommendations specific to your needs and capabilities.
Stay Active With Livita Retirement Residences
Livita Retirement Residences offers many activities and events for seniors—all of which they can access when staying at our homes.
If you’re looking to learn more, contact our senior homes in Barrie if you have any questions about how we keep our seniors active and safe.
