To summarize:
Springhouse Village, in Springfield, MO, sits close to many everyday conveniences and local attractions. Even the indoor community spaces and the famous Sunshine Street corridor are excellent places to simply go for a walk. Especially as the CDC recommends people take at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week.
Below, we offer some advice for those who may not have easy access to these locations. Follow these senior mobility tips and discover how to build safe routes in your home or community, including how best to plan such exercises. By the end, you should be able to develop an indoor fitness routine that stands the test of time.
Indoor walking is an excellent way for older adults to enhance their endurance and balance. It can also boost confidence with enough practice.
In the heat waves and cold snaps that occasionally pass through Missouri, having the option to be inside can also give a resident of Springhouse Village a little more freedom. If a resident cannot go for a walk in our beautiful gardens, spending that time boosting one's health indoors can be a helpful alternative.
The American Heart Association even states that walking is a great way to reduce stress. For those who may otherwise face frustration in their senior years, having every outlet possible can be vital in ensuring ongoing mental wellness.
As mentioned above, around 150 minutes per week is a good guideline for any seniors in Springhouse Village. However, you don't need to start at that many. We recommend starting with only five or ten minutes and then gradually increasing as you learn your limits.
You can also incorporate balance and strength traininginto some of your training days to help make your trips down our corridors all the more comfortable.
All you need to do is put on some sensible shoes with non-slip soles and choose a short, well-lit space. Try to find one with a chair nearby for rest, should you get tired, and you will have everything you need to start your walking exercises.
If you are in Independent Living, you likely won't need staff help. However, they are on-call should you find yourself having trouble between rest stops.
Make sure to work with a staff member to define a space that would be helpful for you to move around in, then make the walk as easy on yourself as possible. Make sure to have something to hold on to every twenty seconds or so, such as a mantelpiece or shelf, and have someone else watch over you.
Another alternative is to march in place instead. Nobody said that you need to be moving around the space to get good exercise. So, consider standing in one place and lifting your knees as high as possible with your back straight.
While these may all be challenging, depending on your age, you should do the best you can and get your heart pumping.
You may even want to start with balance exercises rather than walking, to ensure your own safety. Those requiring Memory Care movement support may also benefit from similar activities with the assistance of on-call staff.
Any minutes spent walking can add up towards weekly goals, even when performed in shorter quantities. As long as one's heart rate and breathing start to speed up, it indicates that one is exerting oneself sufficiently to get the body working on circulation.
Instead of worrying about how far you walk, however, and whether you are outside for its space, focus on the pace you keep when you move. If you continue driving, even if there are walls around you, it is just like moving outside.
Indoors, you may need to walk over the same location a couple of extra times, but this allows you to track laps instead of other distances, if you prefer to mark distance rather than time.
Individual time beats are not as important as total time when it comes to exercise. Splitting your movement up might even help alleviate fatigue and foot discomfort, allowing you to complete the exercises with a little more ease.
Morning and afternoon are great options for such movement, as you can then turn it into a regular indoor fitness routine before an evening activity that allows you to rest.
We recommend that you warm up before active aging exercise such as this and cool down with movement afterwards. Therefore, with each additional session, you may need to increase the total time slightly.
Smooth, matte floors with good grip are ideal, as are shoes that help you maintain your footing. Carpets should be fine if that's your only option; however, avoid loose rugs and clutter when you move about. The last thing you want to do is meet a trip hazard on the way, setting you back while you recover.
Start your indoor walking with brief five- to ten-minute walks through Springhouse Village's halls and community rooms when they are not in use. Then, as you get more comfortable, start to increase that time while paying attention to your own comfort level.
With our long corridors and spacious activity areas, we can provide a community that supports your exercise easily. With a pet-friendly culture, you can even take your beloved friend with you as you traverse our corridors.
To learn more about what we offer and discover our on-site conveniences, please get in touch and book a tour today. You would be more than welcome, and we look forward to hearing from you.