As people get older, their bodies and minds change. Their muscles shorten, their bones grow brittle, and their coordination and balance may decrease. They may also find their memories start to deteriorate and they start to feel depressed.

One way to combat these changes is through regular physical exercise. This is why it’s incredibly important to have physical fitness programs at senior assisted living communities. The more active a senior is, the more they can beat off the hands of time, so to speak.

Here are a few things that regular physical exercise can improve:

Our bodies

Although this may seem obvious, the more your exercise, the better your body will be. Stretching can help lengthen your muscles. The more you move, no matter what kinds of exercise you’re doing, the stronger your bones will be and the better your coordination. It can also help strengthen your heart and lungs and help you fight off certain diseases.

Our minds

The more blood flowing through our body as we exercise, the more blood flowing through our brains. How is that good? The more blood moving through our brains, the better our thinking and remembering. Becoming forgetful is a common problem as we age, and exercise can help slow that down.

Our feelings

Many people living in an independent living facility will experience depression. Some people aren’t ready to be completely independent. Others have lost a loved one. Others just hate Alberta winters. But whatever the reason, exercise is a natural cure for depression. Just going for a walk boosts your mood and makes you feel happier. Those endorphins that run through your body when you exercise will chase away the winter blues.

Assisted living communities know the value of a regular physical fitness program. Come see what we’re doing at Cedarwood Station.

Why Not Walk Airdrie

Of course, walking is is an excellent form of physical fitness outside the Hamlets senior living community.

Airdrie is an amazing city for walking and Cedarwood Station is right in the centre of the walking trails. One of the most famous bodies of water is Nose Creek, just right next door to us, and there are walking paths going north from Willowbrook to Williamstown. It’s the perfect way to spend an afternoon.

If you’d rather stay even closer to the community, there is a brilliant walking path starting right beside The Hamlets. It leads through Old Town, going past the baseball diamonds and the BMX track until you reach 6 Ave. It’s a nice short stroll and you can enjoy walking near people of all ages playing and having a blast in the park.

Heading south are a little longer paths, but you will see a lot of Airdrie and the beautiful settings within. Again, follow Nose Creek south and you’ll pass by downtown Airdrie and into Ridgegate. If you want an even longer walk, getting to the Nose Creek Valley Museum is a great end destination. You can relax for a little before heading back home.

Finally, speaking of downtown, it’s a short walk east from The Hamlets and then down Main St to check out everything that’s happening during the day. There are so many options before heading back: a movie, the library, Starbucks, or maybe even City Hall.