{"id":1144,"date":"2021-09-30T06:54:34","date_gmt":"2021-09-30T06:54:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/virtualbrainhealthcenter.com\/?p=1144"},"modified":"2021-09-30T06:54:34","modified_gmt":"2021-09-30T06:54:34","slug":"how-to-find-long-term-care-that-prioritizes-fitness-and-healthy-living","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/virtualbrainhealthcenter.com\/directory\/how-to-find-long-term-care-that-prioritizes-fitness-and-healthy-living\/","title":{"rendered":"How to find long-term care that prioritizes fitness and healthy living"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As we age, staying physically fit can be more challenging than ever, but that doesn\u2019t make it any less important. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)<\/a>, regular physical activity can help delay, prevent or manage many debilitating and costly chronic diseases faced by adults who are 50 and older. With that in mind, older adults and their loved ones looking for a long-term care facility might want to find one that prioritizes keeping residents engaged both physically and cognitively.<\/p>\n

The adage \u201cuse it or lose it\u201d is true for most older adults, says Jennifer L. FitzPatrick, a licensed certified clinical social worker, author of \u201cCruising Through Caregiving: Reducing the Stress of Caring for Your Loved One\u201d<\/a> and an instructor in gerontology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we stop engaging in physical activity, a decline typically begins,\u201d she says. \u201cPhysical activity has been linked with better physical health, less dementia<\/a>, as well as less depression<\/a> and other mental health conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here, aging experts and caregivers make the case for fostering a healthy lifestyle and offer tips on how to find a nursing home, assisted living or other skilled nursing facility that will support your loved one\u2019s efforts to stay physically and mentally fit.<\/p>\n

Why it\u2019s so important that older adults are able to work out<\/b><\/h2>\n

Lisa M. Cini<\/a>, founder of Mosaic Design Studio and a leading Alzheimer\u2019s and long-term care design expert, points out that as we age, we lose fat and muscle. \u201cFactor in that most seniors have arthritis, and the best thing to do for that is to get moving and exercise,\u201d she says. \u201cStrength, flexibility and increased balance are all benefits of participating in physical activity.\u201d<\/p>\n

In light of that, Cini adds that her firm prioritizes features that will support older adults\u2019 fitness, such as therapy spas, indoor pools, outdoor pools and hot tubs. She says that water therapy<\/a> \u2014 proven to bolster flexibility, balance, strength, power and agility \u2014 is wonderful, even if it\u2019s just to get out and socialize with other older adults.<\/p>\n

But whether residents are doing laps in the pool or going for walks around the grounds, a daily fitness routine can support their mental well-being as well. John Fawkes, certified personal trainer and editor of wellness resource The Unwinder<\/a>, adds, \u201cWorking out triggers that rush of endorphins that are the foundation of feeling happy and content. It can sometimes even be the best part of a resident\u2019s day, helping them explore new hobbies or pick up on activities they genuinely love, such as dance or yoga.\u201d<\/p>\n

What\u2019s more, enjoying exercise is the key to consistency, and that consistency allows you to reap the ongoing mental, emotional and physical benefits of working out, adds Fawkes.<\/p>\n

What to look for while touring a facility<\/b><\/h2>\n

While glossy brochures might make a community look appealing, there\u2019s no substitute for seeing a facility in person.<\/p>\n

Ann Kriebel-Gasparro, a family and gerontological nurse practitioner and faculty member for Walden University\u2019s Master of Science in Nursing<\/a> program, outlines what to look for while touring a care community to determine if it will support you or your loved one\u2019s healthy lifestyle:<\/p>\n