Tips For Staying Active While Indoors At Retirement Communities In PA

Make movement a priority this winter!

The winter months in the Northeast are beautiful, but can be cold–which can make staying active very difficult for those who want to snuggle up inside. While we agree that enjoying the downtime of the season is important, finding ways to stay active despite the cold is equally important to the wellbeing of our residents. In an effort to help all of our residents here at Whitetail Springs Memory Care Community stay active in a fun and safe way this season, we have created four easy steps to help fight those winter blues.

Get moving in the morning

We know it can be hard to find the motivation to get moving first thing in the morning, which is why we recommend starting your day with some light activity. Simple things like stretching your entire body when you get out of bed is a great way to get some intentional movement throughout the day and has proven health benefits like improving posture, reducing lower back pain, increased mobility, and reduced stress. We recommend trying a few of these seated stretches:

• Overhead stretch – lean side to side for additional stretching
• Cross body shoulder stretch
• Shoulder rolls
• Chest stretch

You can find more information and additional stretches here.

Take an extra lap around the building on your way to lunch

As simple as this may sound, adding extra walking into your or your loved one’s day whenever possible will help keep their bodies stronger during the cold months. Something as simple as taking an extra lap around the inside of the building when on their way to and from meal times will really increase their overall movement throughout the day. Planning for this and incorporating it into their daily routine will help ensure that these small steps are taken to help keep them active.

Plan social activities around movement

An easy and fun way to ensure that your loved one stays active this winter is to have them plan their social time around movement. This can look different for different people, but it includes activities like going for indoor walks to catch up with friends, listening and dancing to music together, or something as simple as taking an afternoon trip to a local shopping center (where they will have to walk). Not only is this a great way to get them active, but having a companion or two while moving makes the process more fun and feel less like work.

Participate in our exercise classes

One of the best features of our resort-style retirement community is the incredible amenities that we offer. From planned social events to workout classes, there is always something going on, and we strongly encourage your loved one to take part! We have weekly physical activity classes that make it easy for your loved one to get active without having to do much planning on their own part. These activities include things like armchair yoga every Tuesday and strength training every Wednesday. We also offer planned sporting events like volleyball. We strongly encourage your loved one to take part in these fun classes that will keep them strong and active all season.

For more information on one of the best retirement communities in PA, or to schedule a tour of Whitetail Springs, contact our wonderful team today!