The HSE is advising older people that anyone can get active, it’s easy to start and it’s never too late.
Any exercise that gets you moving is physical activity and it benefits you no matter what your age. Get motivated to improve your fitness.
It might be hard to get motivated, especially if it’s cold and raining outside. But, you can exercise and get active anywhere — at home or outside in your garden.
Activity for older adults
The HSE notes that older adults should be as active as they can be daily and that all older adults are at increased risk of falls. The following is recommended:
• at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity every week such as walking, dancing or even pushing a lawnmower
• muscle-strengthening exercises two or more days a week — for example, digging, step aerobics, hand-held weight exercises and yoga
• even daily chores such as cooking or housework to break up periods of sitting
The HSE has drawn up a list of exercise routines to help older people with balance, flexibility, strength and that also includes sitting exercises, and recommends to try including any of them in your daily routine to improve your stability.
The exercise routines can be viewed at https://www2.hse.ie/living-well/exercise/indoor-exercises-older-people/overview/
