Playgrounds encourage older adults to exercise and live more actively. The combination of nature and movement has several health benefits, from reducing their risk for chronic diseases to staving off loneliness. Learn how playgrounds for older adults are vital to aging well and increasing your happiness.
Health Merits of Exercise on Older Adults
Doctors prescribe movement as a natural remedy for staying fit as you age. Here are five reasons to get physically active in your 60s and beyond.
Lowers the Risk of Heart Diseases
Several studies have proved moving can reduce one’s risk for age-related health conditions. For instance, exercise can curb coronary heart disease — a condition in which plaque develops inside the coronary arteries, narrowing the pathways and restricting blood circulation to the heart. This can potentially lead to a heart attack.
A brisk morning walk or run can minimize the factors contributing to this condition, such as high blood pressure, cholesterol levels and obesity. When you move more, your vitals will likely stay within healthy limits.
Prevents Dementia
Combining exercise and nature can keep your brain mentally sharp in your 60s. Moving can enhance your cognitive ability and prevent or lower your risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other brain disorders.
An active lifestyle can help delay one-third of dementia cases worldwide by controlling various disease biomarkers, such as the buildup of beta-amyloid in the brain, inflammation, cerebral blood flow and the synthesis and release of neurotrophins. Older adults who engage in physical activities are more likely to maintain their cognition and counter memory loss problems.
Promotes Independence
By age 75, almost one in three men and two in three women will live a sedentary lifestyle. Inactivity is a risk factor for disability, chronic conditions and several poor health outcomes.
Those who don’t move are more likely to lose their mobility as they age and eventually rely on others for support to complete everyday tasks.
In one study, active older adults have higher subjective well-being — a marker of overall happiness — than inactive individuals. Additionally, they travel, use public transportation more frequently and engage in out-of-home activities. You can increase self-sufficiency and autonomy by doing heart-pumping activities.
Helps Fight Depression
Older adults excessively worry about their declining functional ability and other consequences of aging, which often result in depression and poor health outcomes.
Experts found exercise to be a promising non-pharmaceutical intervention to counter the effects of mental health problems. In a study, aerobics, resistance and mind-body exercises helped reduce depressive symptoms in older adults. Doctors can prescribe them as a complementary therapy to sidestep psychological concerns.
Reduces Loneliness and Social Isolation
Social health is as essential to overall well-being as physical health. A study found that those with an active social life tend to be happier.
Researchers wanted to determine the impact of exercise in three dimensions — loneliness and social isolation, protective factors that include resilience, purpose in life and perception of aging, and health care expenditures.
The results found that those with moderate and high physical activity were 15%–30% less likely to feel lonely and isolated. The same level of exercise improved feelings of resilience, purpose in life and positive perception of aging by 27% to 150%. Active older adults also minimized the number of times they had to seek medical care, reducing their health care bills. The study proves an active lifestyle is an important component of healthy aging.
Benefits of Playgrounds for Older Adults
Here are the top five ways playgrounds for older adults help you stay healthy and age gracefully.
1. Promote a Connection With Nature
Many playgrounds are strategically located in green parks or spaces, offering older adults opportunities to walk, run or hike while surrounded by trees, animals and other natural elements. Just 120 minutes weekly in these environments can soothe stress and anxiety, boost mood, increase happiness and enhance overall well-being.
2. Encourage Social Interactions
Playgrounds are also a hub for those who want to meet friends, build connections and participate in group activities. Visiting playgrounds can increase your social engagement, preventing feelings of isolation and loneliness. Many feature relaxation spots like tree-shaded picnic tables with benches where everyone can engage in meaningful conversations. Depending on the location, some have tennis or shuffleboard courts for those who’d rather play games, promoting a sense of belonging.
3. Boost Cognitive Health
Playgrounds offer brain-stimulating activities requiring coordination, memory and problem-solving. For example, dribbling a ball requires both hands, eyes and cognition to work together. It’s an excellent routine for older adults who want to train multiple body parts to accomplish tasks easily.
Like your muscles, the brain needs training to prevent or delay the onset of cognitive decline and maintain optimal fitness. These outdoor play areas are the best place to hone mental abilities, from socialization opportunities to mind-stimulating exercises and games.
3. Support Sustainability
Recreational areas contribute to protecting the environment. How? A playground within walking distance of your home saves you gas money and reduces your carbon footprint. Moreover, outdoor equipment eliminates the need for electricity-powered indoor tools, like treadmills. There is no need to turn on the lights or air conditioning, making nature-based exercise energy-efficient. Exercising outdoors fosters environmental stewardship, allowing you to support the planet.
5. Can Adapt Routines Based on Ability Levels
Your routines should match your current mobility and strength level to avoid injuries or accidents. Older adult playgrounds have equipment and structures — like stationary bicycles, sit-up machines and assisted step trainers — to fit the exercise needs of every older adult, including those using a wheelchair or rollator. You can choose the activities you want to engage in, from walking, stretching, strength training and balancing. Customize the intensity of your physical activities and make them fun by only doing exercises you love.
Playgrounds for Older Adults Contribute To Aging Well
Aging accompanies many health challenges, from deteriorating physical well-being and cognition to reduced social activities that lead to isolation. Playgrounds can help counter these changes by giving older people a safe, green space to socialize, engage in fun workouts and improve their general well-being. These recreational areas aren’t just places to have fun — they empower older adults to live more independently and increase their happiness.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
