National Institute on Aging updates their guidebook to exercise and physical activity

National Institute on Aging revises their Exercise and Physical Activity Guidebook

As you’ve heard in the media many times, getting plenty of regular exercise is extremely beneficial to your overall health.  This is especially true for older adults in order to remain active and live independently for as long as possible.A few years ago, the National Institute on Aging published a guide on exercise and physical activity and with all the recent research on the subject, the guide was recently updated.  Not only is each chapter available online, it is also available as a downloadable PDF file and you can also order hard copies for distribution.

This guide can help you take charge of an important part of your health. You may want to read through the entire book first to learn about the benefits of exercise and physical activity, and to find out how to get started, reduce your risks, and reward your progress. Then, keep it handy so you can refer to the sample exercises and use some of the charts at the back of the book to record your activities.

And, from time to time, you may need to check the tips for getting back on track if there’s a break in your routine or the tips for healthy eating. Throughout the guide, you’ll find personal stories that we hope will inspire you to be more active every day.

Here’s a quick recap of what the guidebook covers specifically about the benefits of exercise and physical activity as well as instructions and tips for older adults:

Chapter 1: Get Ready.  Chapter 1 talks about the “why” of exercise and physical activity. It tells you the benefits of being active and describes the different types of exercise in which you can participate.

Chapter 2: Get Set This chapter guides you on getting organized in order to review your current activity levels, set short- and long-term goals, and create a realistic plan for becoming more and more active over time.

Chapter 3: Go!  Chapter 3 is all about the “how.” This guide offers tips to help you get started and take action right away. It also has ideas to help you stick with your decision to be active every day and to get you back on track if you have to stop exercising for some reason.

Chapter 4: Sample Exercises This chapter of the Guide to Exercise and Physical Activity gives you some specific activities and exercises, including exercises to increase your strength, improve balance, become more flexible, and increase endurance. All of the exercises have easy directions to help you do them safely.

Chapter 5: How Am I Doing? Chapter 5 offers you some easy ways to test your activity progress and reward your success in maintaining a regular exercise program.

Chapter 6: Healthy Eating This chapter briefly discusses another key to good health — nutritious eating habits.  (And if you want more information about good nutrition for seniors, you can check out our blog post entitled, “

Chapter 7: Keep Going Chapter 7 includes worksheets to keep track of your exercise progress and answers to frequently asked questions about exercise and physical activity for older adults. You’ll also find a list of resources for more information on staying healthy and active for seniors. Some of the resources are especially for people with specific health problems or disabilities who want to be active. In addition, there’s a form you can fill out and send to the National Institue on Aging after you’ve been active for at least a month. They’ll send you a certificate from the to recognize your commitment to improve your health.

In addition to this guidebook, there has also been recent studies that have appeared in the Jan. 25 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine that give even more proof that exercise leads to healthier aging and good for the mind and body.  You can find a short recap of these studies on HealthyDay.com – News for Healthier Living.

 And, remember, often elderly loves ones need someone to regularly help them get out of the house to take a walk even just around the yard or down to the corner and back.  This is just one of the many services that Home Instead Senior Care provides to our Clients who live in Richmond and Northern Neck areas. 

So don’t hestitate to give us a call no matter if your senior mother and/or father live in their own home, an independent or assisted living facility or even your home.  It’s important that seniors continue to get regular exercise as they age.  Simply call us at 804.527.1100 for your free, no-obligation home care assessment.