Going for a walk or taking a dip in the pool on a breezy, sunny summer day in Houston is not only pleasant, but it can be good for your health.
We have all heard that being active on a regular basis is one of the healthiest things you can do. This well-known fact is especially true for senior adults, whose physical and mental health can be not only maintained, but improved, by exercise.
Many local retirement communities and their residents take advantage of the warm summer weather by providing or taking up fun outdoor activities that promote good health and great fun.
“[We offer] outdoor activities like pickle ball, tennis, bocce ball, walking trails, poolside gatherings, outdoor movies, concerts in the park, bicycle club (and) golf club,” said Amy Norsworthy, community manager of Del Webb Sweetgrass, a leader in active-adult living for more than 50 years.
“These activities are also offered year round. [We also have] indoor and outdoor pools and spas. The indoor pool is used primarily for lap swimming and water exercise, which is offered five days a week, and includes a therapeutic water class. The outdoor pool is used for fun and relaxation and has a resort-style feel.”
Senior living community Eagle’s Trace, located west of the city, boasts a 71-acre campus that features landscaping and on-site activities. This expansive, manicured outdoor space allows for residents to enjoy the outdoors right in the comfort and safety of the campus, especially when the weather is nice.
“For example, our dining services department hosted an outdoor barbecue in May. Residents at Eagle’s Trace also go fishing in our lake, and you should have seen the size of the bass they proudly caught last week,” said Pamela Burgeson, director of sales, Eagle’s Trace.
The campus of Eagle’s Trace also lends itself to promoting health and wellness.
Shirley Woods, wellness manager, Eagle’s Trace, oversees full-feature fitness and aquatics centers at the community.
“It is amazing how exercise can improve one’s life, and there is no better way to start than simply walking,” she said. “Walking is ideal because the activity strengthens nearly every major body organ, promotes bone density and boosts the immune system. Studies suggest that walking has a positive effect on our moods. Our bodies were designed to move, and the more we do, the better we feel.”
Woods also helped form the resident-led Walking Club of Eagle‘s Trace. Resident Donna Schlitt now leads the group. While they walk at malls and parks in west Houston, it’s the campus of Eagle’s Trace where much of their exercise is done.
“Our group has 30 members, and, as a group, we walk at various locations throughout west Houston like malls and parks,” Schlitt said.
The walking club also participates in charity events throughout Houston, most recently for the Texas Children’s Hospital Fun Walk event.
While the aquatics center is an all-season indoor facility, residents can relax at an outdoor patio following a swimming session or water aerobics class.
For those with green thumbs, Eagle’s Trace supports a resident-led garden club. The community offers 22 “garden-scapes,” where residents plant and then tend to flowers and harvest vegetables.
During the summertime, it’s not unusual for these gardeners to be sharing tomatoes, green peppers, jalapeño peppers, cucumbers and onions with each other. Fresh flowers such as roses also decorate the exterior and interior of the community.
Gardening provides residents with another outlet for exercise, creativity and socialization at senior living communities.
Gardening, as well as other outdoor activities, not only get you moving, but the sunlight can help boost vitamin D levels. According to Harvard Health Publications’ Harvard Health Letter, sunlight hitting the skin begins a process that leads to the creation and activation of vitamin D.
“Studies suggest that this vitamin helps fight certain conditions, from osteoporosis and cancer to depression and heart attacks,” reports Harvard Health Letter.
Other suggestions for great outdoor activities suitable for senior adults include bird watching, bike riding, having a picnic or going fishing.
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