Retirement communities can be boring. After all, what do you do all day when you’re not working? Most older adults are used to having an active social life and an engaging job, so they might feel like they’ve lost some of their identity when they retire. But there is one thing that can help—exercising!
There are many ways retirement communities in Mississippi can make exercising fun, including offering classes designed specifically for older adults and incorporating games into regular exercise routines. This guide gives you tips on making exercise fun again!
Have a Competition
Organize a competition among the residents. Make it fun and friendly but competitive. Whatever you do, ensure everyone has a chance to win something. The goal of this event is to make exercise more enjoyable for everyone involved, so don’t just give out trophies or certificates—give away prizes too!
You could have a raffle weekly where one lucky resident wins an item like a gift card to their favorite restaurant or store. Or if money isn’t what motivates them (and why would it?), you could offer some different prizes like an iPad or new golf clubs. Regardless of the prize, having something at stake will encourage residents to exercise more often and improve their overall health and wellness.
Once you choose your winners, make sure that their names are added to a leaderboard. That way, everyone can see how well they’re doing compared to others in their category.
Partner Up
You can make exercising fun by taking advantage of the fact that you’re with other people. This can be as simple as joining a community league or team or organizing games and activities that encourage exercise.
Some retirement communities have even started offering yoga classes for residents to attend together. Avoid getting too competitive with your peers when exercising. Being social is still essential to staying healthy, so remember it!
Focus on Flexibility
Retirement communities can encourage a more flexible approach to exercise by providing equipment like stationary bikes and treadmills located in common areas rather than private rooms and encouraging residents to use them at their convenience.
This allows residents to choose when to exercise and how long they want to spend doing it. And if you’re not feeling quite up for a full workout, you can take 10 minutes on the bike with some light stretching before heading back into your day!
Sync with the Seasons
In the summer, you can have an outdoor obstacle course. If you have a pool, you could take advantage of it for physical activity like kayaking or canoeing. You could even host fun programs encouraging swimming with friends and family, such as a water aerobics class or synchronized swimming practice. In winter, use treadmills indoors. Give them a little extra pizzazz by putting up holiday decorations around them to make exercising more enjoyable!
Key Takeaways
The key to creating an exercise program for your retirement community is to make it fun and flexible. You want to offer a variety of activities that people can do on their own, with friends or family members, and in groups. This will help them stay motivated throughout the year!
