​Navigating out of the pandemic and taking charge of your health is a hot topic right now. Every day there seems to be a new study demonstrating how regular exercise is especially important for older adults – and more and more older adults are opting for an active lifestyle instead of a sedentary one. However, as we age, our needs as well as our benefits and limitations have to be considered.
 
And as your requirements change, so too does your personal game plan.
 
Our biology changes as we get older, causing seniors to have different reasons for staying in shape than younger generations, according to the National Council on Aging. Physicians and researchers say seniors should remain as active as possible without overdoing it. Exercise helps older adults live a longer, healthier and more joyous life.
 
If you have a chronic health condition, regular exercise can help you manage symptoms and improve your health. BA Seniors can help you create the pathway to help you re-engage after a year of pandemic living with reduced activity.
 
Aerobic exercise can aid you in improving your heart health and endurance and in weight loss. BAS has many classes from which to choose, including line dancing, as well as access to the equipment in our fitness center.
 
Strength training can improve muscle strength and endurance, make it easier to do daily activities, slow disease related declines in muscle strength and provide stability to joints. Flexibility exercises may help you with optimal range of motion in your joints so they can function best, and stability exercises may help reduce the risk of falls.
 
The new Strength & Tone class fills all of these needs. If you have lower back pain, you might choose low-impact aerobic activities, such as walking and swimming.
 
These types of activities won’t strain or jolt your back. Our Limited Exercise class, as well as yoga and tai chi classes, are great for lower back issues. The elliptical and recumbent bike in the fitness center can also address lower back issues. If you have arthritis, the exercises that are best for you will depend on the type of arthritis and which joints are involved. Work with your doctor or a physical therapist to create an exercise plan that will give you the most benefit with the least aggravation to your joints. Tai chi, Limited Exercise and yoga are beneficial in reducing joint inflammation.
 
Exercise improves balance for older adults. Falling down is a much bigger deal for older adults than for younger ones. Every 11 seconds, an older adult is admitted to an emergency room for a fall-related injury, and, every 19 minutes, a senior dies from a fall, according to the National Council on Aging. No two falls are alike, and preventing falls is complex.
 
Regular exercise reduces the likelihood of falling by 23%. Our Tai Chi for Better Balance class addresses these issues. Are you looking for one exercise that improves muscle strength, mobility, balance and flexibility, all of which are crucial to the health of seniors? Consider chair yoga, an exercise that provides less stress on muscles, joints and bones than more conventional forms of yoga. Chair yoga has been shown to improve mental health in older adults. Regular participants have better quality sleep, lower instances of depression and report a general sense of well-being.
 
One of the most remarkable developments in health science is the revelation that the mind and the body are closely linked. Seniors who exercise on a regular basis have improved cognitive health.
 
A study from the Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention Foundation notes that regular exercise has been shown to reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia by nearly 50%.
 
Starting a regular exercise routine can be tough. We are here to help you create your pathway to success. To assist you in sticking with your routine, consider exercising with a friend. You might also ask your doctor to recommend an exercise program from our monthly activity listing.
 
To stay motivated, choose activities that are fun, set realistic goals and celebrate your progress.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief to many families. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is hoping to help ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the virus.

Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020.
 
Families that lost loved ones to COVID-19 can now get help with funeral expenses. The agency recently launched a hotline to apply for up to $9,000 in assistance per burial. The number to call is 844-684-6333.
 
Some $2 billion was allocated as part of the $900 billion relief deal Congress approved in December, while the Democrats’ $1.9 trillion package supported it by providing the agency with an additional $50 billion to use for coronavirus-related costs.
 
To be eligible for funeral assistance, you must meet these conditions: The death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories and the District of Columbia; the death certificate must indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19; the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, noncitizen national or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after Jan. 20, 2020.
 
Call the dedicated toll-free phone number to get a COVID-19 funeral assistance application completed with help from FEMA’s representatives. Multilingual services are available. No online applications will be accepted.
 
It should take about 20 minutes to apply over the phone. Calls will not be rushed through because FEMA intends to make sure all applicants get their questions answered and receive the help they need to apply.

If you have a chronic disease – such as heart disease, diabetes, asthma or back or joint pain – exercise can have important health benefits. However, it’s important to talk to your doctor before starting an exercise routine. He or she might have advice on what exercises are safe and any precautions you might need to take while exercising.
 
Here are some of the things you need to know about exercise and chronic disease.
 
• Heart disease. Regular exercise can help improve your heart health. Recent studies have shown that interval training is often tolerated well in people with heart disease, and it can produce significant benefits.
 
• For people with high blood pressure, exercise can lower your risk of dying of heart disease and lower the risk of heart disease progressing.
 
• Diabetes. Regular exercise can help insulin more effectively lower your blood sugar level. Physical activity can also help you control your weight and boost your energy. If you have type 2 diabetes, exercise can lower your risk of dying of heart disease.
 
• Asthma. Exercise often can help control the frequency and severity of asthma attacks.
 
• Back pain. Regular low-impact aerobic activities can increase strength and endurance in your back and improve muscle function. Abdominal and back muscle exercises – core-strengthening exercises – may help reduce symptoms by strengthening the muscles around your spine.
 
• Arthritis. Exercise can reduce pain, maintain muscle strength in joints and reduce joint stiffness. It can also improve physical function and quality of life for people who have arthritis.
 
• Cancer. Exercise can improve the quality of life for people who’ve had cancer, and it can also improve their fitness. Exercise can also lower the risk of dying from breast, colorectal and prostate cancer.
 
• Dementia. Exercise can improve cognition in people with dementia, and people who are active on a regular basis are at less risk of dementia and cognitive impairment.
 
Source: Courtesy of the Mayo Clinic.