Fitness Is Important, No Matter Your Age

As people get older, it’s important that they maintain their physical health and improve their quality of life. Doing so can help prevent various age-related conditions, such as heart disease and cancer. Even after retirement, it’s still important to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

According to almost all qualified health experts, regular exercise can help people maintain their health and improve their quality of life. It can also help them recover from injury and keep them flexible as they get older. One of the most important ways to improve your health is by regularly exercising in a way that is reasonable and comfortable for you personally.

There are a number of great ways to maintain your fitness as you age. According to senior exercise experts, weight training after 60 can be a great way to avoid the mobility difficulties and muscle loss that often accompany aging. In addition, it can help to keep your bones strong and your mind sharp.

If you are new to strength training or have little experience with it in your older years, the smartest thing to do is start small. There is no reason to stress about fancy equipment or a home gym. Instead, try focusing on the basics, like using your own body weight to perform simple-yet-effective exercises.

If weight training isn’t your thing, even something as simple as taking regular walks can dramatically improve your health and well-being, and may even help you extend your ability to live independently.

If you are an older individual who is still blessed with a good range of mobility, there are a few great ways to make the absolute most out of your walking exercises. For seniors, walking can be a great way to strengthen muscles, keep your weight steady, and lower your risk of common conditions like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Still not convinced? What about something less direct, like gardening for example? Essentially, gardening gives you a way to say that you’re exercising without actually saying that you’re “exercising”. This is why medical professionals see the health benefits of gardening as being numerous and plenty. A long day of gardening can provide you with the equivalent of several hours of moderate to vigorous resistance and cardio exercise in a gym.

In other words, you’re performing a lot of the same actions you’d be performing if you were working with equipment in a gym. Gardening for seniors is a great way to help you get a full body workout. Not only will gardening help keep your heart strong, but it will also help you build and maintain strength in your hands, arms, legs, and back.

However you decide to stay active, there’s no doubt that doing so is incredibly vital to maintaining physical and emotional health and wellness, especially as you age. Although a strict fitness regimen may seem daunting to take on in your golden years, it actually isn’t as difficult as it seems. 

Luckily, there are a number of great programs which are specifically designed to help older individuals maintain a regular exercise routine that is well within their physical and mental means. One such program is known as SilverSneakers.

What Is SilverSneakers, Anyway?

If you’re an American over the age of 65, you probably have a Medicare or Medicare Advantage plan. However, what you may not realize is that certain Medicare Advantage plans can often include a free program that is uniquely designed to tailor an efficient and manageable exercise program specifically for a given beneficiary’s health and lifestyle. This program is known as SilverSneakers. 

SilverSneakers was created to help people maintain their physical health and improve their social connection as they get older. The program features various activities and classes that are designed to promote active lifestyles. SilverSnreakers features various activities and classes available across more than 15,000 unique locations. Want to know something even better? SilverSneakers is available both online and in-person.

Although SilverSneakers is automatically included at no charge for those belonging to certain Medicare Advantage plans, it’s important to remember that not every Medicare Advantage plan includes this benefit.

How Does One Become Eligible For The SilverSneakers Program?

Discovering your eligibility level for the SilverSneakers program is actually quite simple. To do so, all you’ll need is your name, birthday, location, and contact information. After gathering this info, the authorized SilverSneakers eligibility plug-in can determine if your specific Medicare Advantage plan includes access to the program.

To utilize the program, eligible Medicare beneficiaries will need a membership card to show at participating fitness communities and exercise centers. To get this card (and to determine if you are eligible for the program) visit the official SilverSneakers website online. If you are indeed eligible, you may then complete the SilverSneakers membership form, as well as access and print your membership ID card, which you will need to bring with you to participating fitness locations.

Those who are eligible can also utilize SilverSneakers LIVE, a collection of on-demand instructional workout videos sourced from thousands of qualified fitness communities.

What’s Included In A SilverSneakers Membership?

As stated, a SilverSneakers membership includes a variety of classes that are designed to meet your specific exercise needs, whether it be via online or in-person sessions. Typically, your SilverSneakers membership will provide you with exclusive access to anything your participating fitness center offers, including:

  • Cardio equipment
  • Pool
  • Hot tubs
  • Online fitness and nutrition resources
  • Sauna
  • Tennis courts
  • Walking tracks
  • And so much more

Not only is a SilverSneakers membership a great way to get in shape (and remain that way), but it also provides a unique platform to form social ties with other like-minded members of your community. Not to mention, the SilverSneakers program regularly provides you with exclusive discounts on health and wellness products and services.

What If My Medicare Plan Doesn’t Include SilverSneakers Membership?

Unfortunately, not every Medicare or Medicare Advantage plan currently includes access to the SilverSneakers program, but not to worry! Our friends at MedicareInsurance.com may be able to help.

MedicareInsurance.com employs a myriad of licensed insurance agents that are available regularly to help you research and explore Medicare and Medicare Advantage options in your area that may be better suited for your needs and lifestyle. 

To take a deeper dive into all your available Medicare and Medicare Advantage options, don’t hesitate to give the licensed insurance agents at MedicareInsurance.com a call today at (800) 950-0608.