THE IMPORTANCE OF SENIOR ACTIVITIES

KIMBERLY ATCHISON

Park and recreation agencies need to keep seniors active and

social as they age in order for them to be healthy, happy and
feel valued.
- Mary Stalling and Teresa Grodsky
BENEFITS OF SENIOR RECREATION

 If don’t use it, you lose it

 Memory Care
 Cognitive benefits
 Social benefits
 Other health benefits

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

 Benefits of Senior Centers
 IF YOU
DON’T USE IT,
YOU LOSE IT

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

MEMORY CARE

 Exercising in later stages of dementia are ideal due to benefits of physical

independence
 Recreation and memory care allows the opportunity to valuable
socialization and can help maintain a person’s independence while also
improving self-esteem, mood and well-being (Exercise and physical
activity, n.d.)
 Older adults with dementia or other cognitive impairments experience
more positive effect during interactions with children than they did
during non-intergenerational activities (Bosak, n.d.)
 Cognitive –
COGNITIVE [kog-ni-tiv]
BENEFITS 1. of or relating to cognition; concerned with
the act or process of knowing, perceiving, etc.
cognitive development; cognitive functioning.
 “Although our cognitive ability 2. of or relating to the mental processes of
will inevitably decline with age, perception, memory, judgment, and reasoning,
we do have control over the as contrasted with emotional and volitional
rate of our decline,” says processes. (Cognitive, n.d.)
Jennifer Heisz of the Physical
Activity Centre of Excellence
at McMaster University in
Canada. “Specifically, through a
program of regular physical
exercise, older adults are able
to maintain optimal cognitive
health for longer.” (Munoz,
2014)

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

COGNITIVE
BENEFITS CONT’D
 High cholesterol was
associated with temporal lobe
cortical thickening and
impaired temporal lobe
function.
Temporal Lobe Controls
 Understanding language
 Behavior
 Memory
 Hearing

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

SOCIAL BENEFITS
 Providing opportunities for
social interaction and reducing
the feeling of isolation
 Improving confidence
 Increasing self-esteem
 Improving mood.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

 “...LOCAL PARK AND RECREATION USERS REPORT FEWER VISITS TO A PHYSICIAN FOR
PURPOSES OTHER THAN CHECKUPS THAN DID NON PARK USERS...” (HO ET AL., 2003)

The physically fit person is

less prone to illness. A Active individuals had
If all adults achieved very
Centers for Disease fewer hospital stays, fewer
modest levels of physical
Control & Prevention physician visits and used
activity, the estimated
study found that physically less medication. The
nation-wide savings would
active individuals have savings were consistent
be $76.6 billion annually
lower annual direct for men, women and even
(ARC, 2000).
medical costs than smokers.
inactive people.
INCREASES LIFE EXPECTANCY

On average, every hour People in a regular exercise

Every time sedentary program at age 75 have a lower
people walk a mile, they you spend exercising
increases your life death rate over the next few years
add 21 minutes to their than do similar groups of sedentary
life, saving society 34 cents expectancy by two hours.
people (ARC, 2000).
in medical and related
costs.
BENEFITS OF SENIOR CENTERS AND
SENIOR PROGRAMS

Seniors learn to…

 Learn to manage and delay the onset of chronic disease
 Experience measurable improvements in their physical, social,
spiritual, emotional, mental and economic well-being
 Manage their health and fitness
 Participate in social and recreation activities
 Participate in the arts and intergenerational programs

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-ND

THE COMMUNITY
BENEFITS FROM SENIOR
RECREATION CENTER
ACTIVITIES!
 Strengthens Community by
bringing together diverse
groups and networks.
 Maximizes Human
Resources because of our
youth and seniors
volunteering.
 Encourages Cultural Change
which helps to build a sense
of personal and societal
identity while encouraging
tolerance.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

 THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS
FROM SENIOR RECREATION
CENTER ACTIVITIES:YOUTH
BENEFITS
 Children had more improved
reading scores compared to their
peers at other schools.
 Interacting with older adults
enables youth to develop social
networks, communication skills,
problem-solving abilities, positive
attitudes towards aging, a sense of
purpose and community service.
 Children and youth gain positive
role models with whom they can
interact on a regular basis. Older adults who regularly volunteer with
children burn 20% more calories per week,
 They develop many positive experienced fewer falls, were less reliant
relationships to civic attitudes and on canes, and performed better on a
behaviors including volunteering
memory test than their peers.
habits, sense of efficacy and trust.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-ND

SENIOR CENTER POPULATIONS
 Approximately 70% of senior center participants are women; half
of them live alone.
 The majority are Caucasian, followed by African Americans,
Hispanics, and Asians respectively.
 Compared with their peers, senior center participants have
higher levels of health, social interaction, and life satisfaction and
lower levels of income.
 The average age of participants is 75.
 75% of participants visit their center 1 to 3 times per week. They
spend an average of 3.3 hours per visit.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

OTHER MULTIPLE HEALTH BENEFITS FOR SENIORS PROGRAMS
 Improving the health of the heart and blood vessels,
which can reduce the risk of high blood pressure
and heart disease
 Reducing the risk of some types of cancer
(particularly breast and colon cancer), stroke and
type 2 diabetes
 Improving physical fitness - maintaining strong
muscles and flexible joints can help people maintain
independence for longer
 Improving the ability to dress, clean, cook and
perform other daily activities (as these may be
performed more effectively if someone is fitter or
more supple)
 helping to keep bones strong and reducing the risk
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
of osteoporosis (a disease that affects the bones,
making them weak and more likely to break)
REFERENCES
• Aday, R. H. (2003, May). The Evolving Role of Senior Centers in the 21st Century. Retrieved from www.aging.senate.gov:
https://www.aging.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/hr101ra.pdf
• Atchison, K. (2017). Spring 2017 Golden Years. Retrieved from ECKAAA:
https://nebula.wsimg.com/744cd49d9157c4430695a90ab157f3bf?AccessKeyId=D8E22912C781CC9A22E8&disposition=0&alloworigin=1
• Bosak. S.V., (n.d.). Benfits of Intergenerational Connections. Retrieved from Legacy Project:
http://www.legacyproject.org/guides/intergenbenefits.html
• Cognitive. (n.d.). Retrieved from Dictionary.com: http://www.dictionary.com/browse/cognitive
• Exercise and physical activity. (n.d.). Retrieved from Alzheimer's Society: United Against Dementia:
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/info/20029/daily_living/15/exercise_and_physical_activity/5
• Grodsky, M. S. (2016, December 30). Senior Games: Everybody Can Play. Retrieved from NRPA: http://www.nrpa.org/parks-recreation-
magazine/2017/january/senior-games-everybody-can-play/
• Munoz, L. M. (2014, October 14). Exercise Adapts the Aging Brain for Cognitive Health. Retrieved from Cognitive Neuroscience Society:
https://www.cogneurosociety.org/exercise_aging_heisz/
• NCOA. (n.d.). Senior Center Facts. Retrieved from National Council on Aging: https://www.ncoa.org/news/resources-for-reporters/get-the-
facts/senior-center-facts/
• Schmidler, C. (2017, August 22). Brain Injury: How the Brain Functions. Retrieved from HealthPages: https://www.healthpages.org/health-a-
z/brain-injury-brain-functions/
• Senior Mobility: If You Don't Use It,You Lose It. (2016, September 1). Retrieved from At Home Healthcare:
http://www.athomehealth.org/blog/2016/september/senior-mobility-if-you-dont-use-it-you-lose-it/
• State of California Resources Agency. (2005, March ). The Health and Social Benefits of Recreation . Retrieved from Parks.ca.gov:
https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/795/files/health_benefits_081505.pdf