Page 152 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2019

Blissful pursuits are what make people feel truly alive, engaged and connected to society. The key to being a healthy senior is remaining active. According to the AARP website, physical activity gives someone the opportunity to partake in exercise, improve hand-eye coordination and feel a sense of control over the physical world. Examples of these pastimes abound and include golf, tennis, pickle ball, pool, croquet, dancing, walking and swimming.
Joey Conwill, healthy living director for Mississippi Gulf Coast YMCA says, “Water classes are excellent for seniors because it’s completely non- load-bearing. Also, yoga is important for the spirit, mind and body and is really wonderful for mediating and relaxation.”
The AARP website conveys, seniors who are consistently immersed in social activities such as a book club, working a part-time job and becoming active on senior social networking sites benefit from the ability to maintain healthy relationships. A good conversation probably elevates one’s disposition and outlook more than anything else.
Conwill says, “It’s important that seniors do not become shut-in.
That can be deteriorating to their mental health.”
The AARP website
prints, traditional
games and puzzles are perennial favorites,
so they are an excellent way to incorporate
grandchildren in activities with the grandparents in their lives. The lighthearted challenges of friendly competition prove helpful to all
players. Puzzles can help improve one’s mind and give a person
a sense of development and accomplishment. People
of all ages enjoy Scrabble,
Pictionary, Checkers and Monopoly as well as
crossword, jigsaw and word search puzzles. Additionally,
Go Fish, Poker and Bridge are card games that arouse the brain.
Conwill says, “With degenerative diseases, attending exercise classes and following an instructor while repeating the routine is great because it makes seniors sharper.”
Cuddling animals can be mutually beneficial, and many animal shelters welcome seniors who want to give dogs or cats any special attention, the AARP website continues.
The outdoors does wonders for a person’s mood and includes activities such as gardening, bird-watching, picnicking and fishing.
Finger painting, mosaics, woodcraft, crocheting, embroidery and card making allow energy and creativity to be channeled into making something new.
When learning is something an individual chooses to do for its own sake, seniors experience a lot of playful optimism. Playing a musical instrument, speaking a foreign language, designing websites, cooking exotic meals, deciphering hieroglyphs and performing magic tricks immeasurably aid older people.
Something that is outside of the ordinary is often a prescription for amusement and incorporates theme parks, county fairs, comedy clubs, science museums, concerts, sporting events, plays, art shows and wineries.
Conwill says, “We’re always looking for new, innovative ways to keep
our seniors engaged. I can see more special population type exercise being integrated in the future.”
staying engaged
CHILDLIKE AT
Heart
story by Lisa Toye Kaufman photos courtesy of Mississippi Gulf Coast YMCA
152 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • December 2019
FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net