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Making It Work
Ms. Wendahl is 85 years old and lives in the small town of Bothell, Washington. On the phone, she sounds much younger. She is a widow and lives on her Social Security income, and, like many older adults, she won’t let her kids spoil her as much as they would like to. She would rather do things on her own. That’s why, when she was scouting around for a fitness club where she could use strength-building equipment, she bargained the owner down to a monthly fee that she felt she could afford — $25 a month for unlimited use. “Look, I know that not everybody is as bold as I am about that kind of thing,” Ms. Wendahl told us. Nonetheless, she has some advice for older adults who are thinking about going to a fitness center: “They don’t need to feel self-conscious about going to the club. The owner of my club holds me up as an example now.” Ms. Wendahl said that she has always been active, but never as much as she is now. She began doing aerobic exercises in her 70s, moved on to water aerobics, and most recently to strength-building and stretching 3 times a week. She lives on her own and drives herself wherever she needs to go. After 6 months of endurance and strength exercises, measurements showed that Ms. Wendahl was able to perform household tasks — carrying groceries, making her bed, and transferring laundry — more quickly. She could also carry more weight. “It has just done me a world of good,” she said of her physically active lifestyle. “My family is so thrilled and proud of me,” she added. She wants older adults who read this book to know that, when it comes to exercise and physical activity, “there’s always something within someone’s capabilities. There’s no reason older people need to be sitting in a rocking chair.” |
There are lots of ways to increase your physical activity. Exercising at home is just one of them, and we feature it here because it’s within the reach of most older people. Or, you might decide to follow Phyllis Wendahl’s example, instead, and do something different.Many different physical activities can improve your health and independence. Whether you choose to do the exercises shown in this chapter or other activities that accomplish the same goals, gradually work your way up to include endurance, strength, balance, and stretching exercises.
Here are some points to keep in mind as you begin increasing your activity:
