Page 14 - August Sept 2019 NEWSLETTER

Why Older Adults Should Twenty Minutes of Mental

Eat More Protein Focus

Older adults need to eat more protein-rich foods The benefits of Tai Chi for seniors are incredible. It is
when losing weight, dealing with a chronic or acute a low-impact, relaxing form of exercise that only
illness, or facing a hospitalisation, according to a requires about 20 minutes a day and rewards your
growing consensus among scientists. efforts. Tai Chi is an internal Chinese martial art in

During these stressful periods, aging bodies process the sense that it focuses on mental and spiritual
protein less efficiently and need more of it to aspects integrated into movement.
maintain muscle mass and strength, bone health This meditative form of exercise consists of a series
and other essential physiological functions. of 19 movements and one pose. You may have seen

Even healthy seniors need more protein than when groups of people demonstrating its slow-moving
they were younger to help preserve muscle mass, circular actions in public parks.
experts suggest. Yet up to one-third of older adults Many seniors have been enjoying this style of
don’t eat an adequate amount due to reduced workout and conditioning. Alpine View residents
appetite, dental issues, impaired taste, swallowing enjoy the benefits of this exercise. “I enjoy Tai Chi. I
problems and limited financial resources. Combined feel a lot more coordinated and focused,” says
with a tendency to become more sedentary, this resident Tom Williams. Join Tai Chi on Mondays
puts them at risk of deteriorating muscles, and Saturdays.

compromised mobility, slower recovery from bouts
of illness and the loss of independence.
Yoga is Good for Your
Impact on functioning: Recent research suggests Mind & Body
that older adults who consume more protein are
less likely to lose ‘functioning’ - the ability to dress Getting older presents many gifts—maturity, grace,
themselves, get out of bed, walk up a flight of stairs wisdom, experience and perspective, to name a
and more. few. Growing older can also carry many challenges.

In a 2018 study that followed more than 2,900 Yoga, especially restorative yoga, can offer a wide
seniors over 23 years, researchers found that those array of health benefits—working physical and
who ate the most protein were 30 percent less psychological wonders. Seniors, who often struggle
likely to become functionally impaired than those with pain, joint stress, imbalance, osteoarthritis and
who ate the least amount. other physical limitations, can benefit from
incorporating a yoga practice into their daily
Ref: https://khn.org. By Judith Graham
routine. Join our Yoga classes on Tuesdays and
JANUARY 17, 2019 Fridays where our residents enjoy gentle stretches

and movement to help with flexibility and strength
building.