Kirby Pines Retirement Community | The Pinecone

The Pinecone | September 2023 • 5 • HEALTHY AGING MONTH Hooray for It’sHealthAgingMonth!Fromthedayweareborn,weareaging. People all around the country celebrate and honor this month by incorporating habits like exercise, eating healthy foods, and getting adequate sleep into their daily routines. It is also an opportunity to encourage others to stay active and take positive steps towards improving both physical and mental health. If you are already participating in a healthy and active lifestyle – CONGRATULATIONS! Take this time to evaluate your activities and see if there is something additional you can do! Pick an activity. Choose TODAY to make a change in your lifestyle. Choose something you enjoy – walking, gardening, or incorporating more water into your diet – and commit to it. Did you know? Physical activity and exercise have TONS of benefits. Some of them include: • Exercise stimulates the growth of new brain cells. • It can help slow down the aging process. • It can help make your skin healthier by clearing dead cells and debris from pores when you sweat during exercise. Health Aging Month is a great time to remind ourselves (and others) to stay healthy. If you are unsure of where to start, consider a Functional Fitness Test. The assessment focuses on determining health and wellness strengths, as well as areas of opportunity. What’s Assessed? Upper Body Strength Examples: Carrying Grandchildren or Groceries Lower Body Strength Example: Climbing the Stairs Flexibility Examples: Reaching the Top Shelf, Fixing Your Hair Endurance Examples: Walking Further, Playing with Grandchildren Balance Example: Fall Prevention Cognition Examples: Problem Solving, Remembering Things Celebrate your health and wellness and encourage others to do the same. If you are unsure of where to start for your own fitness journey, or if you are interested in learning some additional areas of opportunity, reach out to your Functional Pathways Therapy Team! “Age is simply the number of years the world has been enjoying you”! — Unknown