Bike riding is a fun activity aging adults can do alone, with family and friends, or with a group. It’s also a form of exercise that provides seniors with a variety of health benefits. Here are some of the benefits your elderly loved one may receive when he or she takes up bike riding.
1. Promotes Weight Loss
Lack of physical activity is one of the main reasons seniors gain weight, become obese, or develop diabetes. However, riding a bike can help your loved one burn calories and maintain a healthy weight. Seniors should have a BMI (body mass index) of less than 25. Bike riding may increase your loved one’s metabolism and build his or her muscle mass.
Some seniors may need help to exercise safely. Aging adults who require assistance with the tasks of daily living can benefit from reliable homecare. Families trust Home Care Assistance to provide the high-quality care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. Our caregivers are trained to help seniors prevent serious illnesses and encourage them to make healthier decisions as they age.
2. Boosts Heart Health
Biking is a good form of exercise that can prevent heart attacks, strokes, and other serious medical conditions. Bike riding is the perfect activity for strengthening the heart, and it has a positive effect on the lining of the blood vessels. The activity can also reduce the risk of arterial stiffness in seniors.
3. Preserves Memory
By riding a bike regularly, your loved one can stave off several age-related cognitive conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. This activity allows your loved one to build new brain cells in the hippocampus, the region of the brain responsible for memory. Getting fresh air while riding a bike can also increase problem-solving and creative thinking skills.
Regular physical activity and mental stimulation can reduce the risk of dementia. For dementia care Rhode Island families can count on, reach out to Home Care Assistance. Our compassionate caregivers use revolutionary memory care programs to help seniors stave off the progression of dementia, and they can also assist with a wide variety of important everyday tasks, including bathing, grooming, exercise, and cooking.
4. Prevents Cancer
Bike riding can reduce inflammation, boost immune function, and lower the risk of developing cancer. Obesity is associated with various types of cancer, but biking helps seniors burn calories and stay physically fit. Breast cancer and colon cancer are two of the many types of cancer your loved one may be able to prevent by riding a bike regularly.
5. Enhances Overall Wellbeing
Bike riding can give your loved one a sense of purpose in life. By riding with family or friends, he or she may receive the socialization needed to prevent stress and anxiety, which often lead to depression. This activity also provides your loved one with a reason to be excited about fitness, and he or she may look forward to riding a bike outdoors each day.
Seniors who want to remain healthy as they age can benefit in a variety of ways when they receive professional senior care. Rhode Island Home Care Assistance is here to help your loved one accomplish daily tasks, prevent illness, and focus on living a healthier and more fulfilling life. To learn about our premier in-home care plans and how they can help your loved one, give us a call at (401) 284-0979 today.