Active Aging

SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2018 ACTIVE AGING WEEK 11 Where: Winnipeg Richardson International Airport When: Saturday, October 20, 2018 Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM Details: Visit www.waa.ca/ywgstartshere SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2018 Join us for Winnipeg Richardson International Airport's Open House and Travel Expo! Sign up for an Exclusive Airport Tour, connect with travel agents and tour operators to jumpstart Your Winter Getaway, and mingle with QX104 who'll be live on location for the day! FREE PARKING! TRIP GIVEAWAYS! AIRPORT TOURS! SAVE THE DATE It's an aspect of life we all have to deal with: getting older. While everyone deals with the inevitability of aging — there were 198,965 Manitobans aged 65-plus in 2016 — people generally deal with it in two ways, says Michelle Porter, director of the University of Manitoba's Centre on Aging. "They either perceive aging to be all about decline and bad health, or that because they have lots of money, they believe they're going to be healthy in their later years," she says. "Most people fall into the first category." Porter says that resignation to becoming decrepit as years go by is misplaced. "The reality is that there are a lot of things you can do with activity to maintain function as you age. There are all kinds of activities you can take part in to maintain muscle health and strength, and to combat diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure." And while public awareness of how daily activity can slow down the aging process is higher than ever — older Manitobans between the ages of 55 and 75-plus are particularly aware of its merits — there's still a disconnect, says Porter. "Unfortunately, there are still a lot of people who aren't very active. They need to find a way to get more active, whether it's going for a walk, gardening, doing yard work. The reality is that you can walk year round, so there's no excuse not to be active." That said, there are barriers older Manitobans must surmount to establish and maintain an active lifestyle. "While it's true that people can walk year- round, the bigger question is, do we have the physical infrastructure to promote that activity?" she says. "The reality is that not everyone has the income that allows them to get a membership at a fitness facility. Another factor that can prevent older persons from being active is transportation — they might not have the means to get to a mall or fitness facility to go for a walk in the winter." Older Manitobans face other more subtle barriers to maintaining an active lifestyle, adds Porter. "Factors like types of programs, instructor knowledge and confidence in instruction can also prevent older persons from being as active as they should be. Poorly designed programs that aren't designed for older persons can discourage them from participating, while instructor knowledge and lack of confidence in instructors can also be barriers," she says. Still, there's really no excuse for not being active, whether you're 45, 55, 75 — or older. "We recommend 150 minutes of activity per week," says Porter. "And activity can be done in all kinds of different ways and time configurations. You don't necessarily have to exercise for half an hour or 45 minutes — even 10-minute bouts of exercise done throughout the course of the day are enough to maintain a good level of physical function." In other words, moderate daily activity is the key to maintaining muscle strength, bone density and co-ordination as we age. "You don't need to be a superstar athlete wearing the right clothes and doing high- intensity activities to stay fit and healthy as you get older. The key is to stick to it, and keep doing those healthy activities over and over." Stay committed, and the results can be surprising, she adds. "An active lifestyle leads to an overall better sense of feeling well both physically and mentally. Maintaining a good level of activity — putting in those 150 minutes per week — is huge. Put in the time, and decline isn't going to affect you nearly as much. You'll feel better, and enjoy a better overall quality of life." As the old Nike ad once implored, "Just Do It." "No matter what age you are, there's some activity you can do that will help you maintain physical and mental function as you age. Go for a walk, garden, do some yard work or go to a fitness class — whatever gets you moving on a regular basis," says Porter. "It will help you live a longer, healthier and more enjoyable life." To find out more facts on aging visit the Centre on Aging website at: umanitoba.ca/centres/aging. Moderate, regular activity is key to healthy aging BY TODD LEWYS FOR THE FREE PRESS Michelle Porter is director of the University of Manitoba's Centre on Aging. SUPPLIED PHOTO

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