WHY HAVE WE FAILED? Activity level is directly related to quality of life for those older. But often we have difficulty motivating these folks to become more active. Why is it so hard? What's the solution?

Everyone sits way too much and many are resistant to changing that. Those younger who are inactive tend to also be overweight. 40% of adult women in the United States are obese. But when you are older a decision to remain inactive has farther reaching consequences. It becomes much more likely that your health will decline, you will be in more pain and you will age faster.  Exercise is the most effective treatment for almost all the problems we encounter as we age. Yet in my observation 90% of those affected choose not to.
In July, 2020 results from the significant fall prevention study STRIDE were published that showed very little improvement in stopping senior falls. The results were unexpected and very disappointing.

The STRIDE study was a large randomized trial managed by specifically trained nursing staff that customized activity recommendations for seniors at a high risk of falling. The study was well funded and extensive with individualized attention. It was widely expected to generate good results with fewer elder falls. Surprisingly the approach did not prevent falls even though the most up to date information and techniques were made available. Why did the program fail? Apparently custom encouragement and support was not enough to overcome the entrenched ideas we all have about aging.

We have failed! Just as the fitness craze that began in the 1980s has failed as is obvious by the alarmingly increasing obesity rate. Fitness and health professionals all know the value of exercise. More articles are written about the benefits than perhaps any other health subject. Why aren't our efforts successful?

Well we haven't completely failed. Even though the number is smaller than we would like, a significant number of those older are active on a consistent basis, either attending exercise and balance classes or participating in aquatics, Tai Chi, walking and all kinds of other ways to move.

But, it is a drop in the bucket.

Why are people so resistant?

  • We believe the myths about aging: For most, aging is a process of going downhill and there's nothing we can do to prevent it: a very potent message that is communicated constantly throughout our society. The message is only true if you do nothing about it.
  • We don't like being told what to do: We can be very stubborn about people telling us what we should do, especially in regard to exercise. The word itself inspires revolt.
  • We let our feelings determine what we do: Our own emotional reaction determines whether we exercise or not, rather than our good sense. Emotion turns out to be a poor indicator of what is wise.
  • We don't like efforting: We all love to take a break, even if doing so makes us tired and sluggish.

How can we change our culture to recognize how overwhelmingly beneficial exercise is in determining our quality of life as we age?

  • Our society should stop treating older people as if they are children. People respond the way they are treated. My background teaching memory care residents showed me that the more you explain, the more people listened and were able to do, even those severely impaired.
  • Stop believing in the myths of aging in your ideas about yourself or about those older. Being older does not mean going down hill.
  • We need to take seriously that consistent exercise is the very best approach to take to improve health and well being as we age. It is often the best prescription for many chronic conditions and it offers huge benefits in the reduction of pain, depression and incidence of falls. It is frequently preferable to medication and has few side effects.
  • Medical professionals should recommend exercise FAR more than they currently do. Exercise should take as large a role in a medical practitioner's treatment plan as pharmaceuticals. Currently exercise is timidly recommended by our doctors if at all. Much more power needs to be placed behind the recommendation. Do your older patients take their pills? Exercise should be prescribed as assertively.
  • Those living in senior residences should be encouraged to participate in classes. Major campaigns to activate those who struggle need to take place.
  • Older people need to be introduced to exercise in a supportive manner. Do the exercises and attend the classes alongside them in the beginning. If you are not available, hire someone else with that specific goal. Help them do the exercises if needed. Remind them between classes of important lessons like standing straight with head back, looking where they are going instead of down at the ground, picking their feet up when they walk.

Anyone older who is afraid of falling would benefit directly not only by becoming more active, but by taking classes dedicated to helping you improve your balance. Building Better Balance offers you exactly that and much more, and in the comfort of your own home. These DVDs are so thorough that even only watching them will be well worth the money spent to purchase them.

Updated October 13, 2020