Senior Health and Fitness Day

Next week on Wednesday, May 31st many people across the country will be celebrating the National Senior Health and Fitness Day. This is the largest event for senior citizens that promotes better health in the country.

For the last 24 years, this day has encouraged nursing homes, senior centers and retirement communities across the nation to participate in encouraging better health for senior citizens. Health screenings, fitness demonstrations, and organized fitness walks will be taking place in multiple locations on Wednesday.

According to a 2013 report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention the United States has reached 6 of their healthy targets. These goals were created in 2010 with a goal to reach them all by 2020. The goals include adults engaging in physical activity, not smoking, cancer screenings, flu vaccines, and more.

Unfortunately, according to Ragain & Cook, P.C. 10 percent of senior citizens over the age of 60 will experience some form of nursing home abuse. This is most often seen in the form of neglect which will lead to many residents of nursing homes to not stay as active and healthy as they could be.

It is an important day for adults of all ages to evaluate their personal health and just so happens to fall on the World No Tobacco Day as well. This day encourages all nations to address how we can make the world tobacco-free.

If you are already consciously living a healthy life you might want to consider volunteering at a nursing home, or checking in on older friends and family to make sure that they have every opportunity to live a healthy life.