Leaving the House Every Day Helps Seniors Live Longer

SeaBreeze

SeaBreeze

Endlessly Groovin'
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I get out almost every day of the year, regardless of weather. If it's cold and snowing, I put on my winter parka and bundle up, if it's too cold I leave my dog at home and just go with my husband. I'd get cabin fever if I stayed in all the time, on a rare occasion, if it's a real blizzard, I might hunker down and stay indoors, watch TV and eat some comfort food. But even on those days, I'll be out front shoveling or in the yard, making a path for the dog. Full article here.

Simply leaving the house every day helps seniors live longer, suggests a study of people aged 70 to 90 years. Leaving the house was linked to a longer life independent of other factors, including social and medical.

"What is interesting is that the improved survival associated with getting out of the house frequently was also observed among people with low levels of physical activity, and even those with impaired mobility," said lead author Dr. Jeremy Jacobs, of the Hadassah Hebrew-University Medical Center, in Jerusalem.

"Resilient individuals remain engaged, irrespective of their physical limitations," he said.
The study was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Numerous studies have found that small lifestyle changes, such as exercise, can help seniors live longer, healthier lives.
Devoting just 15 minutes to exercise every day — at the level of intensity of a brisk walk — lowered the risk of dying by 22 percent in older adults, according to a study at the University Hospital of Saint-Etienne. Those who exercised more lowered their risk by 35 percent when compared to those who didn't exercise at all.
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For sure! Doing "something" every day is a must if a person is going to remain fit and healthy. Sitting in front of the TV, for hours, with a beer in one hand, and a snack in the other, is a sure way to go downhill rapidly. I have attended far too many funerals in recent years for people who retired to the couch.
 
I agree Don, if we don't go anywhere else, we always take the dog to the dog park and go for a 2+ mile walk, very enjoyable, good for mind and body. I usually go out after that to run some errands, I laugh at times because I tell my husband just walking around Costco looking for things up and down the aisles because they're always moving stuff around is a workout in itself. :p I really think that sitting home all day can easily lead to depression, and that's not healthy either.
 

I can't agree more. I almost suffocate if I don't get out every day. I can do ok for a couple, of really "bad-weather" days, then I am ready to bust out!!
 
Denise1952 said:
I can't agree more. I almost suffocate if I don't get out every day. I can do ok for a couple, of really "bad-weather" days, then I am ready to bust out!!
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I'm like you Denise, I just don't feel right if I stay in the house all day and don't get outside. Just rarely on a planned 'hibernate' day during a winter blizzard and I okay with it, and like I say, I still get out in the front and back yard, even if I don't walk or drive anywhere.
 
I try to go out each day, as I don’t drive and can’t carry heavy loads I usually need a little shopping, I often walk to the park or beach after I’ve been to town, or meet up with friends

The weather has to be particularly bad for me to stay home all day I love being out in the fresh air
 
Another vote for getting out everyday.

If the weather is bad I at least take the trash and recyclables down to the parking garage, check the mail, etc...

I also believe that it is important to get away from housemates for at least a couple of hours everyday.
 
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SeaBreeze said:
I agree Don, if we don't go anywhere else, we always take the dog to the dog park and go for a 2+ mile walk, very enjoyable, good for mind and body. I usually go out after that to run some errands, I laugh at times because I tell my husband just walking around Costco looking for things up and down the aisles because they're always moving stuff around is a workout in itself. :p I really think that sitting home all day can easily lead to depression, and that's not healthy either.
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I'm with you on that. Been taking a dog to the park for a walk for years. Started out just going at whatever time of day I felt like but have gravitated to getting out there at first light and make getting up, fixing breakfast, having coffee, and getting off to the park routine. It's a great way to start my day. I even do it when I am without a dog...but it ain't the same without a "best buddy".
 
The wife and I discussed this the other day. Get out of the house daily and do something. Little things like go for coffee, by the way, coffees good for you again, take a short walk, etc. oh, and drive over to the beach and people watch.
 
Leaving the house was linked to a longer life independent of other factors, including social and medical.
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  1. I left the house yesterday for a walk up the street to the store to get some milk and bread.
  2. As I locked the front door, my key broke off in the lock.
  3. My cat Mao (aka Boom-Boom) managed to rip a hole in the window screen, thus enabling him to repopulate the neighborhood cat supply.
  4. As I went to chase him I tripped down the front stairs.
  5. I stepped in doggie-doo on the sidewalk. Of course, my boots have a waffle tread.
  6. My crazy neighbor caught me and related for 20 minutes how we're being invaded by aliens.
  7. It started to rain. Hard.
  8. I had to wait 5 minutes at the four-way intersection to cross the street.
  9. When I finally DID cross I was clipped by an enthusiastic Uber driver.
  10. I managed to limp into the store, only to be confronted by a swarm of late-morning Thanksgiving snack-seekers.
  11. One man had a Chihuahua on a leash, and it was munching on the Slim-Jims from the display case. As I walked past the hungry little fella he bit my ankle.
  12. I dropped the milk on the floor and the plastic container exploded, covering the Chihuahua in a white haze.
  13. I was short $0.17 at the checkout, so I had to put the bread back. I still owe them $2.38 for the milk that I dropped.
  14. I stepped in gum as I left the store. Remember - waffle treads.
  15. The SAME Uber driver almost clipped me again as I crossed the street.
  16. Church was letting out just as I passed it, enveloping me in a cloud of frankincense and cheap, excessively-applied perfume.
  17. My crazy neighbor caught me again and informed me that the aliens were waiting for me in my house.
  18. I found Mao (aka Boom-Boom) lounging on the front steps with a satisfied look on his face and a cigarette in his mouth.
  19. I had to kick in the front door because of the broken key in the lock. Unfortunately I used my bad foot and, once inside, had to call the paramedics.
  20. They took me to the hospital.
  21. I asked the aliens to house-sit for me.
 
Now that the bright sunlight and heat has let up here in Houston, Texas, I’ve started to walk outside again. I live in what I call a closed circle that is exactly two miles, so at least it is pretty safe to be out and about walking. I can’t walk the whole circle yet, but it shouldn’t take me long to be able to.

I think I made poor choices last year for my first year of SS suppliments, so next week I plan on checking to see if I can find one with access to a gym. Maybe I can find one like Happyflowerlady did with access to a pool.
 
I'm a life long walker, walk everywhere within reason.Every day my routine starts with a walk before breakfast,about 3 blocks to buy NYTimes/USA Today.This time of year,always wear my reflector vest so drivers/runners/owners walking their dogs can see me. I'm out of the house every day,whether I'm going to volunteer at 2 orgs I go to every week or not. I would go absolutely 'stir crazy' if I couldn't go outside to take my 3 daily walks. The only time I won't go outside if there is a blizzard or the windchill temp is -10. On those days,I usually walk up/down stairs of my co-op apt basement,walk around my small bedroom apt for exercise. Sue
 
This retirement complex consists of 4 buildings only connected on the ground floor.
Once it gets snowy or icey outside and because I use a walker, I go down and walk
from one end the the buildings to the other and back. This takes me about 20
minutes, but you always meet someone to chat with along the way, so I am
often down there for 30 - 40 minutes. I try to do this 4 or 5 times a week.
 

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