A Gerontologist’s Guide to Bodily Changes Associated with Aging

As we get older, our bodies change in ways that are often associated with "slowing down". Changes happen on a cellular level, and therefore affect everything; from our organs, to our bones and joints. As we grow older, these gradual changes are completely normal, but it's the lifestyle choices we make that impact how well our bodies adapt. If you're considering enrolling in a therapeutic recreation program, you’ll know that good health is possible at any age, and that these bodily changes that come with aging don't have to have a negative impact on anyone's quality of life.

Read on to learn more about some of the changes that take place in the body as it ages, and some things that can be done to promote overall good health.

Therapeutic Recreation for Improved Heart Health

As we age, our hearts become slightly larger and our heart rate slows down. Our blood vessels and arteries also stiffen slightly, which causes the heart to work harder. In some cases, these changes can lead to high blood pressure (hypertension) as well as other cardiovascular issues.

Earning a therapeutic recreation diploma will teach you some practices for working with the aging population that promote a healthy heart. These include:

Therapeutic Recreation to Improve Bone, Joint and Muscle Function

As we age, our bones shrink in size and density. Osteoporosis, for example, is a condition that quickens this process. Some people may even lose a couple of inches in height. Muscles also tend to lose strength and flexibility. Aging people may experience joint stiffness, have trouble balancing and experience decreased coordination as a result.

Luckily, there are a few things that that you can teach aging clients during your therapeutic recreation career that will go a long way in promoting bone, joint and muscle health, such as:

Therapeutic Recreation to Improve Brain Function

As the body ages, several things happen to the brain. For one, the number of nerve cells in the brain decreases, while levels of chemicals that send messages in the brain also change.

In many cases, memory becomes less efficient with age. It might take some people longer to learn new things, and some people experience difficulty recalling familiar names and words during conversation.

With certain activities, new nerve cells can form in the brain—even during old age. Here are a few things the aging population can do to keep their thinking and memory sharp:

Are you interested in a rewarding therapeutic recreation career? Take the first step by finding out more about our convenient online gerontology training today!