Seniors: Why do they give up physical activity?

There are other factors to consider which lead people, especially seniors, to abandon all physical activity. They include income, transportation and nutrition and affect the efforts of older people to participate actively in society. Retirement can worsen the financial situation of retirees as their income decreases. Many times money is not enough to live a satisfying lifestyle. In many cases, the years after retirement are a struggle for financial survival. Minority groups suffer the effects of poverty more severely than non-minority groups. Regardless of the background, a poor financial situation can lead to serious emotional trauma that can indirectly affect a person’s desire or ability to engage in physical activities. Lack of movement creates a vicious circle: as older people are less active, they are no longer capable of more activity. The financial struggle that often accompanies retirement is the basis of a number of problems. Inadequate finances often hinder the ability of individuals to move. If retirees have cars, keeping them in good condition is an extra burden. Other forms of transportation, such as taxis or buses, may be too expensive or the elderly may not be able to access them due to reduced mobility. When transportation decreases, retirees are less likely to interact actively with society, which makes older people end their lives in a sedentary, depressed and lonely way. Reduced finances and transportation can also have an impact on nutrition. Without enough money and transportation, seniors may find that buying food is a significant burden, so instead of shopping, they may try to live without proper food. Malnutrition obviously affects a person’s ability to engage in society and can actually cause serious health problems that further undermine older peoples’ efforts to stay active. The isolation that results indirectly from the lack of resources, transportation and nutrition also creates an attitude that prevents any desire to engage in motor activities. Source: “Human Motor Development” -A Lifespan approach (Greg Payne, Larry Isaacs) Recent Articles