When you Google “best memory care facilities near me,” you’re sure to have pages upon pages of results pop up. However, one thing that these Google results don’t always take into account is the incredible people, amazing amenities, and all of the love that goes into each memory care facility. 

Looking for the best memory care facilities near me takes a lot of trial and error. You want to find a facility that’s going to care for you in the best way possible, including your physical and mental health. That’s why finding a care center that promotes healthy, low-impact exercise like walking is so important for your health, especially when it comes to matters of the mind. 

Are you wondering how walking can actually help improve your mental and cognitive health? Here are some reasons that might surprise you:

 

Heart Health is Brain Health

Did you know that a good relationship with exercise and cardiovascular health can actually help to improve your brain function and mental health? It’s true! 

Not only does getting out and doing some exercise help to improve your physical health through activity, doing exercise helps to get the blood pumping. This is especially true when you’re doing cardiovascular workouts like walking or running. As your heart beats, it pumps blood through your body, which increases the oxygen flow and blood flow to your brain. 

Walking or other regular exercise can also help to lower high blood pressure, which is a major health issue with seniors. High blood pressure is also one of the biggest risk factors for cognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia. While going on a regular walk won’t necessarily prevent these issues in the future, it’s a great idea to take every step possible to prevent the possibility!

 

Walking Gives You Time to Socialize

While it may seem silly, walking is a great way to be social with your friends! For good brain and mental health, it’s important to socialize with friends, family, coworkers, and more on a regular basis. People crave intimacy in the form of friendships, close relationships with family, and more. A way to show that love and intimacy with the people you’re closest to is by socializing with them. 

When you head out for your daily walk, try inviting a friend to come along with you. While the best memory care facilities near me have certain rules and regulations that you need to follow when you want to wander around the facility, memory care centers near you may have other regulations to follow. Whatever the case may be, inviting a friend along can help to make the exercise go quickly and will allow you to catch up with a friend. 

If you aren’t able to invite a friend to physically go along with you, then take your phone with you on your walk. Use your cell phone to call a friend, your family, or anyone else that you haven’t connected with in a while and talk to them while you’re on your walk. Not only are you getting exercise, you get the opportunity to have a meaningful conversation with someone you love and care for, with no other obligations getting in the way.

A senior couple hiking and walking outdoors in a park

Exercise Improves Sleep

One of the biggest issues with improving brain health is being able to get enough sleep. Getting enough sleep is vital to your health and wellness, even though so many people, seniors and non-senior alike, struggle with it everyday. 

However, getting in some exercise like going on a walk, doing chair exercises, doing yoga or tai chi, or other easy exercises can help you get better sleep! Doing exercise can help you to wear yourself out, and when you go to bed physically tired at night, it helps you to fall asleep more easily and to sleep deeper at night. 

 

Walking Reduces Stress

Exercise is an easy way to help reduce your stress levels, and walking is a low-impact way to exercise! When you exercise, your body releases something called endorphins, which are designed to help your body feel better and to improve your mood. These can be released during any kind of physical activity like weightlifting, running, hiking, swimming, etc. Walking, while not quite as intense as some other exercises, can help you achieve the same result. 

Walking is also an easy way to help you meditate. It might seem strange, but when you’re out walking, you’re more easily able to forget about the day’s worries and struggles. Instead, you’re able to focus more on the activity itself: moving one foot in front of the other, enjoying nature outside, feeling the slight burn in your body as you walk. 

If you have intense stress, then talking to a doctor is going to be your best bet. But taking a walk outside on your way there certainly won’t hurt!

 

The Best Memory Care Community

Here at Kingsley, we understand the importance of both mental and physical health. Physical and mental health are so closely tied together, and we know that you can’t focus on one without focusing on the other as well. That’s why we encourage all forms of wellness, including easy exercise like walking. 

The beautifully manicured and landscaped grounds here at Kinglsey make for an incredible place to take a walk outside with a friend or a family member. If the weather doesn’t quite agree with walking, then our on-site health and wellness facility is a great place for you to get some exercise under the care of our skilled and attentive staff. If you want to get up and get active, then our staff will do everything in their power to ensure that you’re able to do so. 

So, the next time that you search “best memory care facilities near me,” we hope that you’ll pay extra attention to Kingsley. If you’re interested in joining us here as a resident or have a loved one who would benefit from resident care, then contact us and schedule a tour today.