Keep an aging workforce on the job
Kate Foley
Keeping your workforce healthy and on the job is a simple tenant of productivity. However, studies clearly indicate that work-loss days increase with the age of the worker. Adhering to that simple tenet is therefore not so simple for businesses in Maine, the oldest state in the nation. Nearly half the state's workforce is over the age of 45.
It's no secret that the aging process makes us more susceptible to illness and injury. After the age of 50, adults lose 1% of their muscle mass and 0.5% of their bone density per year, on average. Flexibility, agility, balance and aerobic ability also decline, contributing to injury and a general loss in overall ability to complete everyday tasks.
As the fitness coordinator at OceanView at Falmouth Retirement Community, I use my knowledge and skills as a clinical exercise physiologist to help people over the age of 50 maintain their strength, flexibility, agility and general well-being. The best practices we implement at OceanView can also become the best practices for employers and employees to keep an aging workforce productive and on the job.
Any program at any age should incorporate elements of lower and upper body strength, lower and upper body flexibility, agility, aerobic ability and balance. Of course, individuals should determine what level of exercise is OK for them and have medical clearance from their doctor. They should be encouraged to seek treatment for any pain, starting with a referral to a physical therapist, transitioning to an at-home program or even a program with a certified personal trainer. Pain not only limits ability, it reduces our quality of life and the capacity to be healthier in other aspects of total well-being. Accordingly, the priority is to stay active and pain free. My motto is, “You need to keep moving to keep moving.”
Fun and enjoyment should also be a priority; if someone enjoys what they are doing they are more likely to stick with their exercise program. I often ask the people I work with, “What did you enjoy as a child?” My father never enjoyed running and long walks, but as a kid, he loved riding his bike. He has rediscovered that passion and rides his bike frequently. He has found that rekindling his passion for biking has improved his aerobic ability, lower body mobility and his overall enjoyment of exercise. A simple peddle around the block goes miles toward your well-being.
If you do enjoy walking it is a great way to get started with exercise. Walking naturally counteracts our loss of bone density. The impact of walking compresses our bones, making them denser. Walking can also incorporate agility and is a form of balance practice. Dodging roots and rocks and uneven walkways are an environmental agility course. Individuals can also improve their balance using their office chair. A few times a day, simply lift one foot up at a time while holding the back of your chair. Dancing is great for aerobic ability, agility and balance.
Of course, flexibility must also be accounted for. It is an important factor in its own right, but it also increases our capacity to engage in exercise. More than any other element of our well-being, flexibility is found to have the most impact on our ability to accomplish daily activities such as tying our shoes, getting dressed or performing physical work.
Research has shown that being able to accomplish daily activities and remain productive members of the workforce directly correlates to our self-worth and happiness. Consequently, in addition to the obvious physical benefits of maintaining our health, we can't overlook the mental benefits. Exercise is a common prescription from mental health practitioners. So encourage movement and exercise in the workplace. It's fun, productive and will create a happier and healthier environment for all.
Kate Foley, who is certified as a personal trainer through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, is the fitness coordinator at OceanView at Falmouth Retirement Community. She can be reached at kate@oceanviewrc.com
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