How does leisure activity effect the elderly Free Essay Example, 1500 words

Fur most significant aspects towards leading a healthy life mostly among the elderly include physical activity, nutritional status, and cognitive and social stimulation (Haight, 2005). The latest statistics show ideally that physical inactivity is considered the fourth leading risk factor contributing to approximately 6% of the annual global deaths (Maddox, 1995). This points out clearly the significance of the above named four factors, physical activity, nutritional status, and cognitive and social stimulation. Additionally, lack of engagement in physical activities during leisure time contributes to loss of muscle mass, resulting to muscle weakness, enhancing the chances of development of chronic diseases. Leisure activity is significantly affected by increase in age. In the field of occupational therapy, there is a correlation between the leisure activity and depression. In youthful stages, individuals tend to get company from the many friends that they usually have company, which caters for the depression aspect that such individuals tend to experience. However, as one ages, the available company reduces thereby enhancing the chances of stress and depressions (Ting, Chan, and Cheung, 2009). This is based on the perspective that an individual has to provide all the solutions to all problems that arise and hence increasing the chances of depression. We will write a custom essay sample on How does leisure activity effect the elderly or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now Occupational therapy has it that there is substantive reduction of depression in individual who engage in leisure activity as compared to those that never engage in leisure activity. Through leisure activity, the elderly are able to engage their minds fully in activities thereby reducing the chances of depression. Leisure activity also enhances brain activity, a factor that enables the body to increase in its functionality. Enhanced brain activity through leisure activity also has an effect on enhancing body immunity and hence enabling the body to fight substantively against certain diseases and conditions leading to a healthy life (Lee and Lim, 2012). A number of factors constitute maintenance of a healthy life in elderly people. Other than leisure activity, which is one of the most important routines of a healthy adult, proper nutrition is very important for maintenance of a healthy life (Ting, Chan, and Cheung, 2009). Muscle mass, which usually reduces in aging individuals, is the most important aspect in sustenance of a healthy life. In order for it to be revived, there is the requirement of intense leisure activity and proper nutritional feeding in the elderly.