Winter Walking Program Gives Older Adults Options to Remain Active

The Broome County Office for Aging in New York hosts a program to smooth the transition from outdoor to indoor walking exercise routines for seniors as winter sets in, reports WBNG . The program has been around for more than two decades, and the office has begun to encourage participants to establish personal goals. "We encourage everyone who participates to try and get out and walk at the participating schools 25 times through the winter as a personal goal," said the Office for Aging's Sofia Rittenhouse. "We do provide a walking log for them so that they can keep track of their progress." The program seeks to promote the benefits of consistent senior activity. "Daily exercise, and walking in particular, help us with things like reducing high blood pressure, reducing stress, keeping our muscles strong, keeping us flexible," noted Rittenhouse. She added that the program's benefits can extend outside of physical wellness. "If you can find a partner, a buddy that you want to get out to the school and walk with every day, it's a social opportunity," Rittenhouse said.