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Getting regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Being physically active can help strengthen bones and muscles, control weight, improve mental health, reduce risk of developing certain health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, and prevent falls (especially for older adults). During the winter months, however, unfavorable weather conditions and fewer hours of daylight can make it difficult to find the motivation to exercise.
To help individuals stay active and safe when it's cold outside, the National Institute on Aging's (NIA) Go4Life initiative offers a variety of free resources. Check out Go4Life exercises on YouTube or the "Exercising in Cold Weather" tip sheet for exercise ideas. The tip sheet also offers important information about signs of hypothermia to help you keep yourself and those with whom you work safe this winter.
As a dementia care partner, caring for your whole self--mentally, emotionally, and physically--is important for your own health and well being and will also help you to be a more effective care partner. DCPA hopes the above resources will help you stay healthy, safe and warm this winter!
In health,
Kristen Cribbs, MPH, QDCS National Care Standards Manager | 
The rapidly growing older population poses a variety of unprecedented challenges to the U.S. health care system. To better prepare the health care system to meet the needs of an aging population, researchers have been looking at hospital discharge data to explore the ways in which older Americans navigate the health care system and when they're most in need of long term care.
