The arrival of winter leads many of us to stay indoors, which can result in a significant decrease in exercise and activity. This is especially true for older adults.

Luckily, there are many choices for staying physically active that don’t involve the winter cold. The key is to engage in an exercise regimen or series of activities that you can stay consistent with.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention recommends older adults get between 2.5 to 5 hours of moderate-intensity exercise each week or between 75 minutes to 2.5 hours of high-intensity physical activity.

Recommended activities and exercises include walking, jogging, running, dancing, swimming, aerobics, various sports and exercise routines. The exercises should include balance training as well as aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities. Older adults should consult their doctor before beginning a new exercise regimen.

According to the CDC, a general rule of thumb is that two minutes of moderate-intensity activity counts the same as one minute of vigorous-intensity activity. For example, 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity is roughly the same as 15 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity.

A gym membership can help keep you out of the cold as you work to stay fit this winter, and Medicare coverage can help. Gym memberships and fitness programs may be part of extra coverage offered by Medicare Advantage Plans, other Medicare health plans or Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans.

Unsure if your plan covers gym memberships and fitness plans? AAA’s Medicare team can help identify the right coverage for you.

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