There's yet another reason to pick that walkable community you've been thinking about for your next home. Walking is good for brain health and could contribute to keeping seniors more cognitively fit. 

​That's according to new research by the BRAIN Lab at Colorado State University. It shows that aerobic exercise, particularly walking, positively affects – refreshes – the brain’s white matter. "White matter deterioration is associated with cognitive impairment in healthy aging and Alzheimer's disease," says the study.

Even if you've been inactive during the pandemic, putting on your walking shoes could improve your health. And living somewhere that allows for regular strolls and running errands on foot makes daily walks all the easier. Walkable communities also improve satisfaction, according to a pair of studies, the “Community and Transportation Preference Surveys,” conducted by the National Association of REALTORS® earlier this year.

Respondents who strongly agree that there are "lots of places to walk nearby" show an 8% increase in quality of life, for example. And older generations – Gen X and beyond – and those with higher incomes showed an increased interest in walkability. 

So, when you're scoping out a new neighbourhood, keep an eye out for the elements that make for a walkable community. 

According to Walkscore, they are: 
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-A center: Walkable neighborhoods have a center, whether it's a main street or a public space.
-People: Enough people for businesses to flourish and for public transit to run frequently.
-Mixed-income, mixed-use: Affordable housing located near businesses.
-Parks and public space: Plenty of public places to gather and play.
-Pedestrian design: Buildings are close to the street and parking lots are relegated to the back.
-Schools and workplaces: Close enough that most residents can walk from their homes.
-Complete streets: Streets designed for bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit.


In 2021, Walkscore ranked Canada's most walkable cities out of 100 and the top five are:
1. Vancouver (79.8)
2. Montreal (65.4)
3. Toronto (61.0)
4. Burnaby (60.1)
5. Longueuil (54.4)

Additional Resources:
Learn more about walkable communities, how to incorporate walking into your day-to-day life, and where to find walking groups. 

• Build a Better Burb
• Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines
• Park People's Walk in a Park
• Walk n Roll

Having read all that, there's only one question: Where will you walk today?

It’s cold and icy outside. A stroll around the block or even the few steps to a waiting car is now hazardous for seniors. A sunny park bench across the street might look tempting, but a fall between here and there would be catastrophic. So what other options are there to keep your aging loved one moving and stimulated this winter?
If they live in a senior’s residence:

• Endless activities and/or exercise programs available in-house (See AgeCare Seton’s latest activities calendar for example)
• A daily walk in the halls – once up and down the stairs too if they are able.
• A daily visit to any of the main gathering areas – for movement and much needed social connection.
• A simple seated or standing stretching regime daily – under the direction of a family member or care team.

Other options, and for those living independently:

• An accompanied trip to the mall for light shopping or just for coffee and some indoor walking.
• A visit to an indoor vegetable, craft or Christmas market.
• An afternoon of browsing at the local library.
• Swimming or aquafit for seniors – available at most local community pools. (e.g. Aquafit at YMCA )
• A light exercise class or yoga class at a community facility.
• Enrollment in activities at a local seniors’ centre.
• A church concert or live play (less congested than a large public venue).

The main thing to remember is that physical activity for seniors does not have to mean strenuous exertion; the main thing is to intersperse movement throughout the day, and that can be something as simple as sweeping, folding laundry, unloading the dishwasher, or even a walk around the house during the commercials of a favourite show.
Other winter activities that don’t require exertion but prove good for health and wellbeing:

• Puzzles (jigsaw, crossword, and Suduko)
• Card games
• Crafts (easy art projects)
• Knitting or crocheting
• Cooking or baking (assisted)
• Music – playing or listening

On another note, nature and the great outdoors are still unequivocally one of the best providers of physical, mental and spiritual nourishment. On a sunny clear day, try to arrange to take your aging loved one on a car ride outside the city. You’d be surprised how delightful it is to see open sky and snow covered fields, and forest when most of your days are spent indoors. Plus, it’s another great way to spend quality time together.

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​Draw Up a Will
​It’s an obvious first step, but many people don’t even bother to draw up a will. In fact, a 2014 Rocket Lawyer survey of 2,048 adults found 64 percent of Americans don’t have a will. What’s more, 17 percent said they didn’t think they needed one.
However, without a will, your estate must be divided in probate court, a process that could leave your beneficiaries footing a big bill. “If your estate is not properly constructed, the only person that wins is the attorney,” says Sean P. Lee, co-founder of the financial education organization Retirement Elevated.

Check Your Beneficiaries
Not all assets are disbursed through a will. Some accounts, such as retirement funds and life insurance policies, let owners name beneficiaries for that particular asset.
“You’d be surprised how many people have no beneficiary or a previous spouse listed,” Lee says. Without a named beneficiary, an account will need to go to probate court, where a judge will decide who gets the money.
It’s a good idea to review beneficiary information after every major life change, including the birth of children, marriage or divorce.  “You want your money to go where you want it to go.