How to Stay Fit and Active on a Retiree's Budget

You don’t have to fork over thousands of dollars for a high-tech home exercise machine or pay to join a health club. Seniors on a tight budget can find plenty of free and low-cost exercise options.

Keeping healthy these days can be expensive. If you watch TV, you probably have seen ads for the latest in-home exercise bike, the Peloton. It’s an impressive piece of machinery, but it will set you back more than $2,200 and require a monthly membership fee of $39, according to the company’s website.

Fortunately, you can stay in shape as a senior adult without spending much money. In fact, it may not cost you anything, thanks to senior discounts. Aging does have its perks.

Let’s look at some of the choices.

Mall Walking Programs

Mall walkers at Smith Haven Mall, Lake Grove, NY. Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Medicine.

Walking is one of the best exercises and one that most seniors can still do even late in life. You don’t have to be an athlete to walk. It’s free and only requires a good pair of walking shoes. Walking is a heart-healthy aerobic activity that also works major muscle groups, strenghtens your lungs, and lubricates joints. Walking can even improve your mood and ward off depression. Learn more about the benefits of walking in this previous post on This Retirement Life at It’s Time to Start Walking!

While your neighborhood may be fine for walking, an even better idea for some seniors is walking at a nearby enclosed shopping mall. Many malls open early for walkers or have walking clubs. It’s not uncommon for malls to include mileage markers along the path to help you gauge your distance.

Walking at the mall has many advantages, including:

• Bad weather won’t keep you from walking. It’s never too hot or too cold in the mall. You won’t have to worry about rain, snow or humidity, at least not once you reach the mall.
• Malls are usually safe. Enclosed malls not only have security guards on patrol, but you will be walking in highly visible, public areas. Malls are safe in other ways too. The walking surface is likely to be smooth and consistent. You won’t have to worry about potholes, cracks in the sidewalk, or stepping off a curb. Vehicular traffic and yappy dogs aren’t a problem inside a mall.
• Walking in a mall is sociable. You are never truly alone when walking in a mall. If you come at the same time of day on a consistent schedule, it won’t be long before you make friends and perhaps pick up a new walking buddy. For seniors who live in a 55+ community, they may enjoy going to the mall and seeing people of younger ages, including children. 
• Malls have all the amenities a walker could want. Malls have restrooms, water fountains, benches for sitting, stores, and restaurants. Some have movie theaters, public libraries and other amenities.

Of course, walking at the mall does have its downsides. You will likely pass one or more stores selling cookies, pretzels, ice cream, and other enticing snacks. Beware the seductive aroma of freshly baked cookies or cinnamon buns! Then there’s the problem with all of those nice stores you walk past with their window displays. If you love to shop, you will have to use some real willpower to keep your focus on walking and not get sidetracked.

If you don’t have a nearby mall, consider starting or joining a walking group in your neighborhood. Many 55+ communities have walking groups, but you can start one anywhere. You are more likely to stick with an exercise program when you are part of a group. It’s also a great way to make friends and combat the lonelines of the senior years.

Ride a Bike

Kathy and I enjoy riding on the Lake Minneola Scenic Trail near Orlando, Florida.

Cycling is another form of exercise that costs little and can be done by many people even into old age. There’s no better way to see your neighborhood than on a bike, and it’s more fun than walking. Or, you may be fortunate enough to live in a city with dedicated paved trails for walking and bicycling. Paved trails often take you through parks or other scenic areas, or connect you to stores and public buildings. Be sure to buy and wear a suitable bike helmet, even for short rides around your neighborhood. If riding on city streets, it’s advisable to wear bright clothing and/or a reflective vest.

Live in a 55+ community? Check to see if your community has a club for cyclists that takes regular rides. By participating, you will not only get exercise but have a new way to make friends.

Not sure if you have the balance or skill to ride a bike? You don’t have to miss out on the pleasure and benefits of cycling. Try a stationary indoor exercise cycle, or opt for an easier-to-balance three-wheel bicycle. An electric-assist bicycle (“e-bike”) makes riding easier on senior joints and stamina, especially if you live in a hilly locale.

Want to learn more about bicycling for seniors or how to select a senior-friendly bike? Check out these recent articles from our blog: How to Select a Senior-Friendly Bike and E-Bikes Allow Seniors to Enjoy Cycling and Keep Fit. The This Retirement Life Pinterest site has a board full of helpful articles about bicycling and popular trails for seniors. 

Senior Centers Offer Free or Low-Cost Exercise

Seniors enjoy dancing at the Rose Park Senior Activity Center in Abilene, Texas. Photo courtesy of City of Abilene.

Many cities have senior centers that offer workout rooms, exercise classes, and in some cases, swimming pools. There is usually no charge for working out on exercise equipment, walking on an indoor track, and using weights; taking exercise classes may carry a modest fee.

Abilene, a mid-size West Texas city popular with military retirees, has four city-owned senior centers. The largest of them, Rose Park Senior Activity Center, has dance classes for seniors, offering a fun way to stay in shape and socialize. The center offers a low-cost daily lunch, crafts, bingo, group trips, and a calendar full of other planned events. It has a well-equipped workout room with a small indoor track. Exercise is one of the most popular activities at Rose Park Senior Activity Center.

“I would say probably 300 to 400 seniors utilize our exercise room and classes each week,” said Julie Cavazos, recreation center specialist at Rose Park for the city’s Senior Services Division.

If you’re not sure what your city offers, call City Hall or look on the city’s website for either senior services or the parks department. As the number of senior adults grows, more and more cities are beefing up their services and building more elaborate senior centers.

Join a Gym or Health Club for Free

Fast-food restaurants aren’t the only place where seniors can get discounts. One of the best perks is free gym membership through some Medicare health insurance plans. Many of the nation’s best-known fitness-club chains as well as thousands of local ones belong to organizations that offer free gym memberships to seniors.

One of the best-known companies that offers free memberships to seniors through their health insurance plans is Silver Sneakers. It works through more than 60 Medicare Advantage plans. Participating insurers (may vary by state) include Aetna, Humana, Blue Cross, WellCare, and Mutual of Omaha.

Silver Sneakers offers free membership through a network of 17,000 local health clubs and gyms. Many national chains including Planet Fitness, LA Fitness, Curves, and Anytime Fitness participate. In some communities, YMCAs are included. You will also find plenty of choices among hospital and community-based health clubs and locally owned gyms. In addition to working out for free, Silver Sneakers includes access to exercise classes, online exercise videos, a fitness app for your phone, and discounts to physical therapy and essential oils.

A similar program for seniors, Renew Active, is offered through United Healthcare. It is available to participants in its Medicare Advantage plans and the popular AARP United Healthcare Medicare Supplement Plan. Like Silver Sneakers, Renew Active provides not only free gym membership but access to classes, personal trainers (varies by location), and “brain health” activities. It offers a members-only online community through Fitbit. Partipating national gyms include Anytime Fitness, Planet Fitness, Curves, and LA Fitness. Some YMCAs and local health clubs and gyms also participate.

Yet another senior fitness program is offered through Silver & Fit. It works with many Medicare Advantage plans and some Medicare supplement plans. Like Silver Sneakers and Renew Active, Silver & Fit offers low or no-cost gym memberships. The list of participating gyms is similar to those for Silver Sneakers and Renew Active. In addition, participants in Silver & Fit may choose to participate in a home fitness program instead of joining a gym. This is a nice option for those who don’t have a participating gym nearby or for whom commuting to a gym on a regular basis would be difficult. Silver & Fit offers other perks including a mobile app, the ability to track your exercise on wearable fitness devices, an online resource library, and social clubs to bring together seniors with similar exercise interests.

What Are You Waiting For?

Aging has its benefits, and that is certainly true when it comes to receiving discounts on exercise programs. Senior adults have plenty of free or low-cost opportunities to get exercise and stay fit. Unlike our children or grandchildren who are engaged in full-time schooling or careers and maybe caring for children too, most of us who are retired have the time to exercise, if we will only make it a priority to do so.

If you aren’t enrolled in a program or committed to a regular exercise program, now is your time to take action and get moving. What are you waiting for?

Do you have comments to share about this story? How are you getting exercise and staying in shape? We’d love to hear from you. Scroll down to add your comments below.