Aging Healthier in an Aging Population

Senior cycling in Groningen © Karina Karagyoz

Recent studies show that the Netherlands is experiencing a fast aging, but healthier population trend. This means that the proportion of Dutch seniors increases rapidly over a short period due to increased life expectancy. Many of them strive to adopt active lifestyles to support healthier aging. The key is in sports.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), healthy aging is the process of implementing well-being in older age. Working towards healthy aging can begin at different stages of life, through sport and regular exercise, with various benefits such as better mental health and a stronger immune system.

Six benefits of exercise for seniors © Karina Karagyoz

As stated by Statistics Netherlands, the largest Dutch statistical agency, the ratio of people aged 65 and older is expected to rise another 15% percent in the next 25 years, however, the number of healthier populations in the Netherlands increased three times, WHO reports. To find out more about how Dutch seniors amplify healthier aging, The Glass Room got on the phone with the founder of Iedereen Vitaal Groningen (Everyone Vital Groningen) Maarten Westerhuis.

“I think that the most important thing of the lessons I give is bringing people together,” says Westerhuis, who organizes group sessions and personal training, making seniors in Groningen more physically active. In Iedereen Vitaal Groningen, there are six groups of people over 65 years old, with the largest group of 25 participants. The exercises in Iedereen Vitaal Groningen include squats, weightlifting, back muscle exercises, walking, running and engaging in games such as badminton and throwing softballs.

A sense of community is crucial in Westerhuis’ training. “I start with couples doing the exercises together and ask questions like ‘What kind of music did you listen to when you were younger?’,” he explains.

The main reason Westerhuis dedicates his time to training seniors is not only to make them fit but also to create social groups, where people help each other. He often encourages his attendees to engage in various social activities. “A few have lost husbands or wives. They feel lonely. I can see how after months of going to the lessons, they talk to other people, they are open and physically better,” says Westerhuis.

However, while interviewing seniors about their sports habits, The Glass Room discovered that group sessions do not appeal to everyone. “I hate sports groups because of the leadership in them,” says Bert Zinger, who used to play tennis. Zinger believes that it is important to walk or run around five kilometers every day, as sports “are good for the body and good for the soul,” he tells The Glass Room.

Whether individually or in a group setting, sport contributes to the physical and mental well-being of seniors in Groningen, making healthier aging an important aspect of their lives.