ENCOURAGING older people to stay active can help them live more independently and reduce the need for social care according to medical experts.
A new paper, published in the British Medical Journal, claims a loss of fitness in old age often leads to elderly people becoming more reliant on social services.
The study argues regular exercise could help them maintain higher levels of independence.
The total annual cost of social care in the UK is currently over Encouraging older people to stay active can help them live more independently and reduce the need for social care according to medical experts.
Researcher Scarlett McNally and her colleagues argued the effects of ageing were often confused with a loss of fitness.
Figures compiled by the team showed a quarter of women and 20 per cent of men in the UK reported doing no activity at all, despite the reality the recommended minimum amount of exercise to maintain health is 150 minutes a week.
Researchers concluded middle aged and elderly people could potentially increase fitness levels to those of average people up to a decade younger through regular exercise.
They also argued growing evidence suggested fitness improved cognitive function and could reduce the risk of dementia.
"Gyms, walking groups, gardening, cooking clubs and volunteering have all been shown to improve the health and wellbeing of people at all ages with long term conditions," the paper says.
The paper also argues health and care professionals require better training and support on how to recommend physical activity as if it were a medicine.
"We need individuals to understand their role in reducing demand for social care by being active," the paper argues.
"The gap between the best possible level of activity and actual ability can be reduced at any age, no matter how many long term conditions the person may have."
