From a Nurses perspective

 

 

Ageing is no longer about surrendering to aches and pains, passively watching our bodies decline, or accepting the idea that we’re somehow less capable or useful than we once were.

With a lengthy background in nursing, I’ve seen firsthand the remarkable impact a healthy lifestyle can have on older adults—both in hospital settings and in the community. The results are truly inspiring. And you don’t have to just take my word for it; there is a wealth of evidence-based research showing that individuals who remain fit, active, and committed to healthy living experience better health outcomes and faster recoveries.

Over the years, I’ve witnessed people gradually decline—going from walking unaided, to needing a chair, and eventually becoming bed-bound. Their muscles wasted away, tendons shortened, and overall fragility set in. These individuals weren’t necessarily very old or chronically ill, but their bodies began to deteriorate after an injury, stroke, or illness—largely due to a lack of exercise and inadequate nutrition. Without these key supports, healing became difficult, and their strength continued to fade.

Fortunately, there have been significant improvements. Early referral systems are now more commonly used to assess and address patients’ nutritional, cognitive, and physical needs. However, in some areas—particularly those that are under-resourced—these issues still persist. It’s not only concerning but also largely preventable.

So, how does physical fitness help?

An individual’s baseline level of physical fitness plays a vital role in how well they cope with hospitalisation or surgery. Greater cardiovascular and respiratory capacity, along with stronger muscles, provide the physical reserves needed to better tolerate the stress of acute illness and recovery.

In older adults, better fitness is associated with a reduced risk of hospital-acquired complications—such as pressure injuries, infections, and falls—all of which can significantly increase morbidity and mortality after discharge.

Maintaining good physical fitness throughout life doesn’t just help prevent hospital stays; it also greatly enhances the chances of survival and recovery when hospitalisation is necessary. Programs and interventions that improve cardiovascular health, strength, mobility, and immune function are essential tools in promoting healthy aging and better outcomes for older adults.

Resources

  • Brousseau, A. A., Nguyen, K. H., Bucknall, T., Braithwaite, J., & Redley, B. (2024). Preventing hospital-acquired complications in older adults: Identifying those at risk. Journal of Frailty & Aging, 13(3), 258–266. https://doi.org/10.14283/jfa.2024.60

  • Gaulton, T. G., Bellamy, S. L., Neuman, M. D., & Fleisher, L. A. (2019). Association between frailty and hospital length of stay among older adults with trauma. JAMA Internal Medicine, 179(8), 1055–1062. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.1686

  • Martínez-Velilla, N., Sáez de Asteasu, M. L., Ramírez-Vélez, R., et al. (2020). Effect of exercise intervention on functional decline in very elderly hospitalized patients: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Internal Medicine, 180(1), 28–36. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.5474

  • Sáez de Asteasu, M. L., Martínez-Velilla, N., Zambom-Ferraresi, F., et al. (2022). In-hospital exercise improves functional capacity and reduces hospitalisation-associated disability in acutely ill older adults: A meta-analysis. Maturitas, 157, 25–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2022.07.004

  • Inzitari, M., Risco, E., Cesari, M., et al. (2024). Association of long-term community-based physical activity participation with hospitalization and mortality in older adults. Preventive Medicine, 180, 107672. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2024.107672

  • Yamada, M., Arai, H. (2023). Effectiveness of exercise programs for improving physical function in frail older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12(21), 6570. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12216570

  • Yin, L., Zhang, J., Xue, Y., et al. (2025). Effects of high-intensity interval training on cardiorespiratory fitness and quality of life in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 17, 52. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-025-01176-5

  • Hwang, R., Bruning, J., Morris, N. R., et al. (2022). The impact of prehabilitation on postoperative outcomes in older surgical patients: A review. Age and Ageing, 51(5), afac115. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afac115

  • Lavie, C. J., Arena, R., Swift, D. L., et al. (2015). Exercise and the cardiovascular system: Clinical science and cardiovascular outcomes. Circulation Research, 117(2), 207–219. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.117.305205

  • Williams, M. A., Ades, P. A., Hamm, L. F., et al. (2007). Clinical evidence for exercise training in cardiac rehabilitation. Circulation, 115(20), 2675–2682.

 

 

 

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