TAMPA, Fla. — To say Gail Militello likes pickleball is an understatement.
“Well I’m competitive, so I like to hit the ball,” she mentioned, “Everybody I talk to says it’s addictive.”
And at 86 years previous, she mentioned it not solely retains her gentle on her ft but in addition mentally sound through the pandemic.
“It’s very social and most everyone I’ve met playing pickleball is very nice,” she mentioned.
And that socialization is one thing Dr. Manuel Jain mentioned is very essential for seniors proper now.
“Inflation has dramatically affected their ability to socialize,” Dr. Jain mentioned.
After greater than two years of a worldwide pandemic, Dr. Jain mentioned many seniors on mounted incomes at the moment are having to chop again on social spending to ensure they afford issues like meals, fuel, and medication.
And he added should you’re anxious about an older cherished one, there are just a few indicators to look out for.
“Avoiding eye contact, when they stop telling you stories about their accomplishments and they more concentrate on minor illnesses that normally they would not talk about,” he mentioned.
For seniors who’re struggling, the City of Tampa desires you to know that for $15 a year, you may entry all of their recreation facilities and far of their senior-focused programming.
And whereas you do not have to play pickleball, Gail does encourage you to get out of the home.
“When you get older you have to move your body. And your mind. You have to meet people, [and] socialize, it’s very important,” Gail mentioned.
For extra information on senior applications taking place in Tampa, click on here.