The exertion of a daily walk also will help an older person to fall asleep at night. There are some risks, however, for the elderly. Walking puts an older person at risk for falling, which can lead to bone fractures or other complications. Several simple precautions can reduce the risk of falling during a walk. If the weather is wet, icy, snowy or dangerously hot and humid, consider walking at a shopping mall instead.
Many shopping malls sponsor indoor walking programs in the mornings before stores open.
Malls are air-conditioned in the summer, heated in the winter and usually have plenty of benches around in case you need a rest. And there are no uneven sidewalks. Eating stimulates the vagus nerve, which slows down the heart and can make an elderly person more likely to faint upon exertion. Wait about an hour after meals before walking. Consult your doctor to determine whether any medications you are taking can cause dizziness or other side effects that could lead to a fall.