Health & wellness
BY ELISABETH JIMENEZ
Austin seniors reap social, physical bene ts of pickleball
Terry Sarver, 79, is one of many seniors who plays pickleball at the TownLake YMCA. It was the community she met here, and at other courts in Austin, that helped her navigate the sudden death of her husband last year. “Everybody has just lifted me up and taken me in,” she said. “I really owe my life to… the people that I’ve met.” Seniors often experience a lack of community, which can lead to loneliness and depression, said Blake Mauldin, DMA Companies director of marketing and communications. DMA Companies develops senior living facilities, such as The Ladybird in Austin. Getting involved in activities such as pickleball can be an important outlet for seniors, he said. What else? Staying active has physical bene ts for seniors, but o ers other mental bene ts as well, Mauldin said. He said he notices a cognitive di erence in
residents at the DMA Companies facilities who engage in physical activity. “It can be evident in just their communication skills and cognitive understanding of whether it be discussing their rental ledger or going over policies and procedures,” he said. Local pickleball player Robert Isles, 72 said stay- ing in the game mentally and keeping track of the score can be engaging for the brain. Isles, who was a runner for 44 years, said there are also physical bene ts from pickleball, speci cally for those with injuries. Three years ago, he had a running injury and began playing pickleball to stay active while doing a more low-impact sport. “Not only are [seniors] moving their body and utilizing all of their capabilities, but they’re also building relationships,” Mauldin said of the sport. “I think that’s a really important thing for people at the senior chapter of their lives—maintaining relationships and having people to talk to.”
Robert Isles (center) plays a round of pickleball with other seniors at the Townlake YMCA on Jan. 9
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