A clean house may be the key to a sound mind and body — in seniors, at least.

That’s the upshot of new research showing housework helps keep older adults mentally and physically fit — because of the exercise it takes to keep a home neat, tidy, and clean.

The findings, by Case Western Reserve University School of Nursing researcher Kathy D. Wright, are based on the experiences of 337 Ohio residents — from 65 to 94 years old — who were surveyed about their physical and emotional well-being, as well as their housekeeping habits.

Wright said she was surprised to learn that housework and maintaining their property affected the participants' physical and mental well-being more than such factors as neighborhood or income.
 
"House cleaning kept them up and moving," said Wright, who reported her findings in the journal Geriatric Nursing. "A clean environment is therapeutic."

Wright said the study shows how important it is for sedentary older adults — particularly those with disabilities and chronic illnesses — to engage in physical activities.