Habits That Keep You Healthy As You Age
Many seniors face unique challenges when it comes to maintaining their health. They may have more chronic health conditions and are less mobile than they used to be. Being active, however, has many benefits, including preventing falls, improving mental health, and maintaining muscle strength.
As seniors age, these habits can help them stay healthy.
Regular Exercise
Exercise is important for everyone, but it's especially important for seniors. Exercise can prevent falls, maintain muscle strength, and improve mental health. Ideally, seniors should exercise at least four days a week for 30 minutes.
Exercise activities that are easy to do include:
- Walking
- Swimming
- Light stretching
- Yoga
It is still possible to stay fit even if you are not mobile. Many community centers offer chair yoga and water aerobics classes, including the San Luis Obispo parks and recreation department. Seniors who need assistance exercising can also benefit from home care services.
Eating A Healthy Diet
A healthy diet can reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, osteoporosis, and type 2 diabetes. It can also decrease the risk of falls and fractures.
It is recommended that seniors consume a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Foods like these can promote a healthy weight, lower blood pressure, and reduce inflammation.
If cooking meals from scratch is difficult, plenty of healthy frozen or canned food options are available. Meal delivery services can also be a convenient way to get healthy meals without having to cook.
Getting Enough Sleep
Getting adequate sleep is especially important for seniors, and most adults, including seniors, need about 7 and 8 hours of sleep per night.
Unfortunately, many things can interfere with sleep, such as medications, pain, and anxiety. Talk to your doctor about possible solutions if you're having trouble sleeping.
Maintaining a Social Life
A strong social network can provide support, reduce stress, and improve your overall mental and emotional health.
There are several ways to stay social as you age, including joining social clubs or groups, participating in activities at the SLO Senior Center, or volunteering. Additionally, you can keep in touch with friends and family by meeting them for coffee, going to the movies, or taking walks together.
Technology can also help you maintain relationships with friends and loved ones. It is easy for people to stay in touch, even if they live far away, using social media, video chat, or email.
Learning New Skills
The ability to learn new skills keeps your mind sharp and improves your overall mental health. Also, it can be a great way to meet new people and socialize.
You can take classes at a community center or local college. You can also take online courses or visit your public library to find books, DVDs, and other resources. There are even several smartphone apps that can help you learn new skills. For example, Duolingo is a free app that can help you learn a new language.
Some popular hobbies seniors can learn are:
- Knitting
- Painting
- Scrapbooking
- Gardening
- Photography
Whatever your interests are, you're sure to find a hobby or pastime that's perfect for you. Finding a fulfilling activity that stimulates your mind can take some trial and error, but it's worth the effort.
Practice Good Hygiene
Good hygiene can stop the spread of illness and infection for seniors who may be more vulnerable to health problems. In addition, our immune systems tend to weaken as we age, and we may not recover from illness as quickly as we did when we were younger.
There are many ways to practice good hygiene, such as:
- Washing your hands often, especially before eating
- Brushing and flossing your teeth regularly
- Taking a bath or shower regularly
- Wearing clean clothes
- Keeping your living space clean and clutter-free
If you have trouble practicing good hygiene, set reminders for yourself or ask a loved one to help you stay on track. Home care providers can also assist with hygiene tasks if needed.
Conclusion
There are many habits seniors can employ to stay healthy and active. Eating a nutritious diet, getting enough sleep, being socially connected, and learning new skills are all important for maintaining good habits and health as we age. Good hygiene is also essential for preventing illness and infection.
If you’re a senior or have a senior loved one, consider these tips for staying healthy and active. Taking steps to sustain good health can help you enjoy your golden years.
At Visiting Angels San Luis Obispo County, CA, we offer a wide range of services to help seniors stay healthy as they age. Our experienced caregivers can assist with tasks like light exercise, meal preparation, transportation, and much more. We also offer specialized services for seniors with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
If you need help caring for a senior loved one, contact us online or call us at 805-546-2080 today for a complimentary care assessment.
