1. Stay Active
Incorporating daily exercise can help keep both your body and mind healthy and agile. There are many exercises that can specifically work for seniors to combat a sedentary lifestyle, but that are safe for an aging body. Walking, swimming and using exercise machines are great ideas for exercise routines that seniors can do daily.
2. Adopt Healthy Eating Habits
Trying new, healthy recipes can help maintain a healthy body weight and give you more energy. As we age, our dietary needs change, so it’s vital that we continue to nourish our bodies with the vitamins and nutrients it needs to function well. A well-balanced diet can also lower your risk for developing health issues, such as diabetes and heart disease.
3. Stay Connected
Keeping in touch with family and friends and sharing experiences and connections will help combat loneliness. Loneliness is terrible at any age, but exceptionally so for seniors who experience losing friends and family members more often. Engaging in social activities, joining clubs, video chatting with long-distance relatives, corresponding with loved ones and volunteering in the community are great ways to stay connected and avoid isolation.
4. Keep an Active Brain
Puzzles, learning new languages and embracing your creativity are excellent ways to keep your brain strong and healthy. A healthy mind often translates into a healthier body, and learning new things can be refreshing at any age.
5. Practice Self-Care
Taking care of yourself with regular check-ups, plenty of sleep and making time to enjoy your hobbies is more important than ever. Getting enough sleep every day can ward off a number of sicknesses, and prioritizing getting out to enjoy a special hobby is as good for your mental state than anything else you can do. Visiting your physician for check-ups on a regular basis will contribute to your peace of mind. Maintaining good hygiene is especially critical when cold and flu season hits, especially for the elderly. Ensure you are bathing regularly while also washing your hands each time you contact others or spend time outside of your home. It is also important to wash your hands after cooking and using the restroom to prevent germs from mutating into cold and flu viruses once inside of the body.
Managing to maintain a healthy lifestyle can seem harder as we age, but with the right steps, it’s absolutely possible to incorporate new healthy habits that become a normal part of our daily routine. And if your senior loved one needs assistance taking these steps, Allegiance Home Health can help! Our home health aides and caregivers are committed to improving the quality of life for our clients and help in a range of ways, including meal planning and prep, appointment making, exercising with clients, planning social outings and more! Contact us today to learn more about our services.
