As you get older it can become more difficult to stay healthy. Your body may not let you run a marathon or play an hour or so of a contact sport, but there are still many ways that you can stay healthy. Here is a guide to help you do just that.
Table of Contents
Eat Well
You may find that you do not get hungry as much as you get older, but it is still important to eat the right food. Aim to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables per day to keep you fit and healthy. Bones tend to become more brittle as you get older, so you can be more prone to breaks and fractures. To combat this, eat plenty of dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt. Keep your brain healthy with nuts and oily fish.
Vitamins
Any vitamin deficiency in your diet can be made up by taking it in tablet form. A lot of people have a vitamin D deficiency without even realizing it, and this can cause problems for your bones. It can also cause cardiovascular disease. It is important to take supplements and get out in the sunshine as much as possible. It is recommended that you spend at least 15-20 minutes outdoors per day to give you the vitamin D you need.
Exercise
You may not be up to a three-hour workout session at the gym these days, but it is still important to keep fit. Activities such as swimming or water aerobics can be great as the water will make you feel more buoyant, which will make the exercises easier to do. If you choose a warm pool this will help to relax your muscles and stop them from getting strained. Yoga and hiking are also brilliant forms of exercise, as they will give you a good workout without putting too much pressure on your joints.
Complex Motor Skills
These are the fine movements that seem to get more difficult as you get older. However, if you work on these skills, you will become more nimble. Activities such as sewing, knitting, and crochet will help you to keep your fingers nimble and working well and help to prevent the onset of joint issues such as arthritis. Crafting can be fun, and it can help you unleash your creative side as well as making new friends from among like-minded people.
Mental Agility
As well as exercising your body, exercising your mind is also very important as you get older. You may find that your mental agility is not as sharp as it used to be. You can’t focus as easily, or you have memory problems. You can work on your mental agility by exercising the mind. Puzzles such as jigsaws and crosswords are a great way to give your mind a good workout and help you to feel younger for longer.
Social Skills
It may have always seemed easy to make friends in the schoolyard but as you get older you lose the confidence you once had and the opportunity to make friends gets fewer and further between. Loneliness can set in once the kids have left home and you have retired, so it is important to remain social. Have a look around your local area and see if there are any clubs or societies you could join for people who have the same interests as you. This will help you to get out and about and allow you to make some new friends.
If you have been struggling with daily tasks or activities, it may be time to consider moving into an assisted living facility such as Brandywine Reflections. Assisted living can give you a great way to make new friends and be social as well as offering you any help and support you might need in the future. Many facilities have an active timetable and offer everything from keep fit to crafting to lectures.
Check-Ups
Making regular appointments to see your doctor is an important way to stay healthy. Your doctor can treat your ailments, test your blood pressure and heart, and make sure you are staying fit and healthy. They can also make any suggestions that will help you to stay well in the future. It may be that you overlooked going to the doctor when you were younger as having a check-up didn’t fit into your busy lifestyle, but it is imperative once you are older so don’t forget to make appointments regularly and go to them.
Medication
Many people need medication as they start to get older so don’t be alarmed if your doctor suggests you start taking some. Common medication can include tablets for your blood pressure, cholesterol, heart, or diabetes. It is a good idea to set a reminder on your phone so that you don’t forget to take them when you need to.
Live Healthily
Over the years you have probably become heartily sick of people telling you to quit smoking and cut down on your alcohol intake, but these lifestyle changes could make a big difference to you. It is recommended that you don’t drink more than one alcoholic drink per day. It is never too late to quit smoking as your lungs will start to repair themselves soon after you have smoked your last cigarette. Maybe it is time to give yourself the gift of good health.
Get Enough Sleep
You may find it harder to sleep as you get older but trying to get at least eight hours per night is important. Sleep is the time when the body repairs itself, so you are more likely to feel those aches and pains if you don’t get enough of it. If you find you have trouble sleeping, then consult your doctor who will be able to suggest some remedies for you.
It is important to stay as healthy as possible as you get older. Follow these tips to help you live your best life in your senior years.
