Healthy Aging: 5 Top Tips
Aging can be both a blessing and an adventure. To make the most of our senior years, it is important to pay extra attention to our mind and body so that we stay as physically and mentally fit and healthy as we can be.. There are many easy ways to keep our mind and body active and sharp, and here are five tips to help you begin a daily regime to help stay in the best shape possible.
1: Walk often
Walking is accessible, free, and one of the best activities you can do as you age. Even if you have limited mobility, with the assistance of a walker or stand-by or hands-on assistance from a family member or caregiver you can help keep your joints, muscles, and heart strong. You should try to walk a little every day. Weather permitting you can walk around the neighborhood or just being mindful to walk often inside your home (be sure your floor is free of loose rugs, extension cords and other tripping hazards). Walking can help ensure your muscles remain healthy, which will allow you to stay mobile and more independent and helps prevent trips and falls.
2: Connect with others
Feelings of loneliness and isolation can start to set in as you age. Although you might not think these are harmful, they can lead to depression, raised blood pressure, and a host of other physical issues. You should try to stay connected to friends and family. Aim to see people at least every few days, or engage in group social activities at a local senior center or your living facility. If meeting with friends or family in person becomes too difficult technology has made it easier to hold video calls and other types of face-to-face connections. You can also sign up as a volunteer to call home-bound seniors on the phone and support them with good conversation, or sign up yourself to receive regular weekly calls from a call volunteer.
3: Give your mind a workout
It isn’t just your body that needs a workout. You also need to keep your mind sharp and active. As you age, your mind becomes vulnerable to neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s, dementia, and Alzheimer’s. You should try to regularly complete quizzes, crosswords, sudoku, and other games. For added fun and connection, using an app on your smartphone you can participate in these types of games with your friends or even enjoy a little friendly competition. Reading and taking lessons to learn something new are also great ways to boost your brain as you age.
4: Get a check-up
As you start to age, it is good to go to your doctor and get a complete check-up and also understand what types of regular annual visits you should schedule. This will help you understand your current health status, where you might be at risk, what markers to watch for, and other age-appropriate updates for you. This will help ease your mind, and you can focus on the part of your health that might need some work.
5: Maintain a sleep schedule
As we age, insomnia becomes more and more prevalent. You will find yourself needing to sleep less at night, and that is common. Try your best to develop and stick to a sleep schedule and avoid long naps during the day. Sleep is vital to staying healthy. Lack of sleep can lead to chronic fatigue during the day, a decline in cognitive health and affect decision-making. Chronic fatigue can also lead to instability on your feet, which can lead to trips, falls, and bumps.
Staying active with Interactive Caregiving™
Interactive Caregiving™ is our Comfort Keepers distinctive approach to in-home care and helps transform day-to-day caregiving into opportunities for meaningful conversation and activities that engage and enrich the lives of seniors physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally.
If staying active and engaged is important to you or a loved one, call Comfort Keepers Twin Cities today at (651) 372-8736 and a member of our care team can speak to you about Interactive Caregiving™ and healthy aging.
