Do you keep resolutions? Make this year your healthiest and happiest ever by setting reasonable objectives to improve your health and quality of life. Simple everyday changes can have a big impact on your health!
Here are some suggestions for feeling good and aging well:
1. Get Enough Rest
Even if you’re older, get 7- 9 hours of sleep per night. This much sleep boosts your immune system, memory, and cognitive abilities. Many older adults have problems sleeping. Here are some basic sleep remedies:
- Avoid having a TV, phone, or computer in your room.
- Avoid coffee and alcohol late at night.
- Keep your room cool, warm, and serene.
- Set a schedule. Avoid extended naps and go to bed at the same time every day.
- Keep moving throughout the day. Get drained!
- Consult your doctor if any of your medications or health conditions disrupt your sleep.
2. Eat well and hydrate.
A balanced diet is one of the easiest goals for seniors. Consume high-fiber fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, low-fat dairy, and lean meat. Avoid processed foods and fatty meats to keep your health. These tips can help prevent cancer, heart disease, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and other viruses and bacteria. Healthy foods are fantastic, but remain hydrated. Keep a water bottle available and hydrate throughout the day. Replenish frequently!
3. Socialize
Social interaction is crucial for the elderly. Loneliness quietly kills the elderly. It’s never too late to reconnect with old friends and make new ones.
4. Ponder! (Use your brain)
“Use it or lose it,” they say. This idiom applies to your gray matter as you mature. Experts advise elderly to keep their minds active with crossword and sudoku puzzles. Reading, writing, and picking up a new pastime may help you maintain your mental health.
5. Sports/exercise
Staying active is a good senior resolve. Regular exercise provides various health benefits for seniors, including:
- Obesity management
- lowering of depression
- Bones and muscles strength
- Getting more rest
- Balance improvement and fall avoidance
- Reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol
Aim for 30 minutes of exercise per day. Many seniors like low-impact activities including bicycling, strolling, Tai Chi, water aerobics, and yoga.
6. Preventive Actions
It is easier to avoid than to cure. So, one of the top senior resolutions for this year is to enhance their health. Listed below are some ideas:
- Plan your annual physical and testing for chronic disorders and cancer.
- Vaccination against flu and other viruses.
- Notify your doctor if you have any health concerns.
- Actively manage your medicines. Consult your pharmacist or doctor if you experience an unpleasant reaction.
- Handwashing often
7. Stop Bad Habits
Quitting smoking or drinking is a common senior resolution. These activities have serious health repercussions. Smoking promotes cancer, hypertension, and can exacerbate diseases like osteoporosis. Drinking not only harms your health but also increases your danger of falling. It’s never too late to quit smoking or drinking. Ask your doctor about connecting you to one of the many cigarette and alcohol addiction support programs. Creating a support system with friends and family might also help.
8. Keep Your Life Purpose as You Age
Optimists outlive pessimists by 10 years! Nobody is Pollyanna, so you should relax and focus on spiritual advancement rather than apparent aging constraints. People who retire may feel gloomy or depressed due to a lack of purpose in life. Keeping older people connected to their purpose includes:
- Gratitude Journaling
- Volunteering
- Participating in a religious organization
- Being surrounded by positive individuals
- Setting realistic goals and accepting what can’t be changed
- Age acceptance!
9. Scan Your Home’s Security
Is your home accessible to the elderly? The design of your home can impact your health as you age! Assess dangers such as fall hazards, lighting, and assistance equipment. Home slips and falls include:
- Pathways that are blocked (think boxes, stacks of newspapers, electrical and phone cords)
- High-traffic locations that are clogged (typically with extraneous furniture like coffee tables, plant stands, and magazine racks)
- Rugs that are slick and loose
- Carpets with wrinkles
- Spills during food preparation
- Stairs
The seniors’ eyes will require more light as they age. That’s why many senior living communities use eye-catching carpeting and high-watt lighting. Many elders underestimate future physical demands, from grab bars to wheelchair accessibility. A fantastic new year’s resolution for seniors is to take a tour to a senior living community. Senior living homes are specifically built to meet the needs of elders.
10. Pre-Planning
While it may be tempting to rest and unwind in retirement, don’t forget to prepare ahead for your future care requirements! Although it may appear daunting, there are numerous resources available online for elders and those who care for them. Contact a geriatric social worker if you want in-person assistance.
