For seniors, maintaining a healthy life is important. Whether you are under home health care in California or living on your own, being fit helps you stay clear of illnesses. But how do you exactly do that at an advanced age? Here are some great tips from providers of home health care services to maintain the right lifestyle.
Senior Lifestyle Tip No. 1: Be Active
Many seniors often think that, at their advanced age, being physically active is difficult. After all, they have weaker bodies at this point. But as it turns out, being inactive can do your body much worse. If you want to stay healthy, then you need to get yourself moving.
There are already a lot of studies that support this. For one, an active lifestyle helps boost your immune system and prevent the onset of illnesses like diabetes and heart ailments. It is also a great way to maintain your weight and stave off any associated issues. Lastly, an active lifestyle will aid in improving your mental health.
But how exactly do you pursue an active lifestyle at your advanced age? Here, simple everyday activities like walking, biking, and even doing household chores can do a lot for you. If you have spare time, you and your doctor can also develop a low-impact exercise program. Your goal should be to get at least 150 minutes of exercise time throughout the week.
Senior Lifestyle Tip No. 2: Eat Healthily
Good nutrition is also vital during your senior years. Some of the essential foods that you would want to eat more of include:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Seeds and nuts like chia and almonds
- Fish such as salmon and tuna
- Whole grains foods (whole oats, whole wheat, rye, barley, etc.)
- Non-fat milk
All of these foods contain various nutrients that your body will need to maintain itself. A dietician can help you develop a meal plan that incorporates as many of these food groups as possible. Providers of home health care services like Amavi can help you quickly connect with these experts.
Foods To Avoid
But more than just eating healthy food, you must also be aware of the ones to avoid. These foods have been shown to increase the risks of different diseases. Some of them you should lessen include:
- Fatty foods
- Processed foods
- Food high in sodium
- Soda and other sugary drinks
- Alcoholic beverages
- Drinks with too much caffeine
- Soft cheese
There are a variety of healthy alternatives for these foods you can switch to. This way, you can still enjoy the taste without compromising your health. Note that some of these foods might not be entirely avoidable. In this case, ask your doctor to know how much you can safely consume.
Diet And Nutrition For Seniors
Senior Lifestyle Tip No. 3: Take Supplements
While eating right will help you get the nutrition you need during your senior years, it might not always be enough to fill it. For that, it would be a good idea to have a regular intake of supplements to complete your daily nutritional requirements.
Some of the supplements that you would want to take include:
- Calcium: This helps ensure bone strength and lessen the likelihood of fractures.
- Vitamin D: It promotes oral health and protects you against certain types of cancer.
- Vitamin B6: Vital for forming red blood cells that fight infections.
- Vitamin B12: Helps keep your nerves healthy and prevent the onset of dementia.
The dosage of supplements you need to get these nutrients will vary as you age. Regularly consult your physician to know the right amount for you. Also, they might prescribe additional supplements depending on any particular medical condition you might have.
Senior Lifestyle Tip No. 4: Focus On Prevention
Your body might be weaker during your senior years but that doesn’t mean that you can’t prevent the different illnesses during these years. As such, you should focus on doubling down on that prevention.
Schedule regular visits with doctors for checkups. They will screen you for signs of potential diseases during your age. You would also want to update on the immunizations you have. While you might have already gotten these shots during your younger days, they weaken over time. You can also be more susceptible to newer diseases like COVID-19 if you don’t have updated immunization.
Additionally, you would want to get regular dental, vision, and hearing checkups. Any issues here can significantly hamper your ability to live a regular life. Many providers of home health care in California facilitate these checkups regularly, so you would want to take advantage of these.
Preventing Physical Injuries
Falls are one of the most common causes of physical injuries among older people. As such, you would want to protect yourself from these. The above regular exercise routine will help you strengthen your body and improve your balance. This is important, as you need to have good control of your body when going with your daily activities.
You would also want to make sure that your surroundings are free of any obstacles. Remove any loose rug around the house that might cause you to slip. Install proper lighting as well for increased visibility during night time and have someone accompany you whenever you are doing certain activities.
Senior Lifestyle Tip No. 5: Lessen Stress
Stress can have a significant impact on your well-being. During stressful periods, your body produces an abnormal level of cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones can affect your brain in the long run, leading to memory loss and other cognitive issues.
It will also harm your physical health. High amounts of stress lead to elevated blood pressure, which can trigger heart issues. You also become more fatigued easily. As such, you need to lessen the stresses you encounter daily.
Simple Ways To Lessen Stress
Luckily, you can relieve stress through some simple routines. One of these is by just staying still for a few minutes. This meditative strategy lets you take your mind off problems and reset your focus. Additionally, meditating can also help you protect yourself from future stresses.
Another way to reduce stress is by solving different puzzles. These include number puzzles like sudoku, as well as the familiar crossword. Such puzzles will help you work out your brain and improve memory and focus. You can also explore video games for the same purpose.
Lastly, don’t forget to socialize with friends and family. Socialization has a wide array of health benefits. This is the very reason why providers of home health care in California encourage their wards to connect with senior groups.
Keep Yourself Healthy In Old Age With These Lifestyle Tips
Even if you are under home health care in California, it is never too late to do some lifestyle changes. These simple steps can do a lot of wonders for your well-being. And Amavi is always there to help you make the step towards better health. Sign up with us today and enjoy the best home health care services you can get.