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Being healthy is so much more than looking thinner or younger — it’s about feeling great on the inside. As we advance into our senior years, our health can suffer and impact our quality of life. It’s critical to take preventive steps now to maintain and improve your health so you can make the most of your golden years. So, here are some simple ways to keep your health in check.
Reevaluate Your Healthcare Coverage
Healthcare plays an important role in both treating and preventing common problems associated with aging. Take some time to reevaluate your healthcare coverage and ensure that you’re getting the most out of your plan. Medicare plans change every year, so you might just discover a plan that better suits your needs. Certain Medicare Advantage plans, such as those from UnitedHealthcare, include extra coverage for dental and vision care, as well as access to convenient, country-wide fitness centers.
Learn to Recognize and Accept Change
Unfortunately, changes in strength, hearing, eyesight, and cognitive processing are common as we grow older. These changes can make it more difficult — or even dangerous — to engage in certain activities. Learn how to recognize these changes so you can preserve your health and avoid injury. For example, you may have to make accessibility modifications to your home to prevent falls. It’s also important to recognize when it’s no longer safe for you to drive. While this can be disheartening, don’t let it restrict your life! Seniors have several transportation options, including public transit, volunteer driving programs, and ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft.
Get Moving
Regular physical activity can help you stave off many of the common limitations of aging. The World Health Organization recommends that seniors engage in at least 150 minutes of exercise every week in sessions lasting at least 10 minutes. For optimal health benefits, aim for 300 minutes per week! It’s also important to perform balance and flexibility exercises about three times weekly and engage in strength training twice per week.
While this sounds like a lot of exercise, following these guidelines will help you develop enduring strength and resilience against muscle weakness, joint stiffness, pain, fatigue, and instability. Try out different cardio exercises until you find a few that you enjoy. Swimming, bicycling, and dancing are fantastic ways to get your blood pumping and support your cardiovascular health! When you’re ready to test your strength, give this senior-friendly weight-training workout a go.
Develop a Nutritious Meal Plan
An unbalanced diet can contribute to muscle loss and accelerate age-related decline. Unfortunately, many seniors do not consume enough calories due to loss of appetite, changes in oral health, or difficulties shopping or cooking. Overcome these barriers by taking advantage of meal-delivery services that curate nutritious meals and bring them right to your door.
Aim for a diet high in nutrient-dense, calorie-dense foods. US News recommends that seniors try to double their protein intake to combat muscle loss. Also, maximize the vitamins and minerals in your food by loading up on whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Essential nutrients like potassium, calcium, vitamin B12, and fiber will fortify your health from your brain to your digestive system. Try to incorporate some healthy fats to promote heart health — seeds, nuts, and avocados are excellent sources. If you like cooking, try these senior-friendly recipes!
Nurture Your Mental Health
Everything that you do for your physical health will affect your mental health as well. However, there are several actions you can take to give your mental well-being a little extra care. For example, carve out time in your day to socialize, engage in relaxing hobbies, and learn something new. Research shows that seniors who actively participate in these kinds of activities enjoy better mental health and a higher quality of life.
Most important of all, do what makes you happy! There are countless ways to adopt healthy habits and follow an enjoyable lifestyle, so don’t settle for exercises, activities, or meal plans that you dislike. Try different things until you’ve found a health strategy that works for you.