As you age, there are simple little changes that can be made to help keep you safe. It’s important to remember that we aren’t as agile as we once were, both mentally and physically so making a few of these changes will not only help you continue to age in place but will help you do so safely and will help you create healthy habits.
Physical Safety
Stretching – adding stretching to your daily routine will help you stay flexible and independent as you age. Additionally, stretching promotes better balance and core strength, which will limit your risk of falling. Stretching is a great way to reduce pain, which in turn reduces stress on your body.
Exercise – keeping active is important at any age, but as you age, it becomes even more so. Just like stretching, exercise helps your core strength, which reduces the risk of falls and helps with balance. If you aren’t sure where or how to start, take a look at this article from Help Guide and don’t forget to consult your physician before beginning any new exercise program.
Remove hazards – a fall can be devastating, especially for seniors. 1 in 3 adults over the age of 65 falls each year in their homes, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Removing hazards such as overcrowded furniture or uneven carpets will decrease the risk of falls that lead to injury.
Mental Safety
Get your rest – sleep is essential to your daily well-being. Lack of sleep can cause irritability, create memory issues, end even cause depression. So get the recommended sleep of 7-9 hours per night, if you are having sleep issues, National Institute of Aging shares A Good Night’s Sleep.
Be Social – an active life is good for your overall health. Having a good social life is known to boost your immune system and lower your blood pressure. Not to mention that having healthy relationships helps keep your state of mind in an improved and positive state, improving your overall outlook.
Challenge your brain – keep your mind active with word puzzles, games, or continuing your education. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, keeping your brain busy will help reduce the decline in cognitive skills and help reduce the risk of dementia.
Food Safety
Increase fresh fruits and veggies – having a balanced diet as you age is especially important. You need the fiber and nutrients to keep your blood pressure down, and lower risks of heart disease, stroke, and digestive issues. On a fundamental level, it also keeps your hunger satisfied, which improves your mood and overall well-being.
Get a fresh meal every day – if you can get in at least one home-cooked meal a day, you will be doing yourself a favor. Eating out causes you to consume more calories, not to mention more processed foods. Cooking for yourself, if you are able, has many health benefits. It may help stabilize your weight, help keep your blood sugars more consistent, improve your sleep habits, among many others. If you are not able to cook for yourself or don’t have a family member that will help, consider getting help from a meal delivery service in your area.
Incorporating just one or two of these ideas into your daily routine will help keep you healthy, happy and safe as you age in place. If you have difficulty with any of these tasks or any parts of your daily routine and would benefit from in-home care, we ask you to contact Shepherd’s Staff In-home Care and discuss your needs and how we can help.