As you advance in age, preventative wellness and self-care become increasingly important. Seniors who engage in healthy, active lifestyles have stronger immune systems, sharper brain function, fewer health concerns, and better overall quality of life.
Even something as minor as the seasonal cold or flu can be concerning when you’re 65 or older and may impact long term health problems.
Once people reach their 70s, health status can vary greatly. Some seniors have no ailments at all while others must manage long term health concerns in addition to living a healthy lifestyle. No matter your age or baseline of health, there are many things you can do to maintain or even improve your health while getting the most out of your golden years. Here’s a list of 15 health tips that help seniors live their best lives:
1. Stay on Top of Health Exams and Screenings
With regular wellness exams and screenings, doctors can identify concerns that often go unnoticed until they cause serious complications. Early detection improves treatment outcomes, especially for elderly patients.
2. Get Annual Vaccinations
Annual vaccinations reduce the impact and severity of viral infections. It’s important to get vaccines early so your body has time to adapt virus strains as they change every year.
3. Avoid Exposure to Crowds During Cold Season
Avoiding crowds of people, especially during the cold season is a great strategy for seniors to avoid becoming ill. It may be simpler to say than to do, however, if you must go out during cold season, it’s best to shield your face with a protective face mask and wash your hands frequently.
4. Exercise and Stay Active
Exercise and healthy activities are proven senior wellness boosters. Whether you enjoy walking, swimming, riding bikes, or playing sports, anything that gets your muscles moving and heart pumping benefits seniors’ overall physical and mental health.
5. Support Bone & Joint Health
Poor bone health can have debilitating impacts on seniors’ ability to maintain an active lifestyle. Therefore it’s particularly important that elderly individuals monitor bone health with regular exams, eat a healthy balanced diet and supplement with vitamins and minerals such as vitamin D and calcium as instructed by a medical professional.
Becoming older impacts the joints. Joint health issues such as joint stiffness can limit range of motion and mobility. Joint health supplements and low-impact exercise can help support healthy joints.
6. Eat a Healthy Diet
Diets high in fruits, vegetables and lean meats provide nutrients to support senior immune health. Fruits and vegetables also contain antioxidants that protect against cellular aging and harmful free radical damage.
7. Take Care of Your Eyes & Ears
Seniors are vulnerable to age-related eye conditions, therefore, it’s crucial to undergo frequent eye exams. You can also take steps to protect your eyes by shielding them from ultraviolet rays from the sun by wearing sunglasses, even on cloudy days.
If you sometimes have difficulty hearing what others are saying, then you may be experiencing hearing loss. Hearing loss inhibits the ability of seniors to enjoy their daily lives and have meaningful social interactions. That’s why it’s important to have your hearing checked regularly.
8. Use Proper Footwear and Foot Care
Senior feet and ankles are susceptible to stiffness, swelling and restricted range of motion. Healthy feet are essential to maintaining an active lifestyle and require proper footwear and orthopedic care.
9. Take Steps to Avoid Falls
As people age, falls are a common cause of injury. Seniors take longer to recover from falls and injuries.
You can reduce your fall risk by utilizing railings, removing clutter, and keeping areas well-lit. Balance exercises and strength training can help prevent falls. If you are frail and live alone, installing a hands-free medical alert system is probably a good idea.
10. Keep Your Medications and Supplements Organized
You might need to take various medications particularly as you age. It’s crucial to frequently evaluate your prescriptions with your pharmacist and medical professional to make sure everything is essential and to look for any potential interactions.
11. Don’t Lose Sleep
Sleep issues are common in elderly individuals. As we age, not getting enough sleep at night can result in health issues related to falls and daytime weariness. Try relaxation techniques that promote restful sleep and see your doctor if sleep disturbances become an ongoing problem. You can even try sleep aids like melatonin.
12. Wash Hands Frequently
Germs can survive for up to 24 hours on surfaces. That’s why it’s important to wash your hands frequently, for at least 20 seconds, with warm, soapy water. Do not touch your mouth, nose, or face with your hands. Use hand sanitizers only when hand washing is not possible.
13. Exercise Your Brain
Seniors who play games, solve puzzles and study new things are often able to maintain cognitive function throughout their golden years. Find something that intrigues you, piques your curiosity, and mentally challenges you such as learning a new language, playing chess, or reading about a scientific subject.
14. Practice Stress Management
Your body under stress produces more cortisol. Cortisol is known for compromising immune health and can lead to other health concerns. Explore stress-relieving, fun activities, increase your physical activity, get plenty of rest, and set realistic expectations for yourself to manage senior stress.
15. Have Passion & Purpose
Seniors gain both mental and physical rewards from maintaining a healthy sexual life.
Even though sex in your 70s may be different from that in your 20s, it can still be very fulfilling. Regular sex which includes kissing and caressing is linked to higher life satisfaction among older males and females.
Seniors with the greatest longevity usually have one trait in common, purpose.
In cultures where older people are admired and much sought after for guidance, wisdom, and leadership, elderly people commonly live longer lives. Elderly individuals may establish their own sense of purpose by taking part in spiritual practices, creative projects, social clubs, and community organizations.
