Healthy Habits for Aging Adults

Healthy Habits

Smoking and drinking are two big habits that can affect your health and the way you handle aging. Alcohol may be fine in moderation but you must be careful that your consumption is a healthy not harmful habit. Alcohol can contribute to sleep and appetite problems. It’s important to making an effort to change harmful habits. An abundance of medical evidence indicates that smoking is the cause of a variety of illness including cancer, heart disease and lung diseases.

Sleep
Quality sleep becomes more difficult for many people as they get older. On the average people age 50 and over sleep 6 hours per day. Sleeping poorly might be the cause of big changes in life, health issues, medication, stress or anxiety. Exposure to daily sunlight as well as regular exercise contribute to restful sleep.

Mental Activity
Mental stimulation can significantly improve the aging process. Trying to keep active mentally can improve your memory, combat boredom and also help improve sleeping. Simple and fun games and puzzles, reading or changing your route to the store are easy ways to keep your mind active and engaged.

Benefits of Growing Older

The benefit of growing older is that we have the opportunity to use our wisdom to manage or regain our zest for life. Here are some easy things you can do everyday to make it healthy, safe and fun.

• Stop pressing the snooze button
• Step outside before breakfast to get a dose of sunlight
• Eat to energize
• Save your skin
• Go outside to boost your mood
• Stay hydrated (at least six 8 ounce glasses of liquids every day)
• Try a mental exercise
• Break for coffee or tea with a friend
• Don’t forget your vitamins or meds
• Stretch, exercise with weights or walk for 10 minutes
• Reapply sunscreen
• Eat healthy snacks
• Dim the lights to wind down
• Monitor your alcohol intake
• Turn off the TV

The Importance of Exercise and Aging

Exercise
Keeping your body healthy increases your chances of living a long life. It’s not about how strenuous your exercising is but that it’s consistent. It can help with weight loss and maintenance, combat anxiety and depression, keep bones, muscles and joints working properly relieve symptoms of arthritis and reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and some types of cancer. Exercise is one of the major cornerstones of healthy living.

The following foods contribute to a long and healthy life when they are part of a well balanced diet:
• Good fats such as: avocados, olive oil, sesame seeds and almonds, salmon, mackerel
• Antioxidants such as: pomegranate, blueberries, strawberries, cranberries
• Colorful Produce such as: tomatoes for red lycopene, red bell peppers, carrots, mangoes and sweet potatoes
• Anti inflammations such as: ginger and green and red apples
• Important immune builders such as: low fat yogurt
• Greens such as: asparagus, green tea, broccoli

Weight Loss
Losing weight without trying could be a warning sign of worsening health. Weight loss through diet and exercise is normal. Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the most important things you can do for your health. However, if you have lost weight without trying, make an appointment with your doctor to make sure it’s not a serious illness.

Skin Care
Exercise increases circulation that enhances distribution of nutrients to your skin. As we age skin thins so be sure you moisturize and use at least a SPF 15 or higher.

Early Detection of Problems

Health screenings help to detect chronic diseases early in their course, when the disease is most treatable. Screenings can help save lives.

There are a number of other ways you can confront the aging process and give yourself the best odds for success.

Attitude
Your sense of hope, humor and confidence will determine the tone of your aging experience. Your attitude is one thing you have full control over.

Civic Involvement
Sharing your interests and passions with others and being involved in a cause that is important to you will provide a constant reminder that you have a lot to offer and serves as a tool for putting problems in perspective or maybe even forgetting about them altogether.

Friends and Social Involvement
Contact with others will feed your spirit and can provide purpose and meaning in your life whether it be at work, church, or family get togethers. Interaction with grandchildren and being a volunteer are also very important to keeping ourselves involved verses isolated.

Knowledge of Aging

Growing knowledge and resources about the effects of aging can help you actively take part in your own health and wellness. Taking advantage of these resources can translate into feeling more comfortable, contented and healthy as you age. Keep in mind that reducing your risk of disease is all about making simple changes in your daily routine.

In the past we believed there was little or nothing we could do to change our health and improve our overall wellness. Research has shown that healthy lifestyle behaviors, such as being physically active, eating a healthy diet, and not smoking, are more influential than genetic factors.

Published results in medical research, in-depth studies on women’s and men’s health, and medical and pharmaceutical advances in research have all helped to inform the public and open avenues for better decision making about managing personal health.

Common Myths About Aging

Let’s review some of the common myths about aging and the real statistics.

Myth: To Be Old is to Be Sick
Reality: Older people are in remarkably good health, with fewer illnesses and disabilities; 89% of those age 65-74 report no disability at all.

Myth: You Can’t Teach an Old Dog New Tricks
Reality: Research shows that older people can and do learn new things. Many seniors today are keeping up in a number of ways. 13% of total online users are 55 and over.

Myth: The Horse is Out of the Barn (meaning that the behaviors and habits of our youth and early life have already caused irreversible damage to our health)
Reality: New habits such as healthy eating, regular exercise, mental activity and a strong social life are remarkably effective in combating the byproducts of yesteryear’s bad habits and unhealthy living.

Myth: The Secret to Successful Aging is to Choose Your Parents Wisely
Reality: The MacArthur Foundation conducted a study that showed that lifestyle changes are as important indicators of successful and healthy aging as hereditary is.

Myth: The Lights may be on, But the Voltage is Low
Reality: Mental Acuity and physical ability to an extent decline with age however they are greatly affected by attitude and lifestyle habits.

Myth: The Elderly Don’t Pull their Own
Reality: Seniors play some of the most important roles in society both in formal positions within the community, and informal roles as parents, grandparents, friends and neighbors. Additionally, new opportunities for paid work are blossoming since the traditional retirement age is being
reinvented.

Healthy Aging for Seniors Over Age 65

Getting older brings with it an abundance of emotional, physical and mental challenges. Aging can also bring with it a lot of anxiety. When we are in our 40’s we frequently talk about our parents, aunts and uncles getting older but seldom realize that at the very same time we are also aging.

The unexpected nature of the aging process often makes us feel nervous and scared. One in every eight Americans is over the age of 65. Preventing health problems is one of the few known ways you can remain independent for as long as possible and avoid the debility traditionally associated with aging.

Many organizations, agencies and health care providers are exploring and setting agendas for improvements in health across all life stages in an effort to improve our health and well being as we age.

Interim HealthCare staff are trained to assist you to take care of your body so you can feel more comfortable as you greet the changes that come with aging. Interim HealthCare is committed to assist you with information, education and resources that will help you manage many of the aspects of the aging process and improve your quality of life and help you enjoy yourself.