Aging is a fact of life. There is no escaping it, but that doesn’t mean you can’t age in a way that makes your Golden Years shine brightly! While genetics plays a role in our health and we can’t control it, we can control other aspects of our life and health that make aging something there’s no need to dread. The senior living experts at American House in Michigan offer these ways to get healthy and stay healthy.
Don’t tell yourself, “I’m too old to start living healthier.” That’s just not true! There are simple steps you can take starting today that will help you age in the healthiest way possible. Taking the choice of aging in a way that helps keep you physically active and emotionally involved is the best way to enjoy your Golden Years.
Ways To Get Healthy And Stay Healthy
The National Institutes of Health offer a wealth of information on healthy and happy aging, and they shared these tips for older adults. We do urge you to check with your own doctor before you start any kind of exercise or make any drastic changes to the way you live.
Ready. Set. Go… for your healthier older adult years.
- Get your zzzzzs. Sleep is when your body rejuvenates itself and repairs the toll the day has taken on your physical and mental health. Go to bed at regular times and wake up at the same time every day. Getting into a routine sleep pattern will help you get the best night’s rest possible. Talk with your doctor if you have trouble falling, or staying, asleep.
- Get up and get moving. You don’t have to run a marathon, but you do need to get up and move. You could walk around your house or march in place while you’re watching television. Consider taking a walk around the neighborhood. When you live at one of our American House Senior Living communities in Michigan, you can walk up and down the hallways, or you can walk the campus when the weather allows for it. You could do chair yoga or gentle bends and stretches. Any kind of movement will help you age more gracefully, and when you’re moving, you are also helping improve your balance. That is necessary as you age to help prevent falls.
- Diet matters. We’re not saying you need to go on a diet, but you should eat healthy meals. Choose a wide variety of fruits and vegetables to have as snacks or with your meals. Eat healthy proteins and fish. Look for, and enjoy, whole grains such as oatmeal. Drink alcohol in moderation and eat processed foods and snacks in moderation also. You don’t have to give up all the foods you love, but you need to eat more mindfully to help ensure you’re practicing healthy habits for a lifetime.
- Don’t avoid your doctor. In fact, schedule regular visits and check-ups even if you feel healthy. Your doctor is your partner in good health and may be the first to notice any slight changes in your health that he or she can help address. Follow your doctor’s instructions and give them a call if you feel any “new” aches or pains that simply won’t go away.
- Don’t forget to care for your mental and emotional health. Older adults who are isolated may find themselves suffering from depression and anxiety. If you live alone, make it a point to get out and socialize, attend senior community activities or get involved in your church or another social group. Our residents have “neighbors” they can make friends with and enjoy a cup of coffee or a stroll around the campus. If your family lives far away, use technology to stay in touch.
- Enjoy a hobby. Is there a hobby you have always loved but haven’t participated in for a while? Is there something you always wanted to try but haven’t? Why not take up a hobby? Take a class to learn to knit or crochet, if that’s something you’ve always wanted to do. If woodworking or making birdhouses is on your wish list, what’s stopping you? Look for activities that incorporate a hobby you’re involved in or want to get involved in. There is no time like the present to try something new or restart something you’ve gotten away from.
Older adults who are aging-in-place live should make an effort to maintain physical and mental health to ensure they can continue to remain in their homes. At our American House Senior Living Communities, our residents are treated like family, and have access to socialization, home-cooked meals, activities and more that the NIH believes are crucial to healthy aging.
American House was founded in 1979 to enrich the lives of seniors and their loved ones in an environment that fosters independence, compassion, quality services and meaningful relationships. We provide a wide range of senior living options, including independent living, independent living with assistance, memory care services provided by a third party, respite stays and hospice in Dearborn Heights, Farmington Hills, Rochester Hills, Sterling Heights and Westland.
Call an American House Senior Living community near you today to schedule a tour of one of our beautiful facilities and ask questions to help put your mind at ease if you’re considering a move for an aging loved one, spouse or even for yourself.
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