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6 Tips For Seniors To Stay Fit And Healthy All Year Round

Taking care of your health at all stages of life is extremely important. But as you grow older, your body goes through numerous changes, and prioritizing your health and fitness becomes even more crucial.

There are many simple lifestyle changes you can make to encourage happy and healthy aging. Making good life choices can help counter many health problems associated with old age and keep you fit and happy all year round.

Below, we’ve compiled a list of top 6 tips for seniors to take care of their health and live their best life. 

1. Stay Connected

Aging can be an emotionally and physically jarring experience, and many seniors find themselves struggling with feelings of loneliness, inadequacy, or depression. While focusing on physical fitness is important, mental well-being is the key to overall health. 

If you feel restless or bored throughout the day, try to take up stimulating activities that you may enjoy. Gardening, knitting, reading, or even an old movie marathon are good ways to keep yourself mentally stimulated and prevent feelings of boredom. 

It is also essential to stay connected and maintain an active social life. If you currently don’t have a social group of friends, make an effort to reach out and rekindle old friendships or form new ones. 

So it might be a good idea to join your local church or an aged care home like Kew Gardens. Aged care homes allow you to engage in volunteer activities, book clubs, online lessons, senior dance classes, alumni groups, or any other social circle that corresponds with your interests. 

Spending time with your loved ones and having an active social circle is a great way to stay connected and care for your emotional well-being. 

2. Be Physically Active 

Physical exercise is the best way to maintain a healthy body and mind, and to counter many of the negative effects of aging. Exercising regularly can help you stay mobile and independent, improve cognitive functioning, and manage diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

But as seniors generally have lower energy levels and mobility than younger individuals, it is important not to over-exercise or follow a very stringent exercise regime. Here is a list of some of the best exercises for seniors to build muscle strength and boost the immune system.

If low energy levels or health issues prevent you from exercising as much as you’d like, we recommend starting slow. According to experts, a little exercise is better than none at all. For example, taking a brisk walk or 30 minutes of daily yoga can go a long way in improving your overall health.

3. Maintain A Healthy Sleeping Schedule 

A healthy sleeping schedule is essential for individuals of all ages, especially seniors. Adults over 65 should ideally get between 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night to give their bodies adequate rest, strengthen the immune system, and improve concentration and memory.

It is common for seniors to wake up early in the morning and feel sleepy by evening. This is perfectly alright as long as you meet the recommended sleep duration each night. 

If you’re experiencing trouble sleeping, make sure to consult your physician to find the underlying cause. Insomnia among seniors can be caused by high stress levels or inactivity during the day, but can also be indicative of medical conditions like restless leg syndrome. 

4. Get Routine Health Checkups 

Many adults over 60 do not visit the doctor as often as they should, which can lead to health complications going undetected for long periods. So it is vital to set up regular health checkups with your dentist, eye doctor, general physician, or specialist healthcare providers throughout the year. 

Health issues affecting seniors like arthritis, diabetes, heart problems, or cognitive issues like dementia are common among seniors. Regular checkups can help diagnose these issues early on and treat them before they become more severe. 

5. Don’t Neglect Your Medication

While this may seem obvious, taking the medication prescribed by your doctor is very important. On your regular doctor visits, you should also revisit your prescriptions and ask your doctor if taking all your medicines is still necessary. 

While you should never stop taking a drug before completing the dose recommended by your doctor, it is a good practice to review the necessity of all your medications yearly. This can help narrow down your list of drugs and lessen the chances of adverse drug-drug interactions.

If you have trouble remembering which medicine to take and when, try setting alarms or reminders so you can follow the proper schedule and dosage. You can also ask for help from your family members or carers to ensure you are taking your medication correctly. 

6. Watch What You Put In Your Body 

A well-balanced diet and lifestyle are the key to healthy aging. You should eat a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and lean meats to boost your immune system and maintain a healthy weight. Also, ask your doctor if you need supplements or multivitamins in addition to your routine medications, and incorporate them into your diet. 

While it’s important to focus on what to eat, you should also be careful of what not to put in your body. So try and limit your consumption of fatty and sugary foods to keep your cholesterol levels low and prevent common heart diseases. 

It’s also important to limit your consumption of alcohol and unnecessary prescription drugs. And if you are currently a smoker, reach out for help on how to quit. Excessive drinking and smoking can exacerbate health issues and prevent you from living a healthy life.