Behaviors to Promote Healthy Aging

Newfound knowledge and ongoing learning about how the body works and what makes it run effectively means that there are a number of ways you can participate in the aging process and give yourself better odds for success.

Attitude. The number one way you can improve the aging process is to take charge of your attitude. Your sense of hope, humor and confidence will determine the tone of your experience. You might be reading this thinking that having a good attitude is easier said than done. That would be true, but it is also true that your attitude is one thing you have full control over.

Friends and Social Involvement. Protecting and nurturing your emotional well being is as important, if not more important, than taking care of your physical body. Contact with others, whether it be at work, church activities, or family get-togethers, will feed your spirit and can provide purpose and meaning in your life. Further, social involvement can help combat loneliness and depression and keep you active physically.

Civic / Community Involvement. Sharing your interests and passions with others will also help you keep your connection to the community strong, expose you to new people (of different ages), provide meaning and purpose, and challenge you mentally. Oftentimes, when you are busy thinking about others, it is much easier to put your own problems in perspective or forget about them altogether. Being involved with a cause that is important to you will also provide a constant reminder that you have a lot to offer. Seniors who are active, engaged and confident about their abilities generally feel better and live longer.

Nutrition. The importance of a balanced and healthy diet to healthy aging cannot be overstated. Eating well can make you feel and look better, help your body run more smoothly, ward off colds and sickness, and contribute to lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Adequate amounts of fruit, vegetables, protein and complex carbohydrates should make up your meals. Shedding any extra weight is especially important as you get older, a result which should be achieved with a sensible, balanced diet and regular exercise. Changes to your diet should reflect the changing needs of your body as an older person. Your doctor should be able to help you identify how your nutritional needs are different and how you can account for them.

Exercise. Regular exercise is another cornerstone of healthy living as you age. As your body slows down, you might be tempted to skip the exercise because it is harder to do and you feel challenged physically. This is the wrong thing to do, The most important thing to remember about exercise as you get older is that it does not need to be strenuous, it just needs to be consistent. Regular activity helps your body function more effectively in many ways. See your physician for advise on the best method of exercise for you.

Healthy Habits. Smoking and drinking are two big habits that can affect your health and the way you feel. Smoking, in particular, is one habit to quit if you haven’t already because it greatly increases the risk of heart disease and cancer. Alcohol can be fine in moderation, but it also can contribute to sleep problems and suppress your appetite, preventing you from eating well. As you age, it is important to think about your lifestyle and identify habits which are helpful and harmful. Making a conscious effort to change the harmful habits will make your aging process more enjoyable.

Sleep. Acheiving quality sleep becomes more difficult for many people as they get older. On average, people aged 50 to 85, sleep about 6 hours per day. Over 50% of men and women over age 65 complain of at least one chronic sleep problem. Many people accept sleep difficulties as a fact of aging. It is true that as we get older, our sleep patterns change, but it is equally true that good restorative sleep is essential to our physical health and emotional well-being. Possible causes of poor nighttime sleep for older people abound. Sleeping poorly might be the cause of big changes in life, health issues, medication, stress or anxiety.

Mental Activity. Stimulating your mental faculties can significantly improve the aging process. Trying to keep active mentally can help you improve your memory and combat boredom. Simple and fun things like games and puzzles, reading or taking a new route to the store are easy ways to keep your mind active and engaged.

For more information regarding Powering Your Memory - please contact the Alzheimer's Association at (716)626-0600.

For more information regarding Elderwood Senior Care, please contact us at (716)633-3900.