Learn about the best ways to keep your body healthy as you age, with tips on activities, resources and actions you can take for great senior physical health.
Regardless of your age, your health matters and you have the best chance of maintaining good physical and mental health by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
As you get older, it becomes even more important to manage a healthy lifestyle so that you can minimise your risk of getting health issues commonly associated with ageing. Naturally you may get less active, but that doesn’t mean you have to be totally inactive. You may need to adjust your diet according to your new health needs, adding more of certain vitamins and minerals, and moving more to lose any additional weight you may have gained.
If you don’t maintain your health you may find your independence becomes more of a struggle as you may have mobility issues because of your inactivity. You may suffer a fall which breaks a bone, which might have not broken if you had of maintained bone strength with regular activity.
The fact of the matter is that your health is in your hands and the more you put into your physical and mental health, the more likely you are to thrive in your golden years. To help you maintain good physical health take a look at these 5 tips to keep your body healthy in later life:
- Quit Bad Habits
Bad habits like smoking and drinking excessively will only cause your body to age faster. They also increase your risk of a wide range of diseases and health conditions so it is important to quit those habits as soon as you possibly can.
- Stay Active
Whether you go for daily walks, go swimming with friends, enjoy gardening or go to zumba classes, staying active is so important. It ensures you keep your muscles and bones strong, your heart healthy and your weight within a healthy range.
- Eat A Balanced Diet
It is so important you eat a balanced diet as you age. Nutrients, vitamins and minerals keep the body strong and vibrant. You can find useful articles about eating well as a senior on The Live-in Care Hub.
- Seek Help If You Need It
Sometimes we need help staying active because we have so much to do at home, because there are special mobility needs, because you’re recovering from a health issue, or simply because you need specialist help to stay independent. Don’t be afraid to reach out to a live in care provider for support. A live in care agency will be able to provide you with a carer who can visit you at set times, come and help you for set time, for example after an operation, or who is able to live with you and provide help long term. A live in care provider could be exactly what you need to stay as physically healthy as you possible can long term.
- Don’t Forget Your Long Term Mental Health
If you are depressed you may not want to go out and exercise, you may not even want to eat. Exercising regularly can help to keep away the low moods but if you are suffering from more than a low mood, seek help from your GP as soon as possible to help you manage your symptoms and hopefully get to the root of the problem.
Follow the tips above and don’t be afraid to seek help, whether that is from friends and family, from a live in care provider, from your GP or from local external services. Maintaining good physical health as you age is a really important part of protecting your ability to have the kind of later life you deserve.
