Six Simple Ways to Improve Health for Seniors

Lots of people have left their New Year’s resolutions by the wayside by the end of January, but who says resolutions should only be made in the beginning of the year? There’s no time like the present to start a brand new habit or goal, especially when it comes to improving health for seniors

We have six recommendations you can implement today. Pick one to begin, or jump right into all of them to achieve the most benefit:

1. Schedule a physical. Instead of waiting for a sickness or injury to call the physician, a yearly check-up is a good method for older adults to stay on top of their health and potentially prevent issues before they occur.
2. Get physical. With the physician’s approval and recommendations at hand, begin a new health and fitness routine – together! Working out with an older adult you love allows you to motivate one another and function as accountability partners. Commit to sticking with it for at least 21 days, after which it should be an ingrained, enjoyable habit you’ll wish to continue.
3. Stay connected. Help the senior maintain friendships and contact with loved ones to reduce the chances of loneliness and isolation – something we’ve all become too familiar with during the course of the pandemic. Offer transportation if needed for dinner dates, or with setting up technology to stay virtually connected.
4. Keep vaccinations up-to-date. Along with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, pneumonia, seasonal influenza, and shingles vaccines ought to be up to date. As people age, there is a heightened risk for severe effects from these illnesses, so vaccinations become even more important to help improve health for seniors.
5. Don’t forget mental health. A mental health provider will help determine if depression, anxiety, or other concerns should be addressed, providing both therapeutic tools and medication if needed. Maintaining mental sharpness through brain enrichment activities will also help with the natural cognitive decline that develops in aging.
6. Watch what you eat. If the pantry and fridge are full of empty-calorie or fatty foods, replace them with proteins, whole grains, fresh veggies and fruits, and low-fat dairy products. An extreme change in diet can be overwhelming and hard to adhere to, so start simple with one replacement at first – carrot sticks in place of potato chips, for instance – and work up to a more healthy overall diet.

Home Sweet Home In-Home Care is here to assist older adults in achieving these and any other goals with customized in-home care and companionship. From transportation and accompaniment to medical appointments and exercise classes to grocery shopping and preparing healthy meals, all while giving socialization a much-needed boost, we are empowering seniors to live their best lives on a daily basis by providing in-home caregivers in Portage, MI and the surrounding communities.  Email or call us at (866) 229-2505 for more information on how we can help a senior you love!