Stay Healthy as You Age with These Essential Tips and Resources for Seniors

According to Time, the average life expectancy in the US is around 79 years of age — compared to about 71.4 years globally. However, actual life expectancy varies depending on several factors, including diet and nutrition, lifestyle, genetics, gender, hygiene, socioeconomic status, and access to health care.

Whether you’ve eaten well and exercised your whole life, or you’re looking to improve your lifestyle for the first time, studies show that it’s never too late to change your habits — even if you’re over the age of 50. Simple changes such as eating more fruits and vegetables and following a new exercise regime can all help to improve your health, no matter your age. For some tips and resources that can help you to live your best years yet, read on!

Senior-Friendly Exercises

As we age, regular exercise is just as important as ever before — especially when it comes to preventing falls, slips, and fall-related injuries. Regular physical activity makes us stronger and improves our balance, endurance, and flexibility. Even activities like stretching, learning to control our breathing, and practicing yoga can offer similar benefits. To reap the many benefits of physical activity, some exercises are better suited for seniors than others. Instead of running or challenging ourselves to stomach crunches and leg presses, for instance, several safer options for seniors include walks, push-ups, squats, and seated rows.

Oral Health Improvements

As you get older, oral health care becomes so much more important. Since gum disease and tooth decay have been linked to such serious concerns as heart disease, it makes even more sense to develop a dental health routine that you can follow each and every day. Unfortunately, if you suffer from misaligned teeth that overlap, keeping your mouth healthy can require a little extra work. At-home teeth aligners like byte can help you realign your teeth without visiting the dentist’s office. Instead, these affordable plastic aligners are monitored remotely by a team of professionals, ensuring that you still receive the expert care and attention you need. Remember that byte and similar aligners may not work for extreme cases.

Medicare Health Insurance Coverage

According to AARP, older adults should aim to see their primary doctors at least once per year if they’re taking prescription medications for any type of chronic condition. As such, enrolling in Medicare may be a good option for you if you’re almost 65 years of age, reside in the U.S., and qualify for this type of health insurance program.

Under Medicare Part B, you’ll receive benefits such as:

• Coverage for preventative services. These include cancer screenings, one depression assessment per year, flu shots, and an annual wellness visit.
• Coverage for medically necessary supplies and services. Depending on the situation, Medicare may cover durable medical equipment (DME), ambulance services, and inpatient or outpatient mental health care.

Nutritious Meals and Snacks

As we age, much of our diet should revolve around lean proteins, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, high-fiber foods, and low-fat dairy products or milk alternatives. It’s also important to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, tea, and other fluids low in sugar and sodium.

To assist us in making healthy food choices as we age, a variety of senior-friendly recipes and resources are available. Several of these resources include the National Institute on Aging (NIH), National Council on Aging (NCOA), and Eldercare Locator.

Senior Housing Options

To live your best years as a senior, it’s also important to think about the type of housing that will best suit your wants and needs as you age. For instance, several housing options for seniors include aging in place or downsizing to an independent living community, assisted living facility, retirement community, or a nursing home. Even if you choose to age in place, downsizing to a smaller home may ultimately be a good idea.

For many seniors, moving to an independent living community is a desirable option. This type of housing provides residents with a smaller space to maintain, along with other amenities such as housekeeping services, daily activities, and fitness classes. Some independent living communities offer one or more meals per day in addition to on-site medical services as well. If you need help determining what services are right for you or your aging loved one, Adult Care Adivsors can help you weigh your options and make the best decision.

We all know that getting older isn’t easy. However, these tips and resources will help to keep you safe and healthy as you grow older.

Written By: Mary Shannon
Email: mary@SeniorsMeet.org
SeniorsMeet.org