Top 5 Tips for Healthy Aging

Aging is inevitable, but that doesn't mean you have to get "old"! Check out our top 5 tips to stay healthy, happy and on top of your game at any age!

1) Keep your mind sharp

Physical health isn’t the only aspect of your well being you need to focus on as years pass. Taking care of your brain is also essential for healthy aging. The phrase “use it or lose it” definitely holds true when it comes to your brain health. You need to work your brain just like you would a muscle, so it remains strong and functions the best it can.

Yes, forgetting things here and there will inevitably happen as you age; this seems unavoidable, even for those of us who are in our 20s! But there are ways you can exercise your brain and keep it challenged to support a healthy brain. Here are a few ways you can slow down brain aging and keep that mind sharp as a tack:

●Play an instrument. Studies have revealed practicing a musical instrument can help older adults fight off cognitive declines and improve their listening and hearing skills.

●Take part in challenging games, such as word puzzles, sudoku, chess, or trivia. These games involve problem-solving and will improve your memory functioning.

●Read regularly. Reading is not only a fun pastime, but it is also an immersive activity that boosts cognitive skills and improves your memory as well.

●Learn a new language. This is one of the best ways to keep your brain sharp and stimulated. Even if it’s just learning a few phrases here and there, it’ll challenge your brain and keep you entertained in the process.

2) Remain socially active

Brain health also encompasses social connection. Whether it be volunteering for your community or spending time with friends and family, you want to remain socially active. This helps with loneliness and improves the emotional bonds with you and the people around you, which can have a huge effect on your mental health. Social isolation has been linked to dementia, high blood pressure, depression, and a long list of other health issues. Stay involved in the relationships in your life and your aging process will be smoother and more manageable.

3) Exercise Regularly

Healthy aging is largely determined by your physical health. Research shows bones and muscles lose density as you age and exercise promotes strength and heart health, so being active as an older adult is important now more than ever. You want to keep your strength and not be limited and negatively affected by bad physical health. Below are a few exercises that are great for older adults and can work well for a variety of physical health situations.

●Dancing

●Golfing (opt for walking hole to hole rather than riding in a golf cart to get the most exercise out of the activity)

●Walking or jogging

●Yoga

●Light weight lifting

●Swimming

●Cycling

4) Be mindful of what you eat

This one may be obvious, but it’s an important one. Eating well is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle and healthy aging. As the saying goes, “you are what you eat,” and you want to be healthy and full of life, not held back by unhealthy and damaging foods.

As you age, your metabolism slows, and you have to work harder to burn off calories. To remain healthy and in order for your metabolism to function properly, your diet should consist of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fiber, and lean protein. This also means avoiding empty calories like sugary foods with no nutritional value. Don’t worry, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a cheat meal every now and again!

Here is a list of healthy and delicious meals that promote a healthy diet:

●Banana split oatmeal

●Chinese chicken cabbage salad

●Marinated three-bean salad

●Pumpkin soup

●Vegetable soup

●Eggplant stir fry

●Pan-grilled salmon with pineapple salsa

●Stuffed green peppers

Recipes for each of these meals can be found here.

5) Purchase a medical alert device

As you age, you want to remain independent but also know you are safe and can get help case of an emergency. Having a medical alert device on hand ensures you can practice independence and still have the support you need if anything goes wrong. Whether you want a medical alert device in case of a fall or for other related emergencies, top-rated medical alert companies like Medical Care Alert have affordable medical alert devices that make it simple to stay safe and have the support you need without taking away your independence.

The great thing about medical alert devices is they can be useful for all older adults, regardless of your situation. Whether you are aging in place or living in senior housing, a medical alert device can give you added peace of mind in your aging process.

Take control of your future with healthy aging

Growing older doesn’t have to mean losing your independence or being unhappy; aging is inevitable but if your follow these tips, you can promote healthy aging and maintain the lifestyle you want.

5 Activities for Seniors for Healthier Lifestyle

Stay Active As You Get Older to Feel Younger!

As you get older, maintaining an active lifestyle and staying healthy becomes more important than ever. Everywhere you look from magazines to TV to internet, the message is to find a good balance between physical and emotional health for a longer & happier life. It is very important to find the balance as you try to make the change either on your own accord or on doctor's advice.

But most times, you do not know where to start or are just afraid to take the first step. One of the first things to do is to invest in a medical alert system that would give you freedom to go places, makes you feel safe and gives you peace of mind. Then pick an idea or activity that will help you take the first step towards a healthier lifestyle. Here are some activities you could consider:

Go to the Farmer’s Market
Go take a stroll to the farmer's markets serves many purposes. The first is that you get your muscles moving through some exercise. The second is being able to shop for delicious local foods that are healthy and mostly organic. Even better is that you get meet and talk to new people and make a few friends along the way. Make it is a weekly activity so you get to meet your friends and get the groceries done at the same time.

Catch up on Reading
Remember those times when you had wanted to read a great book you had found but didn't because of your busy schedule. Well, it is never too late to that. A great place to start would be the local library or bookstore. You could also join a book club where you would come across new people and discuss your thoughts on the book you are reading.

Take a class at your local recreational center
Most communities have recreation centers that offer exciting classes for seniors, such as salsa dance, water aerobics or speed walking. Signing up for such a course is a great motivator to get up, get out, and have some fun while working out. Improving your balance can also help to prevent falls.

Pick a Hobby
Hobbies are a great to express yourself and your ideas whether it is gardening, knitting, crossword puzzles, painting, suduko or antiquing. It enables you to spend your time doing something you enjoy and don’t feel bored with your time.

Visit Museums, Parks & Local Events
If you look around where you live and do some research, you will be surprised to the number of events that is happening on a daily basis. You can spend your day(s) in museums, learning about arts, history or science or visit local parks to take a stroll or do some bird watching. You can ask your kids to sign you up for Meetups in your city where they have different groups based on different activities. There are also a number of local events such as music bands, street festivals that is happening through the city where you spend time that you can find online.

Volunteer
One of the biggest activities you could do is to volunteer at a local museum or school. Kids are always excited to learn and listen to stories from older people who are like their grandfathers and grandmothers. You can pass on your wisdom, knowledge and experience to the next generation while helping out the organization with your free time.

As you can see, it is amazing to see how many regular things one can do in a day to feel independent and empowered. As you grow older, you may not be able to do some of the things that you used to, but there is still a world of opportunity out there for you. When you have the right tools, such as a personal emergency response system, there is no reason why you cannot thrive and take on new and exciting activities.