When you’re young, it’s fairly easy to stay fit and healthy, and you no doubt have the energy to take on the world. Sadly, as you get older, you tire more easily and can suffer from a weakened immune system, so it can be harder to stay healthy. Here are some ways the older population can stay healthy as they age, with a few simple steps you can take to protect your health.
You should take low impact exercise
Getting older doesn’t mean you shouldn’t exercise. In fact, it has a number of benefits for older people. There are classes aimed at the older age group, such as water aerobics for seniors, which are designed to be low impact while still giving you an excellent workout. Exercising has all the usual benefits, no matter what your age, but as you get older it can also help:
- Prevent disease
- Keep a strong social network
- Improve your mental health
- Keep your mind sharp
- Lower the risk of you suffering a fall
Being retired means you’ll have more time to exercise, so make the most of your time off and sign up for some classes that catch your eye. If you live in a retirement community like Starhaven Villas, you’ll find classes and activities to sign up for in the community clubhouse.
Pay attention to preventative advice
Preventative medicine is important for older people. Because you’re at a higher risk for more serious illnesses and diseases as you age, you need to take more precautions than when you were young.
You should learn about preventative medicine and think about how you can avoid the more serious diseases in your lifetime. A lot of preventative medicine is very simple. It’s all about treating your body well and making sure it’s getting all the nutrients it needs, which we can all agree is a good habit to get into at any age.
Make social connections
It can become more difficult to make and maintain friendships as you get older, as people often move around or naturally fall out of touch. But friendships and social contacts are important for your mental health, and elderly people who are lonely often suffer from poor physical health too.
The good news is, once you reach retirement age, people tend to have more time and are willing to join social activities. That’s why lots of gyms and community centres have groups for the over 60s, as the free time from retirement lets you do a lot more now.
Older people who have active social circles often feel livelier and more youthful, as they have fun and worry less. Make sure you make time for the people who matter to you.
Your diet is just as important now
You might not pay as much attention to your diet as you get older, but it’s every bit as important to get balanced nutrition, whether you’re in your 20s or your 80s.
As people get older, they can often get into bad habits with food, whether that’s overeating out of boredom, or losing their appetite and not eating enough healthy food. Luckily, there are lots of resources out there with information about how older people can eat a healthy diet, so it’s worth reading up on.
It’s important not to fall for fad diets or do anything dramatic. Simply watching what you eat and getting lots of fruit and vegetables in your diet can make a big difference to your energy levels and much more.
Watching what you eat isn’t just about trying to drop the pounds or look good in a bikini, it has a huge number of health benefits and can help many aspects of your health in old age.
Calcium
Calcium is also important too, as it helps protect your bones as you get older, so you’re less likely to suffer from common ailments like fractures. Try to get more in your diet.
Getting old can unfortunately bring health problems in many ways. Older people will often neglect to eat well or exercise, which can cause health issues, and they are at risk of getting isolated compared to their peers.
That’s why, as you age, it’s more important than ever to take care of yourself and deal with any health problems head-on. Why not go for a health check and see where you need to make changes? It could add years to your life.