Staying Healthy and Safe: How Seniors Can Feel Better and Remain Active

Feeling good and remaining active are key for seniors as they progress into their golden years. From exercise to nutrition, there are many options for improving your health and mobility. These changes can have a big impact on how you feel, and learning more about them helps to keep you on track for a healthy and safe life.

Proper Nutrition for Seniors

Incorporating healthier options into your diet isn’t complicated. According to most dietary guidelines, healthy grains, fruits, and vegetables are among the best choices for seniors looking to eat clean and healthy.

To complete your daily nutrient intake, you should also consume healthy fats, such as nuts, avocados, and olive oil. If you feel like you’re still not getting enough nutrients, talk to your doctor about choosing the right supplement for you.

The Role of Microbiome in Your Body

The human body is full of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms referred to as your microbiome, or microbes for short. Trillions of microbes exist mainly on your skin and inside your intestines.

Your gut microbiome has a significant impact on your overall health. These bacteria perform important work such as:

• Controlling food digestion
• Supporting the immune system
• Helping with your mood
• Keeping you at a healthy weight

Ensuring your gut is healthy and happy is essential to producing the good bacteria it needs to support your overall health. Adding fiber, prebiotics, and probiotics to your diet can also help promote optimal gut health.

Other smart food choices include garlic and even dark chocolate. Simple changes to your daily meals can result in a healthier gut, benefiting your entire body.

Get Moving

Moderate exercise can do wonders for your mobility and independence. While a decrease in strength and stamina are a part of the aging process, you can improve them by adding daily exercise. The Centers for Disease Control reports that exercise for seniors can reduce blood pressure and help maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints.

Choosing the right type of exercises is crucial to avoid making an existing health condition worse and to ward off developing a new injury. Start slow with basic walking, squats, or other similar exercises that are safe yet fun. If you prefer exercising at home, you can put together a home gym with equipment such as a stationary bike, treadmill, or rowing machine. And if you’re on a budget, there are a variety of balance and strength exercises that don’t require more than a workout mat, some light weights, and resistance bands. If you’re going to be doing any sort of weight training, a set of adjustable dumbbells are ideal because you can add on weight as you progress.

To Drive or Not to Drive

Deciding when to stop driving is one of life’s toughest decisions. While some seniors do fine behind the wheel, others may face challenges due to physical conditions and medications. Giving up their car keys can result in a loss of independence and can lead to isolation for seniors.

If you decide to give up driving, knowing your transportation options is crucial to keeping you active and social. While it may seem difficult to find accessible alternatives that are readily available, there truly are plenty of choices. These options include taxi services, ride-sharing services like Lyft or Uber, public transportation and even shuttle services through community volunteer organizations. If you need transportation to a doctor’s appointment, Medicare will not cover the costs, but some Medicare Advantage plans will cover them.

Utilize Helpful Resources

The amount of resources available online and through community services that provide helpful information for seniors is vast. Use these resources to boost your overall health and to stay in the know. For example, there are a multitude of websites that offer senior-friendly recipes, exercises, and tips regarding senior driving. You can also use these resources to connect with other seniors or senior groups.

Maintaining safety and health in your golden years can be easy if you know where to begin. Start slowly by introducing more fruits and vegetables to your meals, going for short walks, and learning more about your options for transportation. Small steps are better than no steps, and the above proactive measures can make for a more enjoyable retirement. Begin your journey toward a happier and safer future by taking control of your health today.

Guest writer Karen Weeks
Elderwellness.net
karen@elderwellness.net
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