Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Simple Tips to Help Seniors Embrace Healthy Aging.




Are you a senior who is looking to live your best life? Well, you’ve come to the right place. We have all the simple tips you need to stay healthy, feel happy, and make the years ahead of you truly special. All you have to do is keep reading!

Keep Your Home Ready for You to Age in Place

If you have been researching ways to stay healthy and independent, you may have come across a few articles focused on aging in place. This concept is growing in popularity among seniors because it allows older adults to remain in their own home for an extended period of time. Best of all, the changes you can make to keep your home safe and accessible are all pretty simple to complete on your own. Start by changing out knobs for levers that are easier to operate and adding more lighting in storage areas and under cabinets.

Home automation also makes it much easier for seniors to stay comfortable in their own homes. Smart doorbells are growing in popularity because they allow you to see who is at your door without the need to answer it. This can be extremely helpful for seniors with limited mobility, but it can also come in handy to help you keep track of packages. Other devices, such as trackers and medication dispensers, may be more useful as you get older, but some can help you stay healthy right now. Fitness trackers from FitBit, Garmin, and Apple make it easier to keep track of your daily steps and even offer encouragement to help you get regular exercise.

Keep Your Body and Mind in Top Shape

A fitness tracker is a great tool for seniors, but you also need to take other steps to keep yourself healthy. Seniors can benefit from a mixture of strength training, cardio, flexibility training, and proper stretching. Swimming is a low-impact exercise that is ideal for seniors with chronic pain or mobility issues since the water provides support and cushion for sensitive joints. Even water aerobics can provide the activity you need to stay looking and feeling your best and can help strengthen your muscles to prevent injuries from falls.

Working your heart and muscles is not the only way to keep yourself healthy and strong, however. You also need to make an effort to work out your mind. By doing a daily crossword puzzle, you can enhance your cognitive and memory functions and may even be able to prevent or delay the onset of dementia. Some research also suggests that following simple Mediterranean diet recipes may also aid in the prevention of cognitive issues, and eating healthfully can protect you from other conditions as well, such as heart disease and stroke.

Keep Track of Your Medicare and InsuranceOptions

Seniors who want to take a more active role in their health have to take an active interest in their healthcare coverage. Understanding all the ins and outs of Medicare is your best bet for ensuring you have the coverage you need to offset your healthcare expenses. Take a look at your plan to make sure your current Medicare choices provide for essentials such as prescription drugs and preventative care.

Since Medicare coverage can be limited, many seniors opt for Medigap supplements through private companies to provide more care options. The details of these plans can differ from state to state, so make sure you do your research to figure out whether a Medigap plan or supplement is the right choice for your healthcare needs. In terms of Medicare plans, it’s also important to know that long-term care is typically not covered by any plans or supplemental Medicare options. You may need to look into ways to cover those costs with insurance should you need long-term care to keep you healthy.

Staying healthy as a senior shouldn’t take any complicated measures. You can take control of your health and happiness with a few simple tips and some careful planning. So, start making the most of your golden years by taking better care of yourself now!

Hazel Bridges
Email: hazel.bridges@agingwellness.org
www.agingwellness.org





No comments:

Post a Comment