Make Better Choices When It Comes to Diet and Exercise
Although seemingly small, the choices you make every day with your diet and fitness habits are super important to your vitality. Overall, it seems like the Mediterranean and DASH plans may offer the most benefits for older adults. Both of these diets center around lean proteins that are loaded with brain-healthy fats, but the DASH diet may be best for seniors who are concerned about blood pressure and stroke. Try these wholesome DASH recipes to maintain a healthy weight without sacrificing flavor. In addition to making more well-rounded diet choices, you also need to create a fitness regimen that will help you not only with weight control, but also with building strength, flexibility, and balance, all of which will help reduce your risk of a devastating fall. There are lots of great exercises that can be done indoors or outdoors, like swimming and speed walking, or you can work out in the privacy of home with online or DVD exercise videos, fitness apps, and even video games. Additionally, consider adding some yoga or Tai Chi to improve your balance and help you reduce stress.
Use Smart Home Modifications to Age in Place
If you want to age in place in your own home, think about making modifications that will help keep you safe and comfortable. Many savvy seniors are turning to budget-friendly smart home features to upgrade their experience while aging in place. If you have a hearing impairment or mobility concern, installing a video doorbell system will allow you to see who is at the door no matter where you are in your home. Plus, video doorbells give you added peace of mind by allowing you to keep an eye on your home from afar and be aware of any potential intruders lurking around your entryway. Another smart feature you can easily add to your home is easy-to-control lighting. Smart light bulbs allow seniors to dim or brighten lights with their phone or voice, which can be beneficial for those with reduced vision.
Make Other Simple Modifications to Your Home
Smart home gadgets can provide some comfort and protection for seniors, but if you want to ensure your home is set up for safety, you made need to think about other changes. For example, many older adults sustain serious injuries from falls, and many of those life-changing falls happen right at home. Adding some of the smart features mentioned above can help you minimize safety hazards in your home, but you should also take a good look at your floors. Get rid of rugs and other items that may get in your way as you walk around, and think about adding safety features to your bathroom. Bathroom floors can be extra slippery after your shower, so lay down skid-resistant mats and install grab bars.
Use Medicare to Cover More of Your Health Needs
Preventing falls and injuries in your home will help you enjoy your golden years, but even if you don’t get sick or injured, you still need access to quality healthcare. For most seniors, this means relying on Medicare to cover the costs of needed preventative care, health screenings, and prescribed medications. To make sure you have access to the care you need, don’t just sign up for any plan. Do your homework to determine if you need additional Medicare coverage that may provide more help with prescription needs or even give you access to fitness classes. Review these supplemental features, and always be aware of Medicare changes that could have an impact on you. You may be able to add benefits for in-home assistance or trips to the doctor, so long as you research your choices before the annual enrollment period.
If you want to add years to your life and add more quality to those years, you need to make better choices for your health. Those choices don’t even need to be complicated, since simple changes can help you thrive in your golden years.
