Well-being is one of the most admired mental and physical states for many people in their sunset years.
For now, there is no consensus around a common definition of well-being, but there is general agreement that at a minimum, well-being includes the presence of emotions and positive moods (contentment, happiness, etc.), the absence of negative emotions (depression, anxiety, etc.), satisfaction with life and the feeling of accomplishment. Simply put, wellness can be best described as judging life positively and feeling good.
Aging causes physical, cognitive, and social losses. It also entails the need to be assisted in carrying out the actions of daily life.
While great importance is placed on the physical well-being of older adults, it is just as important as their mental health and well-being. Some of the ways to improve the well-being of older people include:
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle: The inclusion of physical activity is essential to improving physical and mental health.
• Remain active in a meaningful way while working, whether on a paid or voluntary basis, as this helps to feel a sense of accomplishment by actively contributing to society.
• Maintain an interactive social life: As social isolation and loneliness negatively affect physical and mental health.
Adapt Your Environment
Adapting your environment is an important step in helping older people stay at home independently and reducing the burden of care for their families.
Various adaptations can be envisaged, including rearranging your home, calling on home help services, and many more. This is what we will discuss through the following points.
Redesigning Your Retirement Home
Many older people have spent decades raising families in their homes and want to stay there as long as they can, where they have created so many memories they hold dear. Others choose to age at home because they simply cannot afford the cost of retirement housing.
While it may not be possible for you to live independently forever, many changes can be made in a home to make it safer and more functional for as long as possible.
Home help services
It is natural to want to stay at home even as you get older. The familiar environment can be heartwarming as we deal with the loss of autonomy that inevitably accompanies aging.
However, most of us will need some type of help after the age of 65. Home care services can help people stay longer in their own homes.
Currently, home help services can include housekeeping, transportation, personal care, and health care.
Health and Sport
Playing sports has many health benefits. Physical activity can reduce the risk of dying prematurely from certain diseases. Although everyone must perform sport and physical activity regularly, regardless of age, ability, gender, or background. Sport provides additional benefits when one reaches a certain age.
Age-related pathologies
Aging in itself is not a disease, but it causes (or has a common cause with) diseases related to aging. Age-related diseases are diseases and conditions that occur more frequently in older people, which in other words means that age is an important risk factor for various pathologies. These include:
• Cardiovascular illnesses
• Cerebrovascular accidents (stroke)
• High blood pressure
• The cancer
• Type 2 diabetes
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Parkinson’s disease
• Chronic lung disease
Being active in sports has many advantages:
• Physical exercise and sport contribute to better physical health.
• Sport is also known to improve feelings of happiness and well-being.
• Participation in sports can help prevent muscle and cardiovascular problems.
• Increase self-confidence.
• Participation in team sports can promote interaction and social relationships.
• Regular exercise helps build strength and endurance.
• Prevent the loss of bone mass and improve balance.
Activity and Leisure: “Home-Made Gardening and Plants”
Gardening is a hobby that can be enjoyed by anyone, including the retired and aged. Planting a plant and watching it grow is rewarding in itself, but the gardening activity also has many other benefits as we age. Gardening gives us fresh air and helps us get a little closer to nature and our surroundings.
It can also be used as a form of therapy for people with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in particular. Some establishments even offer therapeutic gardens to help residents better stimulate their senses.
Finally, gardening can help improve eating habits because you’re more appreciative of eating the fruits of their labor.
Sleep Well
Tough job schedules are a thing of the past. Take the opportunity to go at your own pace.
If you are stressed because you live alone, the option of moving to a residence is interesting since there is always someone there to help us. Also, you can easily find people on the same wavelength and you can feel safe.
Nutrition and Aging
Nutrition is about eating a healthy, balanced diet so that your body can receive the nutrients it needs. Good nutrition is important, regardless of age. It gives you energy and can help control your weight.
But as you get older, your body and your life change, just like what you need to stay healthy. For example, you may need fewer calories, but still, need to get enough nutrients.
Eat well to age well
To stay healthy as you age, you should eat foods that give you lots of nutrients without too many extra calories, such as:
• Fruits and vegetables (choose different types and seasonal fruits)
• Whole grains, such as oatmeal, whole wheat bread, and brown rice
• Skimmed or low-fat milk and cheese, or soy or rice milk with added vitamin D and calcium.
• Seafood, lean meats, poultry, and eggs
• Beans, nuts, and seeds
Tips to fight against the heatwave as you age
As you age, you need to be more careful in a heatwave situation because your body can no longer adapt to high temperatures as well as younger bodies. To fight the heatwave, you can take the following measures:
• Stay in a cool or air-conditioned place,
• Minimize exposure to the sun,
• Drink lots of fluids,
• Avoid stressful activities,
• Understand how sun exposure can affect certain medications,
• Put on sunscreen when going out
Tips to Fight against the Cold as You Age
Seniors can lose body heat faster than when they were young. And the changes in the body that accompany aging can prevent them from realizing the feeling of cold. This can quickly turn into a serious problem with hypothermia. Here are some tips for staying warm while you’re indoors:
• Make sure your home is not losing heat through windows. Keep your blinds and curtains closed.
• Dress warmly, even if you are staying at home. Lay a blanket over your legs. Wear socks and slippers.
• Make sure you are eating enough to maintain your weight. If you don’t eat well, you may have less fat under your skin.
See a doctor regularly
Seeing a doctor regularly can help the doctor find problems early or even before they start. How often you see a doctor depends on your age, lifestyle, family history, and existing conditions.
Ask your doctor how often you should go in for checkups and screening tests as you age. Also, see a doctor anytime you experience concerning symptoms
The Bottom Line
A great retirement cannot be accomplished without having a good attitude towards this stage. It is not the end; it is rather the beginning of well-deserved freedom. You can finally put aside the stress and hassles that come with working life.
Nowadays, other than the number of candles on the birthday cake, there is little that separates us from the younger ones. Indeed, we have plenty of time and fuel left in the engine to explore all that retiree life has to offer.
However, it is essential to adopt healthy habits to help take full advantage of retirement, and we hope the above suggestions will come in handy.
References
https://webmd.com/healthy-aging/healthy-aging-secret#1
https://sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180308143123.htm
https://health.harvard.edu/aging/nutrition-and-aging
Recent Comments