August is National Wellness Month! National Wellness Month focuses on self-care and promoting healthy habits, including sleep, exercise, proper nutrition, and taking care of our mental state, like actively managing stress, practicing self-compassion, and engaging in meditation.
The positive impact of wellness for seniors is something that cannot be overlooked. Physical wellness changes as you age. There are, however, habits to help maintain or improve everyday life, as well as reduce the risk of certain conditions and chronic diseases. Living a wellness-focused lifestyle is also important for caregivers, who must take care of themselves to take care of others.
We’ve put together numerous ways to start your wellness journey today:
Increase your water intake
To compensate for changes in body temperature regulation as we age, we need to drink more water. Dehydration can have a negative impact in the body, including muscle pain, fatigue, and heat exhaustion. Water is essential for hydrating the body for optimal functioning, improving the quality of our skin, energizing muscles, and controlling calories. As a rule, you should take one-third of your body weight and drink that number of ounces in fluids.
Add more fruits and veggies to your meals
Taking care of your body means feeding it well. There appears to be a connection between nutrition and immunity in the elderly. With a well-balanced, nutritious diet, you’ll have more energy, feel better, and will reduce the risk of illness or disease. It is extremely important, now more than ever, to protect and boost our immune system by choosing a healthy lifestyle. For more details on how food can boost your immune system, read our nutrition-focused blog post.
Consider a new activity or exercise
Regular exercise is key to staying healthy and feeling happy. Exercising and being active for fifteen to thirty minutes a day is essential for healthy aging. Exercise reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity, and cancer. It also decreases the risk of falls and fall-related injuries. It’s important to ensure that any medical conditions or diseases you have are properly managed before starting a new physical wellness routine. Set realistic goals and develop an exercise plan. Consider endurance, muscle-strengthening, balance, and flexibility exercises.
Meditate, be creative, or practice gratitude
Meditation trains the brain and body to relax and focus on being in the present. For older adults, even five minutes of meditation a day has many physical and psychological benefits. Such as improved focus, improved calmness, and reduced stress. The easiest way for seniors to meditate is to focus on their breathing. You can slow down and relax with this technique: count five deep breaths, inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth. Being creative also has a positive impact in our brain health. Wellness month can inspire you to finish long-term projects you may have started but haven’t taken the time to complete. Home-care companions or sitters are the perfect company to work on a creative project!
Gratitude can reduce depression, chronic pain and boost emotional well-being. Focus on one good thing that happened every day. As a result of doing this daily, our brains learn to switch directions more quickly to recover faster from setbacks.
Rest, sleep and repeat
Getting enough sleep and rest is just as important to physical wellness for seniors as a healthy diet. In the same way your body needs to be active, it also needs to rest and recharge for the next day. Sleeping well can prevent falls and accidents. Seniors who exercise regularly and go outside for fresh air fall asleep faster, sleep longer, and report better quality of sleep.
Here are a few tips to help you improve your sleep routine: Go to bed at the same time and get up at the same time every day. Maintain a comfortable temperature in your bedroom, which should be quiet, dark and relaxing. If you have trouble sleeping, try out black out shades or a white noise machine. Weighted blankets may also be handy to relax the body. Try to avoid large meals before bedtime and stay away from foods that will give you heartburn.
Have a daily routine
Having a daily routine for seniors has many benefits. Routines create structure, give us a sense of accomplishment, and help us manage stress by keeping us focused. When someone feels out of control, such as losing their cognitive or physical capabilities, it is beneficial to focus on what they can control. Establishing a daily routine tailored to an older adult’s particular needs and interests is a good place to start. It’s tempting to sleep or stay in bed for a long time but having a consistent sleep schedule will improve your daily routine as well. Just like Family Home Care can help you find the right person to stablish a wellness-focused daily routine.
Consider at home care to establish these healthy habits
In addition to these suggestions, it’s also important to regularly visit a trusted medical professional to ensure your physical wellness is maintained as you age. These small steps can lead to many more healthy habits in your lifestyle. Make a small change and impact your health in positive ways. If you or someone you love need help creating a routine and improving their wellness. Contact us! We can refer you to a professional at-home caretaker that will help you live a wellness lifestyle. Happy wellness month!