Six Steps to Boost Wellness in Older Adults All Year Long

Many people have cast aside their New Year’s resolutions by the end of January, but who says resolutions should only be made in the beginning of the year? There’s no time like the present to commit to a new goal or habit, particularly when it pertains to overall health and wellness in older adults. 

We have six tips you can implement today. Choose one to start, or jump right into all of them to achieve the most benefit:

  1. Schedule a physical. As opposed to waiting for a sickness or injury to contact the physician, an annual check-up is an easy way for older adults to remain on top of their own health and potentially prevent issues before they occur.
  2. Get physical. With the doctor’s approval and recommendations at hand, begin a new health and fitness routine – together! Working out with an older adult you love enables you to motivate each other and function as accountability partners. Commit to staying with it for at least 21 days, after which it ought to be an ingrained, enjoyable habit you will want to continue.
  3. Stay connected. Help the senior maintain friendships and contact with friends and family to ward off isolation and loneliness – something we have all become too familiar with throughout the pandemic. Offer transportation when necessary for lunch dates, or help with setting up technology to stay virtually connected.
  4. Keep vaccinations up-to-date. In addition to COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, pneumonia, seasonal influenza, and shingles vaccines must be up to date. As people age, there is a heightened risk for severe effects from these illnesses, so vaccinations become even more crucial.
  5. Don’t forget mental health. A mental health provider can help determine if depression, anxiety, or other concerns need to be addressed, offering both therapeutic tools and medication if needed. Maintaining mental sharpness through brain enrichment activities will also help with the natural cognitive decline that develops in aging.
  6. Monitor what you eat. If the pantry and fridge are filled with fatty or empty-calorie foods, replace them with proteins, whole grains, fresh fruits and veggies, and low-fat dairy products. A serious change in diet can be overwhelming and difficult to adhere to, so start simple with one replacement at first – carrot sticks in the place of potato chips, for instance – and work up to a healthier overall diet.

As the leading Chesapeake home health agency in the nearby areas, Seniorcorp is here to assist seniors in achieving these and any other goals with individualized in-home care, including companion care in Chesapeake and the nearby areas. From accompaniment and transportation to medical appointments and fitness classes to grocery shopping and preparing healthy meals, all while giving socialization a much-needed boost, we are empowering seniors to live their best lives each and every day. Contact us today online or at 757-640-0557 for more information on how we can help someone you love! For a full list of communities where we provide our award-winning care, please visit our Service Area page.