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Healthy Living

Emergency Disaster Tips for Seniors

by Carol Marak
written by Carol Marak

Since peak hurricane season extends from mid-August to the end of October, FEMA suggests older adults stay prepared by having emergency plans in place.

Weather patterns have become increasingly unpredictable, and the hurricane season has just launched, so if you live in a high risk area, here’s what you need to do.

Create a support network of family, friends, neighbors, community or faith-based organizations, human service providers and others who can help before and after an emergency or disaster. Discuss your needs with the trusted support network before a catastrophe occurs, since they bring loss of power, cell phone service and dangerous road conditions. Or call the non-emergency phone number for the police department and ask them to do a well-being check.

  • Check on your neighbors regularly.
  • Expect that you may not have access to a medical facility or a drugstore during an emergency, so have an adequate supply of needed medications and other supplies that you use regularly – create a “to go” bag.
  • If you use medical equipment that requires electrical power, ask your doctor or health care provider how to prepare for its use during a power outage.
  • Be sure to stay informed and sign up for local alerts and warnings.
  • Learn how, contact your local emergency management agency or office. Visit the Red Cross App store to download free smart phone apps that keep you informed.

 

Figure out an evacuation route in case you need to relocate before, during or after an emergency. Determine how to leave home safely, where to go and what the best route is.

Listen to the radio or TV for advice about whether to evacuate or remain in place. Also, figure out the safest way to shelter in place during an extreme weather event. Practice the evacuation or shelter-in-place drill every six months.

Create a portable emergency supply kit that’s easily carried of rolled. Supply the kit with a three-day supply of medications, non-perishable foods, and water, medical devices, flashlight and batteries, personal hygiene items and chargers for cell phones.

Make copies of important documents and place them in a waterproof bag for safekeeping to include medical insurance card, a photo ID, power of attorney documents, a list of allergies and health conditions, a list of all medications, and contact information for family members, doctors and caregivers. Keep the bag in a place that’s easy to grab it before evacuating.

Before a disaster

Stay tuned in and informed — sign up for local alerts and warnings. To learn how, contact your local emergency management agency.

  • Follow the advice of local officials who will provide evacuation details and shelter locations.
  • Pay attention for up-to-date information before, during and after a disaster.
  • Make sure your battery-powered radio is working and you have extra batteries.

 

 

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Aging

Biggest Senior Concerns

by Carol Marak
written by Carol Marak

Health and financial security is a prime concern to seniors. In a survey sponsored by the National Council on Aging, found that financial security (71% of seniors) comes ahead of staying involved with family and friends (68%) but women are even more vulnerable than men to financial matters.

The study names other worrisome factors like health care and prescription drug costs. The other two are being a burden to family and losing independence.

Individuals who help a loved one will risk losing their financial security because they quit their job or work part-time to become a caregiver. They forfeit contributing to their retirement fund and saving accounts.

The Caregiving Dilemma

Family caregiving has always been the cornerstone of our healthcare system. But that segment dwindles.

In 2016, nearly 15 percent of women ages 40-44 hadn’t given birth and were childless, up from 10 percent in 1976, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. A 2013 report from AARP projects that by 2040, about 21 percent of the older, disabled population will be childless.

The number of childless older people in the UK expects to double by 2030, putting huge pressure on a health and social care system that is already struggling to support the vulnerable, warned Kirsty Woodard, founder of the Ageing Well Without Children.

Older adults strapped with money insecurity now take on another challenge, paying for personal care at home.

If you’re in this situation, have you thought about how you will find help and support in the years ahead? The members in my group talk about it a lot. But it’s not just the child free individuals who worry about it, so do women with children, because many live hundreds of miles apart or have estranged relationships.

It’s a huge issue that we must address. The last thing you want to face is a medical emergency or event without a plan.

In a study conducted in my Facebook group by an academic professor revealed other factors for individuals to think about:

  • To identify a caregiver who would help if you became ill or disabled
  • To find a trusted person to help you cope with life’s challenges like medical and financial decisions
  • To have access to someone in case there’s a crisis
  • To find people to socialize with you to avoid loneliness
  • To mitigate your chances of developing chronic conditions

When you make a plan to tackle these issues, then you’re less confused and uncertain about handling them in the coming years.

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Travel Tips & Deals

Travel Freely By Fitting Your Life Into An RV

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

Downsizing To An RV

10% of Recreational Vehicles (RV) drivers are seniors over 55, making it a popular choice for your life post-retirement. Moving out of your home and living full time in a van has plenty of benefits for your financial and mental health, but it can be hard to strip back and live the minimalist life required. As long as you can still drive, moving into an RV could mean a life of continued adventure as you age. Rather than being cut off from the community, with your brain health deteriorating, you can stay active, alert and, most importantly, happy with you the way you spend your golden years.

It may seem that new experiences are for the young, but there is no better time to try new things than in retirement. Use the extra free time you have to follow your passions and live the best life possible. An RV can be a safe, comfortable, affordable, yet adventurous way to live your life. It may require you to reduce your possessions more than you ever have before, but this can bring additional mental health benefits.

The Benefits Of An RV For Seniors

Life in an RV can be one of limited stress. With less physical space and items to worry about, you will feel the benefits of decreased anxiety. Not to mention the financial benefits of no longer having a mortgage. Many retirees end up with more free time and wish to use this time to travel.

However, you may think you are too old for the fast pace of backpacking through hostels. Owning an RV full time allows you to move as quickly or slowly as you feel comfortable with and prevents the need to run around after public transport. It also allows you a completely private space. 88% of travel happens by car, truck or RV, in part because this reduces the stress of having to catch a plane, bus or train.

The Benefits Of Minimal And Frugal Living

The brain is always trying to process information. The more things it has to compute, the harder it has to work, which makes it feel tired and stressed, which can speed up the aging process. To avoid age-related conditions from developing, consider adopting a simpler existence. You should still maintain an active brain, but use it for the delightful aspects of your life, such as reading, writing and socializing. To do this, you need to stop wasting energy on chores.

The more material items you have, the more you have to clean, wash, organize and fix. You will be more likely to lose things and devote more mental energy to finding them. If you only have a few outfits to choose from in the morning, you won’t exert mental energy deciding what to wear. This is known as ‘decision fatigue,’ and it can leave you too tired to spend mental energy on the things necessary to you.

As you become older and wiser, you’ll realize that experiencing the present moment is more important for your mental health. Owning unnecessary items will only get in the way of enjoying experiences. An RV will force you to downsize to build a life of skills rather than objects. As you decrease your number of possessions, you will start to need less stuff, which will mean you don’t need to shop as much, so you’ll have more money and less finance-related stress and anxiety.

Minimizing Your Possessions

So how do you go about downsizing so that you can fit your whole life into an RV? Packing light is essential for fuel efficiency, but it can also improve your mental wellbeing so try and only take the essentials. While some people like to go through their entire house getting rid of stuff, this isn’t always the most effective method.

Start with the empty RV and only fill it with the things you need. An excellent way to tell what you require is to pack everything away. For two weeks, just unpack an item as and when you need it. If you haven’t used something after two weeks, the chances are you don’t need it. The things you unpack can then be packed into the RV and everything else sold, donated or thrown away.

Taking Advantage Of Storage

Okay, so maybe the above scenario is slightly idealistic. It can be a useful method, but what about those things that you hardly ever use, but don’t want to throw away? These are usually sentimental items. Seniors tend to collect items over the years, keeping old school journals and boxes of photos of their ever-growing family. These are things worth keeping but maybe aren’t necessary for your downsized lifestyle.

However, you don’t have to pack them into your RV. Sentimental and rarely used items can always be left with a family member or put into storage. Renting a small storage unit will allow you to keep the clutter out of your RV, without having to abandon them altogether. For just a small fee, you can become a minimalist risk-free. If you still haven’t touched these items after a year, then you can revisit them and cut them down some more.

This will allow you to move the remainder to a smaller storage facility. Aim to pack the non-essentials that you aren’t bringing on your road trip into a couple of suitcases, which can be easily stored at the house of a friend or family member. These items will then be out of sight and out of mind so that you can become more focused and present while you travel.

RVs are a great way for seniors to experience new adventures. They can help create a simplified and more peaceful lifestyle while being cost-effective. Retirement is the perfect time to begin this new adventure while retaining a safe and comfortable lifestyle. Start to get rid of unnecessary possessions, putting sentimental items into storage, and start a life of freedom on the open road.

Upside of Downsizing helps 50 plus-year-olds gain freedom by downsizing, which leads to a happy and healthy life balance. Contact: info@upsideofdownsizing.com

Bio: Sally Phillips is a professional freelance writer with many years experience in many different areas. She made the move to freelancing from a stressful corporate job and loves the work-life balance it offers her. When not at work, Sally enjoys reading, hiking, spending time with her family and traveling as much as possible.

Mary Spann

Mary Spann is the founder and president of Upside of Downsizing®. In addition to her 26 years in construction, interior design, and home staging, Mary also holds college degrees in Social Work and Psychology, making her uniquely qualified to assist with the downsizing process, and helping 50 plus-year-olds achieve a happy and healthy life balance. Mary learned the key components of construction and interior design at an early age. Her father was a prominent custom home builder in Minnesota and Texas, and her mother was a successful interior designer and a principal broker.

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Housing Tips

The Tiny House Trend

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

Is It Ideal For Seniors?

Over the last seven years, we have shared our expertise on the downsizing process with boomers and seniors through conferences, blogs and other online resources. We have offered ideas and insight on making a successful transition into a healthier and more manageable living environment, and our eight-step checklist to downsizing successfully and profitably.

When talking about downsizing, we have explored a variety of options. From condominiums and senior retirement communities, to recreational vehicles (RVs) and even boats, we have discussed the pros and cons of each.

Another downsizing option that has been trending in the United States since 1997 is known as the tiny house movement. It was made popular by Sarah Susanka with the publication of her book, The Not So Big House. As early as the 1970s, tiny house pioneers were touting the benefits of downsizing. And now, seniors and boomers are discovering the joys of tiny-house living.

Pros and Cons of Tiny House Living

Tiny houses come in all shapes and styles. From super mod and industrial chic, to rustic, luxe and everything in between. Tiny home owners really are limited only by their own imagination. If this is a downsizing option that may be right for you, don’t make the move without first weighing the pros and cons of this kind of downsizing.

First, let’s talk about the disadvantages that can come with tiny house living. The obvious downside to it is space limitations. The average home today includes 2,687 square feet of living space and are nearly 1,000 square feet larger than the average home of the 1970s. If you have been accustomed to living in the “average” size home for years, making the move to 500 square feet or less might be a shock to the system. Space is precious in a tiny house, and limits the ability to have things like a home office, or the ability to have more than the bare essentials.

Limited space can also lead to another con where tiny houses are concerned: relationship issues. If you are sharing your new tiny space with a significant other, there is the potential for trouble. No matter how well you think you get along, being forced to be in each other’s space all the time can test even the strongest of relationships. And if you do have a disagreement, or are just craving a little alone time, being crammed into a tiny house can make getting away from one another impossible.

There also are pros to living in a tiny house. The biggest is the cost savings that comes with reducing belongings and living space so drastically. Tiny homes can cost as little as a few hundred dollars or as much as you want to spend. The average tiny home in the U.S. costs $23,000. Because the size is compact, savings also are possible on the cost of utilities. Tiny homes, especially those mounted on wheels, are easy to relocate, which is another huge benefit to living small. Homes that are mounted on wheels so that they may easily be towed by trucks or other vehicles may have size restrictions, so keep this in mind if you opt for a tiny home with wheels.

Choosing a Design, Location

As mentioned earlier, there really is no limitation on the kind of design tiny house owners can incorporate. Some tiny homes are very simple, like this one, while others are quite elaborate. Some states have building codes pertaining to tiny houses, so be sure to check with yours before you purchase a premade model or build your own.

Some areas do not allow tiny homes at all, which can make it challenging for those who want to downsize to this option, but are not allowed to do so in their preferred city or state. This is the reason many tiny home builders put their homes on wheels. By putting their tiny home on wheels, owners can easily skirt building codes that require permanent dwellings to be of a minimum size. There currently is a movement to establish a national uniform building codethat will allow tiny home builders better access.

Once you choose a design, the next step is to find a location for your tiny house. If you decide to purchase one on wheels for easier transport, options for locations will be more plentiful and can include camp sites with water/sewer hookups to private plots of land. You also can build your tiny home on a foundation or a runner. A foundation can be a simple concrete slab, or a full “basement.” If you choose to build on a foundation, you will need to make sure the building codes in the area you plan to build allow for tiny houses.

If you want to have a foundation of sorts, but not one that’s so permanent that pulling up roots and relocating is harder, then consider a runner. This semi-permanent foundation style makes it easier to move in the future; however, you will need to build your tiny house so that it fits on wheels when the time comes for transport.

There are other aspects to consider when building a tiny home. If you have pets, you will want to make sure they have easy access and space for things like food bowls. There are many designs for tiny homes – like this one – that consider pets and their unique needs.

Pets aren’t the only ones who may need special accommodations. Some seniors don’t consider tiny homes because they may have ambulatory issues. But there are tiny home models, such as these, that are wheelchair and handicapped accessible. There truly is a tiny home design for every need!

Tiny homes are just one of many options when it comes time to downsize. To learn more about the downsizing process – including which option may be right for you – consider attending our upcoming Upside of Downsizing conference, scheduled for September 30 in Portland. More information about the conference, including guest speakers and how to register, is available here.

Mary Spann

Mary Spann is the founder and president of Upside of Downsizing®. In addition to her 26 years in construction, interior design, and home staging, Mary also holds college degrees in Social Work and Psychology, making her uniquely qualified to assist with the downsizing process, and helping 50 plus-year-olds achieve a happy and healthy life balance. Mary learned the key components of construction and interior design at an early age. Her father was a prominent custom home builder in Minnesota and Texas, and her mother was a successful interior designer and a principal broker.

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Women And Men Process Salt Differently
Housing Tips

Hiring Staff for Your Home Care Franchise

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

As a home care franchise owner, there will come a time when you need help handling your workload. While many home care franchise owners spend their first months as their company’s primary or sole caregiver, an expanding client base means that you’ll soon need to expand your workforce. Hiring Staff for Your Home Care Franchise
Hiring Staff for Your Home Care FranchiseThere are lots of qualities you can use to screen and evaluate caregiver candidates for your home care franchise. At Visiting Angels, our corporate team regularly guides new home care franchise owners through the staffing process – giving them tips on how to find strong candidates, what screening procedures to use, and what criteria to rely on for your ultimate decision.
Here are some of the things you should consider when hiring new staff for your home care franchise:

The Right Credentials

Start off by searching for caregivers who carry the proper certification to work as care providers in your region. Certification requirements change state by state, and you should be familiar with what kinds of certification your new staff members will need.

The Right Experience

A candidate with plenty of existing senior care experience is (almost) always preferable to one without. But finding a caregiver with the right kind of experience profile makes a big difference. Check the amount of time this caregiver has spent with individual companies and clients, ask about what kinds of care environments he/she has worked in, and learn what kinds of a care he/she has helped assist with. Look for candidates with a breadth of experience and a strong track record.

The Right References

So much of running a home care franchise lies in keeping clients happy. A strong candidate for your home care franchise should be able quickly supply you with glowing references from previous clients or their family members. Be sure to take the time to follow up on references, as these will tell you a lot about the way each candidate approaches care.

The Right Attitude

A warm, supportive approach is essential for any caregiver. Before hiring a new caregiver for your home care franchise, you should be confident that you’ve chosen a candidate who will bring warmth and care into the lives of your clients. References help here, and an interview will tell you a lot about any candidate’s personality, how they approach home care, and their ability to respond to adversity.

Resources You Can Use

If you’re hiring staff for a home care franchise, your franchisor should offer support with the hiring process. For example, at Visiting Angels, the corporate team regularly guides franchise owners through hiring their first employee caregivers. If you have that kind of support available to you, be sure to take advantage of it, as it can be the difference between a great hire and a so-so staff member. Hiring Staff for Your Home Care Franchise

Hiring Staff for Your Home Care Franchise

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Fall Prevention Tips

How to Fall-Proof your Home

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson

Did you know, according to the National Institute of Aging, that 6 out of 10 falls happen at home, where we spend most of our time and neglect to consider safety? Most of these falls could be prevented by making some simple changes to your home. At Senior.com, we are experts in fall prevention and consider it our mission to help you live as independently as possible, for as long as possible.

We suggest you invite a friend or family member to make this safety assessment with you. Often it takes a 2nd pair of eyes to see hazards you no longer consider. Remember, we are fall-proofing your home so you can live independently as long as possible, so accepting change is required. Being proactive now will allow you to have more freedom later.

  • Arrange your furniture so you have plenty of room to walk freely. Remove items from stairs and hallways.
  • Remove anything that could cause you to trip or slip while walking. Pay special attention to clutter, small furniture, pet bowls or beds, electrical cords, throw rugs and standing lamps.
  • If possible, remove throw rugs permanently. At the very least, secure carpets to the floor and stairs. Use only non-slip rugs or attach rugs to the floor with double-sided tape.
  • Use non-slip items in the bathroom. Install non-slip flooring if possible. Add a non-slip mat or strips in the bathtub or shower.
  • Add a raised commode to your toilet because most falls occur in the bathroom. Adding a raised commode or grab bars on either side of the toilet can reduce this risk substantially. No one wants to be found on the floor of a bathroom so address the bathroom first.
  • Install grab bars in the shower or tub. Consider adding a safety pole if you prefer not to put permanent holes in your tile or walls.
  • Install safety poles next to beds or couches where you need assistance getting up.
  • Add a reclining lift chair. Lift chairs have proven to help people stay in their homes longer. When you struggle to get out of a chair you put too much weight on your arms and shoulders often causing injury or a fall. If an injury occurs, you are looking at increased caregiving and possibly the loss of your independence. A lift chair gets you standing fast, safely. In addition, our lift chairs are so comfortable you can sleep in them all day or night.
  • Add a bed assist bar or handle to help you get in and out of your bed.
  • Move items in high cupboards to lower places so you are not climbing on unstable stools. Get a “reacher” so you can grab items out of reach.
  • Look at the entrances to your home and add ramps and hand rails where necessary. Consider the height of thresholds and have them altered for smooth walking or rolling over.
  • Consider how slippery your floor can be when wet. Use only non-skid was on waxed floors. Always clean up spills right away. Assess whether you need to add low profile carpet to a room for safety and warmth. One drawback to carpet is shoes can trip if you don’t pick up your feet. However, slippery hard floors cause more injuries than soft carpets.
  • Add lighting to dimly lit rooms and on the stairs. Use automatic nightlights in hallways, stairways, bathrooms, kitchen and outdoors. Use light bulbs that have the highest wattage recommended for the fixture. Since lighting is often referenced after a major fall, it’s important to proactively inspect every room at night to see potential hazards.
  • Place a lamp next to your bed along with a flashlight for emergencies. Consider setting up your lights on a smart-home system such as Google or Amazon’s Alexa so you can verbally command your lights.
  • Add an additional handrail on the wall side of your stairway. Make sure you can hold either side of the stairs as a guide.
  • Keep your cell phone on you in the event that you do fall, you can call for help. Or consider wearing a call-service-button for help.
  • Add automobile aids so you don’t have an fall getting in or out of your car.
  • Wear non-skid, rubber-soled, low-heeled shoes or lace-up shoes with non-skid soles that fully support your feet. It is important that the soles are not too thin or too thick. Avoid flip-flop style sandals. Do not walk on stairs or floors in socks or slippers.
  • Stay physically active! Lower body strength and balance exercises PREVENT FALLS. Find low cost fitness classes at your local senior center, YMCA, church, gym or city.

 

Our favorite shop to find Fall Prevention items is Senior.com. Use coupon “Senior10” for $10 off your order! Senior.com always offers Free Shipping and 15% off to all active military or veterans.

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Aging

Making Your Plan for Aging

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

From the caregiving days when helping my parents, I learned the importance of planning ahead for my advanced years.

Growing older forces change — the kind we don’t want to think about. And that change often impacts our living choices, financial matters, driving, relationships, physical and mental health and end of life.

We have to think about what will happen and if we can remain at home without help? How do you tell your adult children or siblings that you want to move because you no longer feel safe at home or you feel isolated in the suburbs?

What will you do if you can’t drive or you have to tell someone you love that he or she shouldn’t? Making decisions, identifying choices and sharing our wishes are all the issues on the road ahead. And I know many who would rather sweep all those under the rug.

Why aren’t people talking about the future? For one, it’s difficult and uncomfortable. However, these conversations are necessary. Last week, I attended a conference on end of life issues and the project spearheading the event is called, The Conversation Project. It addresses end of life concerns, however they also promote talking about how one prefers to live in the advanced years.

Our Journey

I brought the topic up in a Facebook Live event via the page, CarolMarak.com, and someone said, “I live in denial about growing old and prefer younger people. So, I don’t think about it very much”

Another individual claims thinking about her aging years are too much to handle because she’s still helping her mother and can’t think about herself now.

For me, as long as I feel good and have good mobility and can get around, thinking about growing older and my future needs don’t bother me so much. Maybe it’s because I’m in the business aging and exposed to the topics day in and day out!

Across the U.S., 90 percent of people say talking with their loved ones about end-of-life care is important, but only 27 percent have actually done so.

I encourage folks to take baby steps because that’s how I’ve created my plan. It’s not something you rush. However, it’s significant enough to discuss with family members and close friends if family isn’t around.

Tips when starting the plan

  • You don’t need to have the conversation just yet, it’s okay to just think about it.
  • Start out by writing a letter to yourself or writing in a journal. Consider writing a letter to a friend or family member.
  • Practice having a conversation about how you want to live and die.
  • Having a conversation may reveal that you and your spouse or loved ones disagree about future decisions. It’s good to find out early on.
  • And lastly, having a conversation isn’t just a one-time thing, it’s the first in a series of talks over time.
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Aging

Social Connections Enhance Mid-life

by Carol Marak
written by Carol Marak

The vast majority of women in the United States have children. However, in 2017, the fertility rate measuring the number of births was 60.2 for every 1,000 women of childbearing age. The total fertility rate – which estimates how many children women will have based on current patterns – is down to 1.8, below the replacement level in developed countries of 2.1.

As women decide to have less or no children at all is not a bad thing but can have a negative effect in their older years. The Wall Street Journal recently noted that family caregivers, “long the backbone of the nation’s long-term care system, provide an estimated $500 billion worth of free care annually-three times Medicaid’s professional long-term care spending, and help keep people out of costly institutions … But the supply of caregivers is shrinking just as the nation needs them most.”

Not only do Baby Boomers and GenXers face declining birth rates but also far-flung families, high divorce rates, and an increase in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The responsibility of caring for a growing population of older adults will be carried by fewer family members.

The idea of getting older without a spouse or children to rely on is a growing problem for many. The U.S. Census, 2010 estimated 27 percent of the 65+ age group live alone. And that percentage will increase as baby boomers live longer.

The Greatest Generation had an easier time getting help since they birthed the baby boomers. My parents were lucky to have each other and three very caring daughters when they became elderly. But for me and thousands like me, we have no one to depend on for personal help at home.

What are the issues of adults living alone?

  • Help with bills, financial decisions
  • Help with medical decision
  • Help identifying a would-be caregiver
  • Help in a crisis
  • Selecting a healthcare proxy

 

Some living at home alone reported feelings of loneliness and isolation which plays havoc on cognitive and physical health. And when sadness affects the mood, it’s harder to get motivated for exercise, cooking healthy foods, socializing, and participating in activities. Here’s what to do:

  • Start a local group of like-minded individuals
  • Look for people who have similar interests and enjoy doing the same hobbies and activities

 

The point, put yourself in an environment where there are people you feel drawn to.

Whether it’s a church, synagogue, Mosque, mastermind group, sport league, walking group, Yoga class, a night or lifelong learning class at a community college, a cooking class, a MeetUp or a Facebook group… put yourself in situations and in the middle of audiences where you’ll meet multiple new people.

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Exercise & Fitness

Keeping Active as a Senior in Mind and Body

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

Sometimes, it’s much easier to just veg out on the couch with a cup of your favorite tea and an easy to read, lots of pictures, magazine. So, that’s just what I’m going to do until, I turn the page, and lo and behold, there’s a stunning 60 something woman all tangled up in some type of yoga pose. I stare at that picture wondering, how does she do it and then I feel it…the guilt! It creeps up the back of my legs and into my derriere planted comfortably on the couch. I should be that woman in the magazine, I think to myself. What time was my yoga class again? Ugh…

We all know how important it is to keep active as a ‘senior’ as well as for all human beings. So, as we slide “down” that slippery slope of life, we realize how majorly important it is. Study after study has shown being sedentary is detrimental to your health. We need our strength now more than ever to remain independent and disease free. It is also important to keep our muscles toned, flexible, and limber to reduce the risk of injury. As they say, we need to get the blood pumping.

Does this mean I have to join a gym and squeeze into one of those Sweaty Betty fitness outfits? Not at all! There are so many things we seniors can do and believe it or not, they’re fun. I like to think being active as a senior should be twofold: physical and mental. Both sets of activities contribute to a healthier lifestyle and enable us to enjoy each day.

Let’s talk about physical activities, what they entail, benefits and some examples.

Cardiovascular exercise:

Cardio is any activity that increases heart rate, getting your blood flowing. A good sign you’re doing cardio correctly is if the exercise makes you sweat and leaves you a little bit breathless. Great cardio exercises to try are:

  • Swimming
  • Walking or light jogging
  • Water aerobics or other water classes or exercise
  • Biking
  • Hiking
  • Tennis

 

Balance training:
Balance training is important not just because it keeps your muscles limber and flexible, but because for seniors, it helps prevent falls, which are a leading cause of hospitalizations in the elderly population. Also, balance and weight training have been shown to improve cognitive function as well. Some good exercises to try:

  • Pilates
  • Frequent stretching
  • Yoga
  • Tai chi


Strength training: You don’t need to become Mr. Universe, but improving your strength will make everyday chores and activities easier, plus it helps bone density. Boost muscle strength using:

  • Elastic resistance bands
  • Light free weights or dumbbells
  • Weight machines
  • Using your own bodyweight along at home for resistance

 

Let’s face it, not all of us are on the athletic side so, the list should also include: gardening, cleaning house, playing with grandkids, and of course…SHOPPING!

Keeping your mind healthy is just as important as physical exercise too. As we age, there are definite differences we notice in our mental abilities, but one thing is for sure, we do not lose our intellect. In fact, we are still able to learn even though it may take a bit longer to grasp the subject matter.

So, in order to keep our minds sharp, we can add this ‘to-do’ list to our routines to keep healthy:

  • Eat a healthy diet – lots of raw vegetables, whole grains and non-fat dairy
  • Stimulate the mind with crossword puzzles, reading and writing
  • Learn something new you’ve never done before
  • Keep physically fit which will help you improve your memory
  • Play board games
  • Pick up a musical instrument
  • Participate in group discussions such as a book club. Face to face communication has benefits far beyond simply social satisfaction.

 

Don’t get too overwhelmed because participating in any activity will help promote a healthy lifestyle, which in turn, will help you maintain your independence. Independence as we age, of course, is the bottom line. Usually, if an older person loses their ability to do an activity, it’s because they’re not active, not because they’re too old. Are you ever too old to start – NO WAY! Just be sure when you do pick up a new exercise, you’re not overdoing it so as to cause unwanted pain. If you do something and you still feel good the next day, you’ll keep on doing it; no one wants to be in pain for days. Of course, please check with your doctor before you start any exercise program.

Besides keeping healthy by exercising, your mood will be elevated and stave off feelings of depression. I think you’ll enjoy your life more as you age and hopefully, look fabulous as well.

Just remember, you have to keep movin’ if you want to keep groovin’!

Cathy Daniele writes for Senior Planning, offering a true senior perspective. Senior Planning is a free service that helps the elderly find housing, benefits, or care solutions.

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