Celebrate Healthy Aging Month with 7 tips for better health

Being an older adult is no reason to slow down. You deserve to enjoy your golden years doing what you love with those you love. Follow these seven tips from our Touro team to celebrate Healthy Aging Month this September, stay healthy and live your best life year-round.

1. Enjoy a colorful meal

Brighten up your plate with plenty of fruits and vegetables to boost your health. Add baked, boiled or grilled shrimp or homemade red beans and rice for a healthy dose of lean protein. Keep things cooking and help prevent chronic health conditions with fresh herbs and low-salt, low-sugar spice blends.

2. Share the love

Maintaining a healthy social life can help you live longer while giving you more of what makes life worth living. Make new friends and stay connected to your loved ones by:

• Attending monthly educational seminars and meeting new friends
• Participating in your religious community
• Scheduling a weekly meal with family
• Volunteering for a good cause

3. Don’t sweat the small stuff

You know that stress is an unavoidable part of life. Still, if you’re getting stuck in stress, it’s time to make some changes. Chronic stress can increase inflammation, lead to mental and physical health problems and speed up the aging process.

Having a healthy lifestyle can help lower your stress overall. You can also try:

• Keeping a journal
• Practicing relaxation techniques
• Spending time outside
• Talking with a friend

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t be shy. We’ve got you.

4. Enjoy all NOLA has to offer

Regular physical activity can help add years to life and life to your years. Go out dancing, take a stroll in Audubon Park or join a Silver Sneakers class.

Being physically active can:

• Help you get a good night’s sleep
• Improve balance, endurance and strength
• Lower the risk of depression
• Prevent falls
• Protect against diabetes, heart disease and other chronic diseases

Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week. That’s just about 22 minutes a day.

If it’s been a while since you’ve exercised, start slow. Take the time to warm up and cool down. If you have arthritis or another chronic health condition, talk with your primary care provider about the best types of exercise for you.

5. Rediscover the joys of a bedtime routine

Bedtime routines aren’t just for kids. They’re a chance to show yourself some love. Older adults need about seven to nine hours of sleep. Still, aches and pains, chronic diseases and some medications can make it challenging to get enough rest. A bedtime routine may help.

Every night at the same time, turn off screens, take some time to enjoy calming music, read or write down what you’re grateful for, dim the lights and take yourself to bed. If you have trouble falling asleep, try a mindful body scan. Keeping the house cool may also help.

6. Try something new during Healthy Aging Month

You’re never too old to grow. If you’ve always wanted to learn a new language, master chess or play the guitar, now is the perfect time. Learning new skills and making time for hobbies can help keep your brain healthy and boost your mood. It may improve memory too.

7. Come over for a visit

Being proactive about your health can help prevent many illnesses and injuries and keep you feeling your best:

• Get recommended health screenings.
• Manage chronic conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
• Stay up to date with vaccinations, including the shingles vaccine.

Even if you don’t have any health complaints, an annual visit with your primary care provider can help you get answers to your health-related questions, identify concerns early on and keep you in tip-top shape. Plus, we’ll be happy to see you.

It takes work to get healthy and to create a future you can look forward to. Connect with the Touro Senior Care team to learn more about healthy aging.