Staying on Top of Seniors’ Health and Wellness

We progress through different seasons of life. As children, we depended on our parents to feed, clothe, and keep us safe. Then, as young parents, the tables turned, and we protected our children. As the aging process continues, we often find that we could once again use some help to ensure we remain at home and age in place, someone to aid us or an elderly parent in the day-to-day activities of senior living. A dedicated home care professional can provide the assistance seniors need to ensure they stay healthy and remain able to live life to their fullest at home.

Ways to Stay on Top of Your (or Your Senior’s) Health

Aging is part of life, but it does not mean you or your senior has to sit back and let Mother Nature have her way. Instead, it is possible to embrace this golden season of life with a little extra help. Start with the services of a home care assistant, then seek out additional support programs, increase suitable physical activity, and pay attention to mental health cues. All of these will keep you or your loved one on the path of a fulfilling life.

You may also be interested in Keeping Your Seniors Happy and Healthy

1. Find Wellness Support Programs

We all need support throughout our lives. As you or your senior loved one grow older, finding programs to aid you in staying well proves vital to your overall wellbeing. Find help in areas such as community outreach initiatives, health care programs, vaccinations, staying socially engaged, and ways to prevent falls.

• Community Support: A couple of examples include finding help getting to a vaccination site or obtaining nutritious, affordable meals.
• Health Care Programs: Look for help with dental care, paying for prescriptions, and finding a doctor or nurse practitioner to stay up on your general health.
• Vaccinations: We can all use boosters, including flu shots, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, and shingles. Your doctor can help you decide which ones you may need.
• Health Care: Stay physically active by learning safe guidelines and walking programs. You can even find a friendly voice to chat with or ways to improve your cognition to ward off Alzheimer’s and dementia.
• Fall Prevention: Falls are a leading cause of injury for seniors. Most happen at home, and many are preventable. Find free seminars and podcasts to guide you in making your home a safer place.

You may also want to learn about How to Reduce the Risk of Parkinson’s Disease | Warning Signs for Mental Illness in Seniors | Steps for Improving Mental Health in Seniors | Tips to Stay Active and Healthy for Seniors | Where to Find Support for Your Wellness Journey | Caring for Your Aging Parent After a Hospital Stay | How to Have a Better Attitude toward Fitness | Why Seniors Need a Regular Sleep Schedule | How to Help the Elderly Prepare for Cold and Flu Season | Manage Medications Across Time Zones | Keep a Consistent Sleep Schedule | 7 Sleep Tips to Help Your Seniors Rest Better

2. Learn Tips to Stay Active and Healthy

You are never too old to get physically fit. In fact, physical activities improve your overall health, including your muscles, bones, emotional and mental. Don’t let your days become mundane and leave you sluggish. Take your health into your own hands when you consider some different ways to increase your fitness, such as:

• Stay Physically Active Each Day. Find ways to get out and walk, ride a bike, or join an exercise class. Every step counts.
• Choose Activities You Enjoy Doing: If you like the exercise, you are more likely to continue doing it. So, pick something you love to do, and do it regularly.
• Remember the Benefits of Staying Active: When your motivation is waning, remember that by being active, you improve your balance, reduce your chance of falls, stay independent longer, and prevent diseases from breaking down your immune system.

You may also want to learn about How You Can Provide Excellent Heart Care for Your Senior | How to Bring New Vitality to Your Senior’s Daily Life | Post-Hospitalization Care for Seniors |  Exercises for People with Parkinson’s | How to Have a Better Attitude toward Fitness | You CAN Get Fit in Your 60s, 70s, and 80s | Walking is Effective for Seniors

3. Seek Continuous Mental Health Improvement

Today’s world affects all of us in many different ways. It is not uncommon for seniors to suffer from depression and anxiety, especially as they lose their independence, spouses and friends pass, and they lose mobility. Seasons can also affect the mental wellness of the elderly. Embrace the opportunity to combat depression and other senior mental health issues.

• Keep Physically Active Daily: Not only is physical exercise good for preventing falls and thwarting disease, but it is a mood enhancer as well. It is a wonderful way to reduce your anxiety.
• Stay Socially Active: It becomes easier to isolate yourself as you age. You may not feel like getting out. However, it is important to find ways to engage socially with family and friends and avoid becoming a hermit.
• Volunteer: Helping others offers you the benefit of keeping depression at bay and increasing your satisfaction with life. Others also reap the benefits of your help, which may lift their spirits, too.

You may also want to learn about See How a Pet Can Help Heal a Senior’s Lonely Heart | Safe Exercises for Seniors with Alzheimer’s

4. Know the Warning Signs of Mental Illness

Mental illness can strike at any age, including senior citizens. Often it is ignored or confused with signs of aging. The most common types of mental illness found in the aging population include depression, dementia, Alzheimer’s, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. You can help your loved one when you keep an eye out for some early warning signs, like:

• Problems with Remembering Things: Not all memory issues are typical to the aging process. They can be warning signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Look for signs like misplacing belongings or repeatedly asking for the same information.
• Noticeable Change in Personal Care: A senior suffering from a mental illness may stop caring for their appearance and personal hygiene. They may stop bathing or stop wearing makeup and doing their hair, which they previously may have done very meticulously.
• Withdrawing from Social Activities: It becomes difficult to engage in social situations when suffering from a mental illness. They may seem to lose interest in something they have always enjoyed.

Take Your Health Seriously with Help from Home Instead

Now is the time to take serious steps to improve your health. Aging in place is possible with the help of the caring team at Home Instead Mississauga. Our staff members are highly trained and dedicated to assisting you or your elderly parent during this season of life. We offer many different options to ensure you can live life to the fullest at home. We stand ready to serve with home care, dementia and Alzheimer’s care, light household duties, and many more options. When you need extra support, please contact us.

Call us at (905) 276-2273 to schedule a no-obligation, in-home consultation. Learn more about the compassionate, quality senior care we deliver to families in All Mississauga including: Clarkson, Cooksville, Dixie, Erin Mills, Erindale, Lakeview, Lorne Park, Port Credit, Sheridan, Streetsville each day.

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