7 Healthy Habits to Maintain in the Senior Years

Focusing on health can not only increase a senior’s life span, but it can also boost his or her quality of life. Sticking to healthy habits later in life can enhance physical and mental health. During the golden years, it’s important to focus on maintaining these seven healthy practices. 

1. Taking Regular Walks

Walking is a gentle form of exercise that can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and alleviate arthritis symptoms. Spending time in nature has also been linked to a lower risk of depression, which means it’s good for emotional health as well. Seniors should try to go for a walk after dinner each day. 

Taking regular walks is one of the many ways to remain active and enjoy enhanced wellbeing. If your elderly loved one needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a trusted provider of elder care. Our caregivers provide transportation to and from medical appointments and social events, nutritious meal preparation, assistance with daily exercise, and help with everyday tasks like bathing, grooming, and light housekeeping.

2. Stimulating the Mind

Playing games and finishing puzzles aren’t just fun ways to pass the time. Mentally stimulating activities also help seniors maintain their cognitive, language, and memory skills later in life. Family caregivers can suggest playing fun games like Scrabble and Monopoly to bond as a family while helping their loved ones keep their minds healthy. 

3. Eating Nutritious Produce

Fresh fruits and vegetables are low in calories, full of heart-healthy fiber, and packed with nutrients and antioxidants. Seniors who eat fruits and vegetables regularly can protect their bodies from oxidative damage. 

4. Avoiding Problematic Substances

Both smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can cause serious health conditions. Doctors recommend seniors consume no more than seven alcoholic drinks per week and stop smoking entirely. It can be difficult to curb addictive behavior, but family caregivers can help by finding effective smoking cessation aids for their loved ones. 

5. Going to Sleep at the Same Time Each Night

Sleeping tends to become more difficult as people age, but getting a good night’s rest is important for overall health. Seniors can enhance their sleep quality by going to bed at the same time each night, avoiding bright television and phone screens before bed, and sleeping in dark rooms. 

Consider hiring a professional live-in caregiver if your loved one needs help maintaining good sleep hygiene. For many seniors in Arlington home care is an essential component of aging in place safely and comfortably. However, it’s important for them to have caregivers they can trust and rely on. At Assisting Hands Home Care, we extensively screen all of our caregivers and only hire those who have experience in the senior home care industry. Our strict requirements ensure seniors can remain in the comfort of home with a reduced risk of injury or serious illness.

6. Visiting the Doctor Regularly

Many health conditions in seniors are preventable, so it’s important for older adults to have regular checkups with physicians, dentists, and optometrists. Family caregivers may need to keep calendars and make appointments to ensure their loved ones get all their checkups on schedule. 

7. Staying Socially Active

Having strong social ties has been linked to a longer life span because it decreases stress and promotes healthy behaviors. Caregivers should help their loved ones plan and attend social engagements. Regular socialization lowers depression risk and helps seniors remain healthy. 

Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of home care service. Arlington families can rely on Assisting Hands Home Care to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia. Contact one of our experienced Care Managers today at (703) 988-1800 to learn more about our reliable in-home care services.