5 Ways Seniors Can Improve Their Quality of Life
Contributing Writer: Jason Lewis
As people age, it becomes increasingly important to take care of both physical and mental health to promote a long and happy life. Here are five ways you can take control.
1. Exercise
Regular physical activity is important for all ages, but especially for seniors. Sedentary lifestyles become more prominent in the senior demographic, but establishing an exercise regimen can have important physical and mental health benefits, including improving your immune system and relieving stress. Find an activity you enjoy and make it a regular part of your routine.
Luckily, there are plenty of activities you can do to make exercise more exciting than a standard workout, such as taking up a new sport or adopting a dog to take on daily walks. Yoga is also a perfect activity for seniors because it’s important to stay limber as you age. It’s an easy form of exercise you can do at home to improve flexibility, strength, respiration, and mood while also helping reduce the possibility of future injuries.
2. Eat Healthily
A nutritious diet goes hand in hand with exercise when it comes to health. It’s even more important for seniors to eat properly due to the body’s changing metabolic functions. Altering your daily diet can seem like a daunting task, but there are a few easy switches you can make to improve your health. Try switching to whole wheat bread instead of white, adding ground flaxseed to your meals to boost fiber intake, limiting overly sugary or salty foods and drinks, and eating whole foods wherever possible.
3. Stay Mentally Sharp
A common worry for seniors is cognitive degeneration due to diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. That’s why it’s important to keep your mind sharp. Use puzzles as a mental workout. Both sides of the brain are used to solve puzzles, ultimately enhancing memory, creativity, and reasoning while also giving a dopamine boost upon success.
Try out a variety of puzzles such as jigsaw, crossword, or Sudoku to engage every part of your brain.
4. Get Connected
According to studies, over 40% of seniors experience loneliness, and because loneliness is linked to feelings of depression, this can have serious health implications. These feelings of isolation can be particularly common for seniors who live alone or are cut off from loved ones while living in a nursing home.
There are many ways to get reconnected and enjoy a more social life, such as joining a club that shares a hobby you enjoy, but volunteering has a wider range of benefits.
While volunteering, you have the opportunity to socialize with people as you all work towards a common, fulfilling goal.
You also can get your fill of physical activity and the benefits that come with those. Whether it’s your love of animals or your passion for human rights, find an organization that you believe in and offer to volunteer.
5. Start a Business
It’s never too late to make that passion project into a business that can help keep you occupied and boost fulfillment in life. When you’re ready to start, you’ll likely want to hire talented workers. If you don’t want to spend hours looking through resumes, consider hiring a staffing agency. They may even be able to find the right partner for you to start your business. Ideally, seek out a younger business partner who is tech-savvy and energetic to give you an alternative perspective.
Aging isn’t the end. In fact, especially after retirement, this may be an excellent opportunity to enjoy new endeavors and make your life more fulfilling than before. Explore FitnessFusion360.com for more resources and advice to help you achieve “the optimal you.”
About the Author: Jason Lewis – is a personal trainer who specialises in helping the senior population optimise their wellness. This also includes his ability to help seniors work on remaining mobile as well as to safely get fit, coupled with enhancing their mental health. In 2002, Jason became the primary caretaker for his mom, right after her surgery. He has worked with his mother’s doctor, as well as with other personal trainers, to create programs that are focused on the special health needs of those over age 65.
