Six Steps to Boost Senior Health and Wellness

Many people have left their New Year’s resolutions by the wayside by the end of January, but who says resolutions should only be made at the start of the year? There is no time like the present to start a brand new goal or habit, particularly to improve senior health and wellness.

We have six tips you can implement today. Choose one to begin, or jump right into all of them to attain the greatest benefit:

1. Make an appointment for a physical. Instead of waiting for a sickness or injury to contact the physician, an annual check-up is an easy way for older adults to remain on top of their health and potentially prevent issues before they occur.
2. Get physical. With the physician’s approval and recommendations in hand, begin a new physical fitness routine – together! Working out with an older adult you love enables you to motivate one another and serve as accountability partners. Agree to staying with it for a minimum of 21 days, after which it ought to be an ingrained, pleasurable habit you’ll want to continue.
3. Stay connected. Help the older adult keep up friendships and contact with loved ones to reduce the chances of loneliness and isolation – something we have all become too familiar with during the course of the pandemic. Offer transportation, if needed, for dinner dates or with setting up technology to stay virtually connected.
4. Update vaccinations. In addition to COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, pneumonia, seasonal influenza, and shingles vaccines ought to be up to date. With age comes an elevated risk for severe effects from these illnesses, so vaccinations become even more crucial.
5. Don’t overlook mental health. A mental health provider will help determine if depression, anxiety, or any other concerns need to be addressed, offering both therapeutic tools and medication if needed. Staying mentally sharp through brain enrichment activities will help with the natural cognitive decline that develops in aging.
6. Monitor what you eat. If the fridge and pantry are filled with empty-calorie or fatty foods, replace them with proteins, whole grains, fresh veggies and fruits, and low-fat dairy products. A drastic change in diet can be overwhelming and difficult to adhere to, so start simple with one replacement at first – carrot sticks in the place of potato chips, for instance – and work up to a more healthy overall diet.

JFS Caresenior caregivers, in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas, are here to help older adults in achieving these and any other goals with personalized in-home care and companionship. From accompaniment and transportation to medical appointments and exercise classes to grocery shopping and preparing healthy meals, all while giving socialization a much-needed boost, we’re empowering seniors to live their best lives on a daily basis. Email or call us at (213) 383-2273 to learn more about how we can help improve senior health and wellness! Visit our Service Area page to see all of the communities we serve.