Tips for Aging Gracefully
It’s vital to stay healthy as you age. The SmithLife Homecare team is dedicated to providing exemplary senior care and recommendations to help everyone with aging gracefully. We understand that getting older isn’t what it used to be, as more older adults embrace this change with more enthusiasm than in the past. We’ve pulled together several tips, from routine exercise to taking care of your mental health. These suggestions aren’t designed to be a guaranteed fix but more of a springboard into a gentle and healthier lifestyle. If you have any questions regarding our senior care or these tips, don’t hesitate to reach out.
What Does It Mean to Be Aging Gracefully?
Aging gracefully is a recent way of thinking, and a new way society is rethinking what it means to be an older adult. We think it’s a welcome change as, for some individuals getting older comes with a slew of old age problems and complications. When you focus on aging gracefully, getting older becomes more of a journey that you design to support you for years to come. Just because you are getting older doesn’t mean you have to stop enjoying life and having fun. Being happy and confident is one aspect of aging gracefully. The best part is that it doesn’t have to focus on how an individual looks. Our team believes that looking good comes with feeling good and is found in multiple forms.
When Do You Start Aging Gracefully?
Getting older is inevitable, but everyone can start aging gracefully. The process of aging gracefully is different for everyone. Some older adults start sooner, while others don’t begin their process until well into their 80s. Staying healthy while the aging looks unique to everyone, but there are some universal truths we should follow. Whether eating better, quitting smoking, or reducing the amount of alcohol, individual concerns are all ways to slow down the aging process. One of the best aspects is that regardless of an individual’s old age problems, it’s never too late or too early to start aging gracefully. Your golden years are meant to be celebrated and enjoyed. Our guide to staying healthy as you age is designed to help you make the most of aging gracefully.
Try Our Tips for Staying Healthy as You Age
As we’ve said, aging gracefully isn’t about wanting to look like a 20-year-old, but it’s about staying healthy as your age by focusing on your physical and mental health and enjoying life. Part of the goal of our homecare and these tips is to instill the idea that life can get better with age with the proper care. Here are our tips for aging gracefully:
- Be Gentle to Your Skin – Your skin is your body’s biggest organ. If you treat it with care by using products like SPF or lotions, they can better protect you from the elements, regulate your body temperature, and more. We recommend getting yearly skin cancer screenings and staying hydrated.
- Be Sure to Exercise Regularly – Regular exercise can significantly lower your risk of illnesses and diseases such as heart disease and cancer. On top of that, routine exercise helps you maintain your mobility for longer. It also can lower stress and improve sleep, skin and bone health, and mood. For our homecare patients, we recommend roughly 2-5 hours of moderate-intensity exercise a week or 1-2 of vigorous exercise, or a combination of the two.
- Watch Your Diet – Eating healthy is a simple way to ensure you’re aging gracefully. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables, protein such as fish or beans, three ounces of whole grains like rice or bread every day, three servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy, and lastly, healthy fats. We also recommend avoiding solid fats for cooking and using oils instead.
- Remain Aware of Your Mental Health – Keeping happy and aware of your stress goes a long way to staying healthy as you age. Mental health is such a vital thing that has historically been ignored. Our tips for keeping good mental health are spending time with friends and loved ones, accepting your age, and doing the things you enjoy.
- Lower Your Stress – This may seem the most obvious tip, but it’s probably one of the most important. Stress can have several different effects on your body, from premature aging and wrinkles to heart disease. There are several ways to reduce stress, such as meditation, exercising, getting adequate sleep, and talking to a friend.
- Find New Hobbies – Discovering new and meaningful hobbies can help maintain a sense of purpose and keep you engaged. Studies have shown that individuals who engage in hobbies and social activities are happier, experience less depression, and live longer.
- Keep Hydrated – This tip shouldn’t be new to you but drinking plenty of water is one of the most important aspects of staying healthy as you age. Staying hydrated helps keep your body regular with high energy levels and brain function. It’s also been proven that older adults who drink water keep their skin healthier and reduce the signs of aging.
- Take Care of Your Mouth – Not keeping up with your oral hygiene not only ages your smile but it places you at risk for gum disease. Gum disease, if left untreated, has been linked to heart disease, stroke, and bacterial pneumonia. It’s essential to see your dentist regularly.
- See Your Doctor Regularly – Seeing your doctor can help identify any problems early or before they start. How often you should see your doctor depends on your family’s history, age, lifestyle, and more. If you have any questions, discuss them with your homecare team.
Experience a Holistic Approach to Aging Gracefully
You are staying healthy while aging is more than seeing your doctor routinely or exercising weekly. It’s about establishing habits and goals that push you and allow you to lead a healthier lifestyle. A significant component of aging gracefully is understanding your total wellness. Wellness is not just your physical health but your mental health, attitude, creative outlets, relationships, and more. Here are some tips on how to stay healthy while aging through a holistic approach:
- Live in the Moment – It’s impossible to prevent every curveball life may throw at you, so it’s best to make the most of each moment. We recommend learning how to live in the present and cultivating daily awareness.
- Practice Forgiveness – Forgiveness doesn’t mean you condone or support what happened but allows you to let go of a traumatic event or grudge. This can have a significant positive impact on your mental health.
- Laugh Constantly – This goes together with living in the moment. Find humor in life, watch comedies, enjoy jokes, and read humorous essays. It allows you to take joy seriously while not sweating the small stuff.
- Stay Curious – Getting older doesn’t mean you must stop learning and discovering new hobbies. We encourage our homecare patients to socialize, enjoy new things, and pick up new hobbies. Remaining curious and excited about what’s happening around you is critical to gracefully aging.
- Meditate – Meditation doesn’t need to stop everything you’re doing to take a breath and calm your mind. It can be journaling, gardening, practicing your hobby, or even going on a walk. Taking time allows you to breathe, relax, and enjoy yourself.
- Foster Relationships – A common old age problem is that older adults feel lonely and isolated. While our senior care program tries to prevent this, it’s always best to get out there and foster new relationships with neighbors or kindle old friendships. The more you socialize, the more you’ll enjoy your day-to-day life, making enjoying your golden years more manageable.
- Accept Changes – One of the most important parts of aging gracefully is accepting the changes that come with aging. It’s vital for your psychological and mental health that you acknowledge that your life won’t stay the same. Aging changes everyone, and that’s okay.
Discover Our Approach to Senior Care
Aging gracefully doesn’t have to seem like a scary commitment or an unattainable goal. Once you start, you’ll quickly realize that after a few adjustments here and there, you’re on your way to staying healthy while aging. If you find yourself needing a little support, be sure to take advantage of our homecare program. We offer a diverse and respectful range of services designed to help our senior care patients retain their independence while getting additional help when needed. If you have questions about our suggestions or want more information about our homecare program, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Note from the author-
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About the Author-
Renan Augusto is the Director of Digital Marketing for SmithLife Homecare. SmithLife Homecare is a senior in-home care provider located in Rockville, MD & Washington, D.C. Renan has a Master of Science in Digital Marketing. He helps families with starting home care service. He holds credentials as a Certified Dementia Practitioner, Senior Home Safety Specialist, and Meta Certified Digital Marketer.