One of the great benefits of making a move to an assisted living community is that you can select from various levels of care and services to meet your unique needs. Whether you need help managing your medication regime or just want occasional assistance when you have a question about exercise or diet, assisted living staff can help.
Stack that peace of mind on top of the social and lifestyle amenities you can enjoy in an assisted living community, and you can see why many seniors make this choice. We love seeing residents at Grand Villa in Grand Junction, CO, live their best lives.
To that end, we’re sharing some healthy habits seniors of all ages and living situations might want to consider cultivating. Remember that your body, mind and soul is unique to you, so seek out expert care for all of those pieces of your humanity. Consult doctors and other health care professionals about what might be right for your body, talk to therapists and trusted friends to clear and settle your mind and consider reaching out to a pastor or chaplain if you’re a senior of faith looking to walk more in that hope.
You can also include some of these habits in your daily life.
Human bodies are use-it-or-lose it in nature. That means if you don’t put in the work to keep joints, muscles and other parts functioning, they can waste away. Sitting around all day is a way to help ensure this process of aging happens even faster.
While not everyone can keep running marathons — or even running at all — you can use your body to the best of your ability to safeguard the range of motion, endurance and strength you have.
Talk to the staff at Grand Villa to find out what types of exercise and activity programs are available to you. You can also make daily choices to add more movement, such as walking around the community once in the morning and afternoon or taking the long way around a room whenever possible.
According to the department of Health and Human Services, poor eating is a major contribution to many health problems, including obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Seniors might think that they can’t reverse what’s already done, so there’s no reason to try now, and that’s actually not true.
Starting to eat a nutritious diet, even at an older age, can help you feel better, have more energy and battle a number of health concerns alongside appropriate treatment.
Eating healthy doesn’t mean you give up every treat, either. It means eating with balance and moderation in mind. Depending on your needs, a piece of chocolate, a cookie or a bowl of chips here and there probably won’t hurt. Find out more about nutrition by reaching out to the assisted living staff, and enjoy healthy meals in the dining areas.
Food is the primary source of vitamins and minerals for your body, but many people can’t get all they need via food for a number of reasons. If you’re short on something critical and your doctor suggests a supplement, make sure you take them consistently. That’s good advice for any medication you might take too.
A thankful attitude can help you see the positive in things and reduce stress. Thank others when they do something for you, thank God each day for the blessings he has given you and consider recording what you’re thankful for in a notebook or on a calendar every day. That helps you look back on harder days to see all the good that has come before.
Follow up with doctors and others and attend annual checkups or other appointments. Prevention is often the best approach to staying healthy.
Speaking of prevention, even in a time when we’re not concerned with COVID-19, it can be a good idea to limit interactions with people who are sick. This is especially true for seniors who might be at greater risk.
You can’t keep yourself in a bubble, though, so make sure you wash your hands regularly. Use soap and warm water, and wash your hands for at least 20 seconds before and after meals, after you interact with others or touch items outside of your home or after playing with pets or handling pet food or waste.
Falls are a top reason seniors seek emergency medical care. Use fall prevention devices — from shower handles to walkers — as necessary and talk to the staff at the assisted living community about our fall prevention programs.
Isolation and loneliness can be as dangerous for people as physical health issues. Take advantage of the activities and common areas at Grand Villa to make new friends and spend enjoyable time in fellowship with others to ward off these mental health issues.
