Keeping healthy is an important part of life, but it plays an even more vital role as we get older. Physical and mental disability can creep up on us, so it is important your body and mind are in the best condition they can be to help prevent any nasty problems from arising.

There is often the stereotype that staying healthy as we get older is difficult, but with small and successive changes, it doesn’t have to be.

Bear these tips in mind, and you too can keep that spring in your step, whatever your age.

A Little Exercise a Day

Exercise is beneficial to everyone, and this includes the elderly. Of course, running 5km every day is out of the question, but research has shown that even a brisk walk of ten minutes a day can help keep one’s mind and body in shape.

A fun way to encourage you to walk more is to invest in a pedometer. They are cheap and easy to use, and it can pose a fun challenge to see how many steps you can achieve in a day, then try to beat that record.

Watch What You Eat

But any exercise will be for naught if you do not accompany it with sensible eating.

Obesity in older Australians is becoming an increasingly prominent problem, particularly for those living in home care, where getting out of the house may prove difficult at times.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare states that more than one in five seniors in Australia are obese, which poses additional problems since older people are at an increased risk of developing diabetes and other chronic diseases if they are overweight.

Healthy eating is therefore vital. A balanced diet is always the best option, but if it this proves troublesome, your doctor may provide vitamins and supplements to help ensure you get all you need to stay healthy and keep your body able to fight off illness.

Fighting the Cold

It’s not only what goes in your body that you should worry about – your environment can also play a major part in keeping healthy.

Particularly important for older people is the need to stay warm. Not only are the elderly more susceptible to hypothermia, but heart attacks and strokes can also be more common due to the fact that blood pressure takes longer to return to normal in older people after being out in the cold.

Wrapping up warm inside and outside of the home, especially in winter time is vital. Clothes with natural fibres, such as cotton and wool, are especially good at keeping the heat in.

Keeping your home warm is also necessary – your living room should be around 21°C at all times, with all other rooms kept at around 18°C.

Staying on Top of It All

It can sometimes be difficult to stay on top of it all, but with careful planning and support from care services, like us here at Pure Home Caring, you can remain fit and healthy, whatever your age.