Six Steps to Boost Senior Wellness All Year Long

Many people have cast aside their New Year’s resolutions by the end of January, but who says resolutions should only be made at the start of the year? There’s no time like the present to commit to a new habit or goal, particularly when it pertains to senior wellness. 

We’ve got six tips you can implement today. Choose one to start, or jump right into all of them to achieve the most benefit:

1. Make an appointment for a physical. Instead of waiting for an injury or illness to call the physician, a yearly check-up is an easy method for older adults to remain on top of their own health and potentially prevent problems before they occur.
2. Get physical. With the physician’s approval and recommendations in hand, kick off a new health and fitness routine – together! Working out with an older adult you love allows you to motivate one another and function as accountability partners. Commit to adhering to it for a minimum of 21 days, after which it ought to be an ingrained, pleasurable habit you will want to continue.
3. Stay connected. Help the senior maintain friendships and contact with loved ones to reduce the chances of loneliness and isolation – something we have all become too familiar with throughout the pandemic. Offer transportation if needed for lunch dates, or help with setting up technology to stay virtually in touch.
4. Update vaccinations. Along with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, flu, pneumonia, and shingles vaccines must be up to date. As people age, there is an elevated risk for severe effects from these illnesses, so vaccinations become much more important.
5. Don’t forget mental health. A mental health provider can help determine if anxiety, depression, or other concerns need to be addressed, offering both therapeutic tools and medication if needed. Maintaining mental sharpness 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 fruits and veggies, and low-fat dairy products. An extreme change in diet may be overwhelming and difficult to maintain, so start simple with one replacement at first – carrot sticks in place of potato chips, for example – and work up to a healthier overall diet.

CareWorks Health Services is here to assist older adults in achieving these and any other goals with customized in-home care and companionship. From accompaniment and transportation to medical appointments and fitness 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. Contact us online or  at (949) 859-4700 for more information about our Huntington Beach senior services and how we can help someone you love! For a full list of communities where we provide our award-winning care, please visit our Service Area page.