Recognizing and Celebrating Healthy Aging Month

September is here, and that means Healthy Aging Month is officially underway. This is a time to celebrate life and the positive aspects of growing older. Here are simple tips on controlling your health and, most importantly, living your best years!

Take that first step, literally!

Regular exercise is vital in preventing and managing chronic diseases like diabetes and cancer. It also improves stamina and balance, while reducing the risk of falls.

If you haven’t been exercising, start small this September. Start off easy and take a stroll around your neighborhood several times a week. As you get used to your new level of activity, try to walk a longer distance if approved by your doctor.

Eat Nutritiously

Maintaining a balanced diet is a big part of staying healthy. Experts advise diets to include a variety of vegetables and fruits because they are high in minerals, fiber, and vitamins and low in fat and calories. Don’t forget to stay hydrated. It’s recommended that you drink at least 6 cups of water per day.

Get an Annual Physical

Don’t miss your annual checkups and other preventable screenings, including colonoscopies, pap smears, Bone Density Scans (DEXA), and mammograms. Preventative screenings can save lives by spotting diseases in their early stages.

Focus on Sleep

As you get older, you may find yourself waking up more frequently. That is okay. This may be due to the need to use the bathroom, physical discomfort, or other factors.

Here are three key suggestions for enjoying better sleep as you age:

• Refrain from drinking water and other fluids within two hours of bedtime to reduce the trips to the bathroom.
• Keep your sleep environment dark. This includes reducing the light coming from the computer screen, televisions, and mobile devices. Light disrupts your body’s natural sleep cycle.
• Limit daytime napping. If you can, avoid daytime naps altogether.

Consider Joining a Senior Living Community

Everyone finds joy in different ways. Retiring to a senior living community provides a great environment for fostering happiness:

• More Socialization: Senior living communities encourage and improve socialization for residents. They offer plenty of places to share a cup of tea with a neighbor or catch up over a meal in the dining room.
• More Opportunities to Get Moving: Senior living communities provide residents easy access to wellness resources. It is common to find group exercise programs, on-site yoga classes, or amenities like swimming pools, fitness centers, and rehabilitation therapy services.
• Delicious Nutritious Meals: Many communities remove the hassle of daily meal preparation and turn dining into the social experience it is meant to be.
• More Wellness Resources: Caregivers are available to help with daily tasks and aid in the event of emergencies. Medical professionals can answer questions, manage medications, take blood pressure and more.

Growing older brings new changes, but those changes don’t need to be negative. Healthy Aging Month is a perfect reminder of all the positive things that should be focused on and celebrated.