Helpful Tips to Increase Senior Longevity

If you are like most people, you want to spend as much time as possible with your senior loved ones. Unfortunately, when it comes to longevity, the U.S. is somewhat behind other areas of the world. Women, on average, live 83.3 years and men 79.5. However, even though this is the average, it doesn’t mean there aren’t steps you can take to help improve your senior loved ones longevity, even if they reside in a Phoenix based assisted living facility.

Stay Focused on Exercise and Nutrition

If you have a senior loved one who lives in assisted living in Phoenix, AZ, you should make sure they are eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet and that they get plenty of physical activity. The good news is that the majority of assisted living facilities put a priority on these things, but it is still a good idea to check for yourself. The better your senior loved one eats and the more exercise they get, the longer they will live.

Get Regular Doctor’s Exams

There are some seniors who view going to the doctor as scary or something they want to avoid. However, part of quality elderly care in Phoenix, AZ is getting regular checkups at the doctor’s office. These checkups ensure the seniors health is good and can discover any potential issues early on. This is not a part of senior care that should be ignored.

If you have a senior loved one who is living in an assisted living community, there are still things you can do to help extend their life. You can work with the senior living management team in Phoenix, AZ to ensure your loved one remains happy and healthy.

Here are some additional tips to consider:

1. Afternoon fatigue - Fatigue is a common problem among older adults, especially after lunch. Having a glass of water and a high-antioxidant food like a prune can revitalize the body and stimulate the mind. I personally found that taking enough Folic acid each with my vitamins really helps.

2. Exercise your brain - Keeping the brain active and fit is imperative to the health of older adults. Not only does it help delay the effects of memory-loss illnesses like Alzheimer’s and dementia, but it also fosters executive function. Try word games and recall exercises. For example, play memory games like we did with our children like finding 5 objects of the same color during a walk in the neighborhood and recall them when back home.

3. Use walking poles to allow for more balanced mobility. For some people they can be used instead of walkers or canes but talk to your doctor first. Walking with poles engages the muscles of the upper body, which increases upper-body strength and cardiovascular endurance.

4. Dine with friends - Those who share meals with others eat less than those who eat alone. This is an easy weight-loss tactic and one that fosters social interaction and engagement. While this is easy for those aging in community setting, older adults aging at home can plan to have meals with family or friends as often as possible each week.

5. Do different things - Change things up, if you like doing crossword puzzles start from different spots on the grid. If you like to paint start from a different point on the surface you are painting. Routine limits brain stimulation. Introduce new ways of cooking the same food try new reciepies. For example, replace canned peaches with freshly sliced ones. Also, try taking a different route to the grocery store or shopping center.

6. Foot Support - As we age, the fat pads on the bottom of their feet compress, creating fatigue and pain. Consider wearing supportive shoes or inserting foot pads for better stability and comfort or socks that have extra padding and a wicking agent to keep feet dry and comfortable.

7. Fats: Out with the bad, in with the good - Older adults with an increased genetic risk for dementia can reduce the risk by increasing the amount of Omega-3 fatty acids in their diet. These fatty acids, found in fish, nuts, olive oil and green leafy vegetables, can reduce brain inflammation, a contributing factor of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

8. Decrease salt - High blood pressure, which can lead to strokes and a significant decline in cognitive function, often increases with age. As adults get older, the sense of taste also fades, leading to a desire for more salt on food to enhance flavor. Decreasing salt intake by putting down the shaker or changing it to other non salt flavor enhancers like Mrs. Dash salt substitute or salsa.

9. Balancing act - In addition to exercises that build strength and improve flexibility and cardiovascular endurance, make sure to add balance activities to the daily routine. Good balance requires maintaining a center of gravity over the base of support. Tai chi, yoga, walking on challenging surfaces and water exercises all enhance overall balance.

10. Dance like there’s no tomorrow - Older adults getting regular physical exercise are 60 percent less likely to get dementia. Exercise increases oxygen to the brain and releases a protein that strengthens cells and neurons. Dance involves all of the above, plus the cerebral activity present in learning and memory.

Find out more about caring for your senior loved one by visiting the A Caring Hand for Mom (and Dad) website or call us at 800-881-7706