7 top tips for healthy ageing
Growing older is a natural part of life and one we should all embrace. Our experienced carers share their top tips for how you can stay happy and healthy in older age.
1) Eat a balanced diet
We’ll start with one of the most obvious tips – making sure you eat a healthy and balanced diet. Ideally, your diet will be low in saturated fats and include a variety of colourful fruit and vegetables, wholegrains, oily fish, low-fat dairy and lean meat.
2) Watch what you are drinking
Make sure that your drink enough water each and every day, this can include tea, coffee and fruit juice, though in moderation, to stay hydrated and avoid feeling dizzy, tired and confused. If you drink alcohol, try to have at least 2 days booze free each week to allow your liver time to recover and sticking to recommended guidelines.
3) Brush your teeth
Thorough brushing and flossing of your teeth at least twice a day will help prevent plaque build up and so reduce the risk of gum disease, which has also been linked with more serious conditions such as diabetes, strokes, heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Also visit your dentist regularly and if you wear dentures, ask them to check they are fitted properly.
4) Get up and active
Even though some days the last thing we want to do is venture outside or exercise, moving about is a vital part of ageing healthily. Getting up and moving will help you retain and build muscle and bone strength, allowing you to carry on doing the things you love for longer.
5) Top up your vitamin D
Getting outside will also help increase your levels of vitamin D, a vital element to keeping bones, teeth and muscles healthy. It’s recommended we get out in the sunshine for at least 15-20 minutes a day to keep our vitamin D levels strong. It can also be found in eggs and oily fish and supplements are available if you feel you aren’t getting enough (always seek a doctor’s advice before taking supplements).
6) Get your eyes and ears tested
It’s common for our hearing and eyesight to be affected as we grow older so it’s important to get them checked regularly in order to identify and correct any problems before they get too bad. Some hearing aids are free on the NHS and eye tests are free for those aged 60 or over.
7) Keep in touch with your loved ones
Loneliness is a widespread problem across the older generation so make sure you stay in touch with friends and family as much as possible. Try scheduling in a video chat with your children once or twice a week, arranging trips out with friends, taking up a hobby to meet new people with similar interests or even popping along to a community lunch that helps connect older people in the community.
Situated in beautiful Hampshire near the famous New Forest, Allenbrook Nursing and Residential Care Home provides elderly people with all the care, support, companionship and security they need to live life to the full. To find out more, please contact our friendly team today on 01425 656589.