by Maggie Hammond
Source: LivingBetter50
Everyone wants and deserves to feel fantastic whatever their age, and getting older can bring a world of new experiences to discover. It’s essential to look and feel your best and manage your life in the most efficient way to help you enjoy a healthy lifestyle.
Taking care of your changing needs as you get older doesn’t have to be a challenge, and with some careful planning, it’s easy to ensure that you can look forward to all kinds of new adventures in the years to come. Here are some simple and practical ways to help you plan for a healthy life over 50.
Eat plenty of nutritious foods
Getting older means that the needs of your body will change over time, and the kind of food you eat will make an enormous difference in how you look and feel every day. It’s especially important to take care of skin and joints, as joint issues can be one of the most common ailments experienced by older adults.
Have a good variety of protein sources in your daily diet, as well as plenty of healthy fats. Oily fish is a great source of both, as well as nuts and dairy. Keep red meat to a minimum to protect your heart, and ensure you drink ample water to stay well hydrated. As well as helping your skin stay supple and bright, staying hydrated can also help to improve your immune system, and reduce the risk of developing typical illnesses such as colds and viruses.
You might also want to think about including a daily vitamin or mineral supplement to make sure that you are meeting all your daily recommended nutritional requirements, and it may be worth getting advice to help you find the right one.
Make your home safe and easy to use
Adding some practical adaptations in your home can make a huge difference as you get older, and reduce the risk of common household accidents such as trips or falls. If you’re beginning to find that climbing stairs are becoming more of a challenge, you might want to consider adding a new platform lift to make moving across floors much more manageable and pleasant.
Other simple additions, such as handrails in the bathroom, or more supported seating, can help make your home a much more inviting and welcoming space to enjoy, while practical tools, such as clocks or equipment with clear and easy-to-read dials, make it simpler to avoid mistakes.
Take part in outdoor activities
Getting outside is one of the best things you can do to boost your physical and mental health, and it should continue to play an important role in your wellbeing as you get older. As well as helping your body to get essential vitamin D, enjoying the sunshine and outdoor air can help you stay sharper and alert, improve concentration, and help you feel more active and energetic.
Try to include at least 20 to 30 minutes of outdoor activity a few days a week. This can be something simple, such as gardening or enjoying a gentle stroll outdoors, or you might even want to include some more exciting outdoor adventures, such as cycling or hiking once a week.
Look out for regular outdoor groups that take excursions and lead trails in the area. As well as helping you get outside, these can also be a great way to make new friends and meet people, helping you to make the most of life as you get older.
About The GreenFields Continuing Care Community
The GreenFields Continuing Care Community provides for the physical, social, and spiritual needs of residents in a Christian environment. In addition to skilled nursing, subacute rehabilitation, and outpatient therapy at GreenField Health & Rehabilitation Center, The GreenFields offers a variety of living arrangements and support levels based on individual needs. This includes independent living apartments in GreenField Manor; assisted living apartments in GreenField Court; and memory care and enhanced assisted living in GreenField Terrace.
