2021 marks the second year of the United Nations’ Decade Of Healthy Ageing, which aims ‘’to improve the lives of older people, their families, and the communities in which they live’’ by coordinating a concerted effort by governments, civil society, the media, academic and the private sector to help the elderly enjoy a life of dignity and meaning.
The World Health Organisation defines healthy ageing as “the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables wellbeing in older age”, and they suggest this can be done in five fundamental ways; by meeting the basic needs of the elderly, helping them make their own decisions, facilitating mobility, helping them build and maintain strong relationships, and ensuring the elderly both contribute to, and feel valued by, society.
There’s a danger in the modern world that many people assume the ageing process to be debilitating, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, there are several things you can do to maintain good health and independence as you age. With healthy ageing in mind, here are 5 tips on living your best life in your later years.
STAY ACTIVE
As the WHO pointed out in their definition of healthy ageing, retaining your mobility is so important as you get older. Indeed, staying physically active will increase the chances of you being more mobile as you age. In turn, you can retain your independence.
Maintaining a gentle but committed exercise routine, taking a daily walk, counting your steps for added motivation, or even setting yourself regular fitness challenges can be a great way to prioritise exercise. Even gardening or a spot of pilates can do wonders for an elderly person’s fitness. If you’re keen to learn more, check out these ideas for the elderly to keep fit, which is packed full of useful suggestions.
HAVE ROUTINE CHECK-UPS
Medical issues can typically be resolved more easily if they’re diagnosed early, and as we age, the likelihood of aches, pains and underlying problems does, sadly, increase. Instead of waiting for symptoms to emerge, attend routine check-ups so that your doctor can monitor your health and offer any advice on proactive steps that you can take to keep fighting fit. If action does need to be taken, you’ll find that treatments tend to be less invasive, shorter and with fewer side effects when medical problems are caught swiftly.
STRIVE FOR A VARIED DIET
A healthy diet in your later years can (and should!) certainly include a few treats now and then, but it’s vital to ensure you’re getting a range of minerals and nutrients, too. The best way to do this is via a balanced but diverse diet full of colour and variety, which is not only the most nutritious way to do things, but also tends to be the most delicious!
A recent report by the World Health Organisation has suggested that many seniors could be at increased risk of disease because they do not observe a healthy, balanced diet, with malnutrition a real risk to many elderly people. Whether that’s because your interest in food has slowly declined or they struggle to cook a meal from scratch each day, there are fortunately ways to get your diet back on track and enjoy the process of ageing, healthily and gracefully.
Indeed, with a potentially decreased dexterity and slowing sharpness, whipping up a dinner from scratch which contains the requisite carbohydrates, proteins, fruits, and vegetables, can be tough. It’s worth bearing in mind that there are now several brands which cater specifically to ‘mature tastes’. All of this will provide an incentive for a cleaner, healthier eating experience and also hopefully bring more pleasure to day-to-day life by making mealtimes more enjoyable.
Eating enough fibre, to help with digestion, and calcium, to maintain healthy teeth and bones, becomes particularly important as we age. Foods that are rich in fibre include leafy, dark green vegetables, fruit (particularly pears and berries) beans, pulses and lentils, and nuts and seeds. To ensure you’re getting enough calcium, it’s prudent to include dairy products like cheese, milk and yoghurt, as well as even more dark green leafy vegetables, in your diet.
SOCIALISE
A fascinating recent report in the Guardian spoke about the importance of nurturing your ‘social biome’, which Jeffrey Hall, professor of communication studies at the University of Kansas, defined as ‘’the individual ecosystem of relationships and interactions that shapes our emotional, psychological and physical health’’.
As we age, this social biome tends to weaken, both in diversity and strength, which can cause real problems, health-wise. In fact, the article reported that there was increasingly irrefutable evidence that ‘’the best single predictor for your psychological wellbeing and health, for your physical wellbeing and health – even for your risk of dying – is the number and quality of friendships that you have.’’
Right now, the UK is suffering from something of a loneliness epidemic, and this is particularly pertinent amongst our elderly population. We’ve written previously about ways to remotely support elderly loved ones who are feeling lonely, and how to find help and companionship in your later years. Do check it out.
ACCEPT HELP
Accepting help when you need it is a critical part of healthy ageing. Rather than being a sign of weakness or decline, doing so can help you maintain your independence for longer, and is therefore one of the best things you can do.
From letting a neighbour do your shopping for you to asking a family member to arrange live in care, there are numerous ways you can get the physical support you need as you get older. Rather than soldiering on and potentially not living your life to its fullest, asking for and accepting help can enhance your well-being, help you to retain your independence and make the ageing process a far happier one.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Living your best life isn’t only a concept reserved for Instagram influencers. If you want to make the most of every day, prioritising your health and well-being is a good place to start. From staying active and socialising, all the way to considering live in care, there are plenty of ways to ensure later life is enjoyable and rewarding.
It’s no wonder they’re known as your ‘golden years’; by placing a focus on healthy ageing, the best really is yet to come!