6 Ways to Help Seniors Stay Young

Staying healthy and feeling your best is important no matter what your age is. But staying cheerful and full of energy can be a difficult task for many aging adults. Seniors experience a physical and mental exhaustion that contributes to losing the vibrancy and enthusiasm that they used to experience when they were younger. They are older and it takes effort, but that does not mean that older adults must resort to an inactive lifestyle. They shouldn’t be confined to their beds, couches, and chairs, while giving up fun activities they enjoy or social interaction.
If they have the determination and the enthusiasm to make life enjoyable, they can succeed in achieving it regardless of the age and the health conditions to overcome. It is all about how old one feels. As far as aging adults are concerned, these tips can help a person cope with change and live life to the fullest. ​

How to age well:

Eat Healthy

Eating healthy will allow seniors to stay far away from mental and physical disorders. With age, people require an altered diet.  The ideal diet for an aging adult should consist of cooked fruits, vegetables, yogurt, nuts, and small portions of white meat protein or beans. Regular meals of these foods will keep their bodies supplied with enough energy. It will allow them to gain the physical strength required to carry out their favorite indoor and outdoor activities. Eating healthfully also reduces the risk of anxiety and mood swings.

Stay Connected

One of the simplest and easiest ways of staying and feeling young is by socializing with people of similar ages and backgrounds. The more they communicate and converse with people, the easier it will be for them to tackle the hardships of aging. This is why community Living is so important.
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1. Spending time with people that they enjoy helps to give that positive mental boost. 
2. Making New Friends – Losing people in their circle can be painful. It’s important to make new connections so their social life doesn’t decline.
3. Spend time with at least one person every day – It’s just not health to be alone day after day. And phone or email is not a replacement for spending time with other people.

Get Plenty Of Sleep

Many adults experience sleep problems as they age.  This can include insomnia, daytime sleepiness, and frequently waking in the night. Make sure the room is quiet, dark and cool. Avoid artificial light. Increase your activity level during the day. Get into a soothing nighttime ritual to help get a good night’s sleep. ​

Get Active and Boost Vitality

​Physical exercise and the benefits from exercise cannot be stressed enough. This is especially true in the case of seniors. Exercising keeps the body rejuvenated and the mind refreshed. This doesn’t mean we recommend heavy workout sessions. Rather, light exercises such as brisk walking, slow dancing, and stretching or yoga can help avoid or overcome the physical challenges associated with aging. 

Keep Your Mind Sharp - Help Seniors Stay Young

Frequently seniors lose the excitement and zeal that comes with learning something new and discovering something extraordinary. It becomes difficult for them to come across new sources of learning. There is no end to learning, and the sooner seniors understand that, the sooner they will develop the desire to engage in intriguing learning activities.

1. Try different variations of what you know. It could be games or sports, puzzles etc. If they like crosswords, move to more challenging crosswords. Try a new word game.
2. Work something new every day. Taking a different route to the cafeteria. Brush your teeth with a different hand.
3. Learn something completely new. Have you always wanted to learn a new language? Do you want to develop new computer skills? Maybe you want to learn how to play the piano.  Tackle something new. 

Learn to Cope With Change

As we age, there will be periods of joy and stress. It is important to build resilience and find healthy ways to cope. This will help you make the most of the good times and keep perspective when they aren’t.

1. Focus on the things you are thankful for.
2. Express your feelings
3. Admit and accept the things you can’t change
4. Look for the Silver Lining. See the positive side of things.
5. Take action to deal with things that are difficult. Don’t ignore it. These are excellent opportunities for personal growth.

​Age is only a number or a perception of who you are. We want help seniors stay young.  If seniors believe that there is a lot more they have yet to experience in life, that there is so much they can still give back, they will continue to feel young at heart.