Heart disease, high blood pressure, and a number of other medical conditions may be exacerbated by an inadequate diet and a lack of frequent exercise. According to studies, seniors who lead healthy lifestyles live longer and experience fewer years of illness. A healthy lifestyle is necessary to appreciate your life after retirement, whether you decide to stay at home, or move into an elderly independent living community. There are many methods to maintain good health into your retirement years, such as a balanced diet, regular exercise, and more. This article is a guide to three effective strategies for lifestyle management for residents in elderly independent living.
Healthy Diet and Eating Habits
Adhering to a healthy diet and having good eating habits is crucial for seniors. Include adequate amounts of protein, minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates, and fluids in your daily food intake.
- Protein: Protein shortages can contribute to infections, brittle skin, weakness, and slower recovery. In order to compensate for the general loss of protein from internal organs and muscles, it is imperative to ingest higher quantities of protein as you age. However, you should limit your protein intake and adhere to your doctor’s directions if you suffer from certain medical conditions, like liver or kidney disease.
- Minerals and vitamins: Seniors require different amounts of vitamins and minerals than do younger adults. To prevent any deficiencies, you should be aware of how much to include in your food. You might also think about taking vitamin and mineral supplements to make sure you’re getting the right amount after talking with your doctor.
- Carbohydrates: Carbohydrate digestion provides the majority of our energy. It is recommended to include complex carbohydrates like those found in cereals, whole grains, veggies, and fruits that make up roughly 50% to 60% of daily calories.
- Fats: Additionally, fats are required for your survival. They provide your body with energy, help to stay warm, and safe. Only unsaturated fats are beneficial for your health. According to the expert-recommended diet, elders should get about 10% of their daily calories from unsaturated fats.
- Fluids: With age, our body begins to lose some of its capacity to control fluid balance. Being dehydrated is more likely if you don’t feel thirsty. Constipation, decreased urine production, a low-grade fever, and dry gums can all be symptoms of dehydration. As a result, it’s critical to maintain your hydration by consuming enough water each day.
Once you have a balanced diet in place, ensure that you eat on time. Maintain a proper schedule for food and avoid snacks in between. Replace oily foods with mini-meals or healthy snacks containing more greens and nuts. Control the quantity of food intake and never skip meals. More importantly, follow the instructions from caregivers, nutritionists, and dieticians at your elderly independent living community.
Regular Exercise
Think about scheduling a regular physical activity regimen. Gardening, swimming, jogging, or housecleaning can boost your metabolism and appetite and help your bones and muscles get stronger if you are malnourished. You could also attempt to do some light exercise right before eating. However, if your problem is overeating, regular exercise combined with a specific diet plan can help you cut calories in a beneficial manner.
General Considerations
Apart from diet and exercise, maintain a disciplined lifestyle. Ensure you have sufficient hours of sleep. Avoid using tobacco and reduce alcohol consumption. Go for routine medical checkups, manage stress, anxiety, and avoid depression. Give importance to your cognitive health and engage in recreational activities for mental wellbeing too.
A reputed retirement community will have trained personnel to attend to your requirements, carefully planned infrastructure, necessary amenities, and a number of services targeting a holistic lifestyle management approach to guarantee your wellbeing and comfort.
