As you age, your body becomes increasingly prone to illness and injury. Here are some important tips for staying healthy as you grow older:
Keep current with your vaccinations. Your risk for developing the flu, pneumonia, and shingles increases as you age. To decrease your risk, get a flu shot every year. If you’re 65 or older, it is recommended you get a pneumonia vaccine. The shingles vaccine is recommended at age 60 and up.
Decrease your risk for falls. Falls are a major concern for aging seniors, as the risk of serious injury or death increases. To protect yourself, consider installing grip bars in your bathroom. Removing throw rugs and other objects that you can trip over is also recommended. Your EIHC caregiver will be happy to assist you with these tasks.
Get routine checkups and screenings. Dental, hearing, vision, blood pressure, cholesterol—these are just a few of the routine checkups that are important to stay healthy. Early disease detection screenings, such as colonoscopies, mammograms, pap smears, and prostate exams, are also important. To find out at what age and how often you should undergo these tests, ask your doctor.
Maintain a healthy diet. Maintaining good eating habits is important to staying healthy at every age. This includes watching your calorie intake, eating nutrient-rich foods, and avoiding excess sugar, salt, and fat in your diet. Dietary supplements may also be beneficial if recommended by your doctor.
Stay as active as possible. Keeping physically active is one of the most important things you can do for your body and your mind. In addition to maintaining and improving your body’s strength and flexibility, exercise improves blood flow to vital organs, including your brain. From mobility to strength-building exercises, our in-home care providers are trained to assist you with whatever exercise you need.