As we age, the body goes through many changes, including stiffening joints and decreasing muscle mass. To maintain mobility, it is crucial to find ways to improve the flexibility of joints and muscles. By increasing flexibility, muscle mass and balance improve, which lowers the risk of falls and injuries. In addition, when a fall does occur, the body is better able to prepare for the impact, recover, and fewer injuries result.
Anxiety disorders are some of the most common forms of mental health conditions. People of all age groups suffer from mental health conditions like depression, mental stress, and anxiety. Older adults aren't any different. Studies show that anxiety is very common among older adults. 10 to 20% of older adults suffer from some form of anxiety disorder, and the number may even be higher as, in many cases, the condition remains undiagnosed. This is largely because many older adults tend to avoid seeking assistance for mental health issues.
You may see people around you who have lived an amazing life. However, when they reach a certain age in their lives, they start suffering from anxiety. This has made people believe that anxiety is a natural part of aging. This is absolutely false. Many older adults tend to live and maintain a healthy and happy lifestyle. However, one of the biggest reasons that such a large percentage of older people suffer from anxiety is that they don't do anything to heal themselves, making things worse. If their anxiety is managed and treated, these older adults can also rediscover their happiness. This is why, to live a happy life, older people have to invest in caring for themselves. They need to seek the required care to manage their anxiety.
At any given stage in our lives, we need certain nutrients that help us maintain a healthy lifestyle. The amount and value of these nutrients may change with age. For example, babies are usually given food items that would help in physical and mental development. It's all based on what would keep the person healthy and strong. Research has shown that with age, fiber consumption must be increased. Let's take a look at why it is necessary to increase fiber intake with age.
Everyone ages. When we do, there are shifts away from the life that we have become used to, and these changes can cause a range of reactions in how we feel and behave. It's not always easy to accept the realities that come with aging. These feelings can cause a lack of optimism and hope for the future. Fortunately, there are some ways to maintain an optimistic point of view and to see the best of the years to come.
When it's time to make long-term care decisions for your senior parent or disabled loved one, you may be unsure as to whether they will be better off at home or in a facility-based care community. Unless your loved one has a long-term care insurance policy, you may also be wondering how you're going to pay for your loved one's long-term care expenses — as average annual costs range between $18,746 and $100,379. To learn more about long-term care planning and for some advice on paying for long-term care services, read on.
At any age, it is normal to find it challenging to motivate yourself to get up and exercise. However, it is critical, especially for older adults, to consistently work out in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Despite the challenges of finding that motivation, there are many strategies you can apply to get yourself in the gym or wherever you like to exercise. So, if you are struggling with the motivation to exercise, we have you covered. We have gathered a list of tips that can help you finally find the inspiration to exercise!
A common assumption persists that "senior living" means residing in a skilled nursing, assisted living, or memory care facility. In fact, the vast majority (96%) of adults 65 and older live in the community (homes or apartments). The motivation to "age in place" at home has a lot of appeal. An AARP study found that 90% of older U.S. adults want to stay in their homes as long as possible. The reasons for this are:
However, as people age, the potential for needing assistance increases as the incidence of physical and mental problems grows. This threatens the ability to age in place because the older adult needs the support of caregivers.
Isolation and a lack of meaningful social interaction often create a feeling of being lonely. Loneliness is not just a feeling that easily passes with no risk to health or mental wellbeing. Rather, it can increase the risk of many health concerns, not only mentally and emotionally but physically as well. Using coping skills and instituting actions that can prevent loneliness from occurring can help to stave off these harmful effects.
The effect that loneliness has on the mental health of individuals is profound. It increases depression, can lower memory and processing, and can slow the rate of learning new tasks or ideas. These can add to the increased feelings of failure and depression, and each is likely to worsen as depression worsens.
People are social by nature and built requiring social interactions with loved ones and friends in order to maintain their mental and physical health. As social interactions decrease or the quality of those interactions becomes less positive and enjoyable, there is an increase in feelings of loneliness and isolation. This sense of isolation is detrimental to many of the processes of the brain, including memory.
Finally, it is summertime! The perfect opportunity to get outdoors and participate in some of our favorite activities under the sun. It is essential, however, to be prepared and take extra precautions when dealing with the summer heat. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from 2004-2018 in the United States, there were more than 10,000 heat-related deaths. This means during that time, an average of 702 heat-related deaths occurred annually in the U.S. For older adults especially, it is essential to practice summer heat safety. So, here are the top ten tips you should follow this summer to stay safe and protect your health.
Aging is an inherently frustrating process. Changes in our physical appearances and abilities can be psychologically complicated to process. Between hearing changes and the fast-changing culture, it can be hard to communicate with people. Gracefully as we may age, our knees, feet, and joints might get stiff or achy. These things can be intensely frustrating.
However, we don't want to spend our retirement years in frustration. We've endured enough of that in the workplace. No, we want to spend our retirement enjoying ourselves. It is, therefore, crucial to find ways of coping with frustration to keep your retirement smooth. Here are ten tips to help you manage your frustrations as you age.