Healthy Living:
Receiving a diploma doesn’t have to mean the end of education. Lifelong learning is a concept that upholds continuous and self-motivated personal and professional development throughout one's life, long after graduating from compulsory education. There’s no age that doesn’t benefit from a little extra knowledge, but older adults in particular should remember that it’s never too late to learn something they never knew before. Engaging in lifelong learning has many benefits for older adults, including enhancing cognitive function, improving quality of life and encouraging self-growth. Here are some ways you can engage in lifelong learning, and why it matters for older adults to keep expanding their minds no matter how many years pass!
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It's the middle of the night, and you're startled awake by the sound of your parents pacing downstairs. They should be asleep, but they're wide awake. What's going on?
As people age, their sleep patterns change. Hormone levels shift, affecting the way they cycle through different stages of sleep. This means they may experience less deep sleep and wake up more during the night. Their internal clock, known as the circadian rhythm, also changes.
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Ageism is discrimination against individuals or groups because of their age. It can be easy to make judgements based on someone’s perceived age but, like other forms of discrimination, negative stereotypes resulting from age prejudice can have very real consequences. While ageism can apply to individuals of any age, it is often directed towards older adults. It is important to note that even if one does not currently experience ageism, we are all inevitably aging. Therefore, if we don’t work to combat ageism now, all generations will experience ageism in the future.
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Health literacy—the ability to access, understand and use health information—is a key part of living a healthy and fulfilling life, especially for older adults. After all, the more we understand about health, the more likely we are to recognize risk signs, take preventative measures against common diseases, make informed decisions about our own health and communicate more effectively with healthcare professionals.
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Staying fit and mobile plays a large role in senior health. It’s not always easy to maintain fitness levels as we age. Naturally, our bodies change, but we don’t want them becoming immobile! Here are some tips to make your senior years more enjoyable and fit.
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We all know that transportation is more than getting people and goods from one place to another. Given a choice, many would prefer the shiny new car with all the bells and whistles over the junkyard bargain that has a hole in the muffler, balding tires and a window that will not roll up. How determined you are to get to an event can lower your choices and standards.
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Both older adults and their caregivers are often advised by articles, physicians or family and friends to practice self-care. For many, this self-care is found in a pint of ice cream, a package of cookies or a bag of chips.
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Did you know that your neighborhood can play a role in how healthy you are? It may not seem obvious, but where you live is a key social determinant of health (SDH). SDHs are economic or social conditions which influence your health positively or negatively, and include factors such as economic stability, education/health care access and quality, and access to social and community support.
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Did you know that your neighborhood can play a role in how healthy you are? It may not seem obvious, but where you live is a key social determinant of health (SDH). SDHs are economic or social conditions which influence your health positively or negatively, and include factors such as economic stability, education/health care access and quality, and access to social and community support.
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When a loved one is discharged from a hospital stay, their doctor will likely give them medicine to help improve their condition so they can stay well enough to avoid having to return to the hospital in the future. As caregivers, we may have the responsibility of making sure a loved one is keeping up on their medication post-discharge. However, are we remembering to pay just as much attention to another source of medication necessary to their healing process: the food they eat?
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Another winter of cold, flu and COVID-19 is upon us. Winter may seem like an easier time to socially distance than warmer months. After all, cold temperatures make the home a cozy and warm place to be. But no matter how cold it gets, it’s important to keep our bodies and minds active. COVID-19 shutdowns shouldn’t turn into a total shutdown of our energy!
For older adults, staying active can help prevent diseases, improve mental health and build strength and energy. Regular activity can also help fight the winter blues and loneliness many older adults are experiencing during the pandemic.
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Staying fit and mobile plays a large role in senior health. It’s not always easy to maintain fitness levels as we age. Naturally, our bodies change, but we don’t want them becoming immobile! Here are some tips to make your senior years more enjoyable and fit.
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Regular exercise provides many health benefits for seniors including a stronger heart, a positive mental outlook, improved balance, and an increased chance of remaining independent.
Some Benefits of Walking include:
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Spring has sprung! The weather is finally nice. Now is the time to venture outside and enjoy the great outdoors. Getting outdoors provides great benefits for your loved one, who has been cooped up inside for months. Sunshine generates Vitamin D, which is necessary for brain, bone and muscle function. Being outside also provides your loved one with important social interaction, be it with friends, children or animals.
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Physical activity is good for you. You know this as a caregiver. What about your aging parent whom you help on a regular basis? Does he or she know that physical activity can extend lives considerably?
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If the older adult in your care has health problems, he or she may have a hard time starting or consistently doing exercises. Those health problems may reduce energy levels or make activities feel too difficult.
However, there are easy exercises for those who do not have much energy or do not feel well. Getting started is the hardest part. You can help your loved one start at a lower level that he or she can tolerate before building up to recommended levels of activity.
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Regular physical activity can improve the health of older adults. Being physically active can help improve balance and reduce the risk of falls. Exercise will help an older person lose weight if he or she is overweight. If your older parent needs to gain weight being active can improve her appetite and build muscle and strength. A good workout also leaves a person with a sense of accomplishment and well-being that lasts throughout the day.
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Men are often more likely to ignore their physical health and wellbeing than women. According to aging experts men frequently put off regular physical exams, forget to take their meds, fail to get vaccinations, exercise, or eat a healthy diet. Men are more likely to smoke or drink alcoholic beverages than women and frequently put off doctor's visits for as long as possible.
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Although most people think of the skeleton as a framework, bone is living tissue composed primarily of protein and calcium. Like skin and other body tissues, old bone is continually replaced by new bone throughout your life.
Bone loss is a normal part of the aging process. By the time a woman is 25 her skeleton will have reached its maximum amount of bony tissue. After age 35 the loss of old bone begins to be greater than the growth of new bone, increasing the risk of factures...
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No matter how old you are regular walks can improve the physical and mental health of both yourself and your relative that you care for. Walking can be done almost anywhere. A good pair of walking shoes is the only equipment required.
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When your feet hurt you fell miserable all over. Unfortunately foot disorders are a common part of growing old. Almost 80 percent of people over 50 have at least one foot problem. Three out of four people 65 and older complain of foot pain. Painful feet are a common cause of falls and may limit older adults' ability to walk and care for themselves. Healthy feet will make your relative feel better all over!
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