Getting old isn’t always a lot of fun. Healthy aging should be everyone’s goal, and it’s easier than you might think. A few simple changes to daily habits can be all that it takes. These are the habits your mom and dad should embrace if they’re looking to embrace healthy aging.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Your parents’ diet is important. They need to give up foods that are high in sodium, sugar, saturated fat, and processed ingredients. Instead of white bread, they should switch to whole grain bread. If they make bread and can control the ingredients, it’s even better.
Instead of white rice, your parents should embrace whole grains like farro, barley, and quinoa. Lean proteins, seafood, and legumes are important. They should make vegetables the main component of their diet. Plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables are important.
Water, decaf or herbal tea, and seltzer are better beverage options than soda or drinks with added sugar. Keep your parents on track by having elderly care aides to cook meals for them and make sure they’re staying hydrated with healthy beverages.
Get Daily Exercise
Ideally, you want your mom and dad to get a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise every day. Mixing up those exercises is best. They could walk a few days a week, ride bikes one day a week, follow along to beginner Tai Chi videos for a couple of days, and swim on the other.
It’s best if they mix up aerobic/cardio exercises with weight training. Yoga and Tai Chi are good at helping with the next habit to embrace.
Learn to Manage Stress
Everyone experiences stress, but some have more stress than others. Some also learn how to manage stress more effectively than others. Your parents need to learn how to manage the stress they experience.
Some of the most stressful situations older adults face are the effects of a fall, a chronic health condition, and the death of a spouse. If anything is causing your parents stress, they could learn relaxation techniques like meditation. Walking outside in the fresh air helps. Talking it out also helps.
Limit Alcoholic Beverages
Keep alcoholic beverages to a minimum. Ideally, your parents do not want to drink more than one beverage per day. That means a 12-ounce beer (5 percent), a 5-ounce glass of wine (12 percent), or a 1.5-ounce shot (40 percent). If the alcoholic content is higher than the average, you need to adjust for that.
Stay Social
Social activities are also important for physical and mental health. Dinners with family, video chats, and visits with friends all help keep your parent social. You could also have elderly care aides available for companionship visits.
Stop Smoking
Finally, if your parents smoke, they need to stop. Talk to their doctor about ways to help them give up smoking. Smoking increases the risk of certain cancers. It also increases the risk of heart disease and gingivitis.
With elderly care services, your parents have the help they need to embrace a healthy lifestyle. Call an agency to find out pricing and arrangements.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering Elderly Care in Frederick, MD please contact the caring staff at Just Divine Home Care Agency today at (301) 219-1585.