Six Ways to Keep Physically and Cognitively Healthy at an Older Age

Your Healthy Habits

Getting older comes with a lot of side-effects. From reduced mobility to forgetfulness, crankiness, and lack of sleep, you will find yourself unable to do things that were much easier at a younger age. However, this is a natural process and one that can be positively mitigated against by a variety of methods to keep physically and cognitively Healthy at an Older Age.

To give yourself or your loved ones the best possible chance of a happy aging process, we have compiled a guide of six crucial things to focus on Cognitively Healthy at an Older Age. Naturally, we would recommend doing all six to fully boost your chances of living a long and fulfilling life. 

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Read on below to see which ones we have picked.

Walking

A walk a day is one of the best ways to keep the doctor away. One of the simplest, easiest and underrated forms of exercise, walking has been proven to have a variety of benefits. These include things such as: 

  • Weight control 
  • Cardiovascular benefits
  • Better mental health 
  • Reduce the risk of chronic disease
  • Better digestion 
  • Inspiration and creativity
  • Alleviate joint pain 
  • Better sleep 

According to the CDC, physically able people should aim for an average of 7,000 to 8,000 steps a day. If this is something that you are aiming to do, it is also worth investing in a smartwatch or phone to be able to keep track of your progress. If you or your parents are finding it hard to walk regularly, perhaps the time has come to consider the option of moving into a senior home. With frontier assisted living offered by a community of care homes known as Frontier Management, you will be able to tap into the best possible care for either yourself or your loved ones. 

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Reading 

Whether it is getting lost in a good story or keeping up to date with the day’s news, reading has a whole load of benefits for your emotional, cognitive and staying healthy at an older age. Studies have shown that reading can provide a whole host of positive impacts, including: 

  • Strengthening your brain 
  • Increasing empathy 
  • Providing inspiration and creativity 
  • Building vocabulary 
  • Off-setting dementia 
  • Improves sleep 
  • Helps with longevity 

Finding good books to read is easier than ever, with a plethora of options available in any way that you can want. You might find a local book-swapping group to get your hands-on titles that you would never think of picking up yourself. You could download an app on your phone or tablet to allow you to read eBooks. There’s

Conversations 

Just like reading, there is nothing that keeps you engaged like a good and interesting conversation. Long and deep conversations can boost cognitive ability, empathy, and socialization, ensuring you live a longer and happier life. This is especially true when you consider that one of the most negative knock-on health effects of aging can be loneliness and the very real risks to your health that it can bring. 

For even better health benefits, it’s great to learn a second or third language, as they are even more likely to activate different parts of your brain. With online courses and programs, you can find people in your nearby area (or even across the world) to schedule conversations with in a second language. 

Nowadays, with the rise of video technology, it is easier than ever to keep in touch and have a natter with a loved one or close friend.  Try and schedule regular calls with friends and family to have something to look forward to each week. 

Balanced Diet 

As we get older, we may sink into cooking habits and eating the same food each day. This is a dangerous pattern to get into, as one of the best ways to keep healthy is to mix up and vary the kinds of food we eat. Maintaining a balanced diet is a great idea! Make sure to include a variety of different nutrients, including: 

  • Fresh fruit and veg 
  • Nuts 
  • Lean proteins
  • Legumes and grains 
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The other benefit of a balanced diet is that it keeps you busy in the kitchen trying out new recipes and keeping your fitness up. Cooking at home is not just better for your wallet and your digestive health, but the actual act of cooking itself can be beneficial to your mental, physical well-being and staying healthy at an older age. 

Cutting out Vices

Kicking old habits is hard, especially when you have been used to them for decades. Nonetheless, when you reach into your 60s and 70s, drinking alcohol and smoking regularly can be potentially fatal to your health. If yourself dependent on either vice, we would recommend seeking out professional help. 

While alcohol can be enjoyable and mostly safe in moderation, tobacco’s negative effects far outweigh any perceived emotional benefits. It is never too late to quit either — with one woman managing to finally get rid of the habit at the grand old age of 77!  The same goes for vices such as over-eating, gambling, gaming, or pornography addiction. The key to all these things is, of course, moderation. 

Picking up a Hobby

Whether it is investing time and money into your garden, completing puzzles, assembling toy trains, or even playing games online, there are a variety of low-stakes and low-energy hobbies that older adults can pick up to boost their physical and mental well-being and staying healthy at an older age. The great thing about a hobby you enjoy and love to do is imbue your life with a sense of purpose.

The worst thing about getting old can be deciding that there is not much left to do; but in fact, you are living off your pension, you no longer need to work, and your family can chip in and help you with a variety of needs. This means that you can focus on the things in life that you have always been meaning to do. This can stretch from anything to travelling the world to building a world-class garden. Anything is possible if you set yourself goals and put your mind towards achieving them.