Doesn’t everyone want to keep themselves active and healthy as long as possible? Well certain lifestyle choices can keep seniors on their toes late into life. Provide yourself with a killer routine to keep fresh into the golden years!

Starting A Senior Health Routine

Full Nights Rest

It might seem simple, but getting a full night’s rest is going to keep you kicking on.

How to encourage better sleep at night:

• Naturally boost your melatonin levels 

Artificial lights at night can suppress your body’s production of melatonin, the hormone that makes you sleepy. Use low-wattage bulbs where safe to do so, and turn off the TV and computer at least one hour before bed.

• Don’t read from a back-lit device at night

If you use a portable electronic device to read, use an eReader that requires an additional light source.

• Make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark, and cool, and your bed is comfortable

We often become more sensitive to noise as we age, and light and heat can also cause sleep problems. Using a sound machine, ear plugs, or a sleep mask can help.

• Use your bedroom only for sleep

By not working, watching TV, or using your computer in bed, your brain will associate the bedroom with just sleep.

• Move bedroom clocks out of view

The light can disrupt your sleep and anxiously watching the minutes tick by is a surefire recipe for insomnia.

Yearly Eye Exam

Most older adults know how important it is to see their doctor at least once a year for a checkup. It’s the best way to identify small health problems before they develop into big ones that can’t be treated. What few seniors are aware of is how important it is to pay an annual visit to the eye doctor. Because the risk for eye problems increases with age, older adults need to make vision health a priority.

• Cataracts

A condition that causes clouding of the eye’s lens. Cataracts can usually be corrected with surgery.

• Diabetic retinopathy

A condition related to diabetes, diabetic retinopathy causes damage to the blood vessels in the back of the eye. It is the leading cause of blindness in adults.

• Macular degeneration

This age-related vision problem affects the light-sensitive tissue in the eye. It can lead to blindness.

• Glaucoma

This is a term to describe a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve in the eye. It can lead to serious vision loss. Early intervention often helps prevent blindness.

Other Helpful Routine Steps:

Connect with Others

Time spent with family and grandchildren help seniors feel connected, especially if they have mobility issues. Those visits can also make seniors feel more upbeat, which is the best medicine at any age.

Fitness

Exercise not only alleviates depression but improves energy and memory. An exercise program approved by a physician, long walks or short strolls can keep seniors healthier longer.

With their health under control, seniors can do more and stay active, which is important to their overall well-being. Happy, healthy seniors can still present a lot of care challenges, but they can also contribute more to their health, which can give caregivers a little less to worry about.

Wellness Check

During the first 12 months on Medicare, seniors are offered free physicals. After that first year, they receive free annual wellness visits.

Dental 

Our risk for cavities goes up with age. Plus, many mouth infections can be linked to serious health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke. So seniors should see the dentist regularly.

(Article courtesy of Entrust of Desoto.)