Columbia Aged Care

Healthy ageing means the process of ageing well and maintaining your physical and functional health.

The factors that help you age well include being independent, having social relationships, being able to enjoy life, staying productive or volunteering, having a purpose or passion, emotional support and how well you cope with difficulties.

It is important to understand the factors that help you to age well because you can actively add years to your life or increase your quality of life.

National Seniors Australia has provided some great tips to help you age well:

Maintain physical activity: Try to do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity each day. Work different muscles in your body by doing different types of exercises.

Maintain your balance: You need to maintain you balance to reduce your risk of falls. If you have concerns about your balance speak to your doctor to address any issues.

Smoking and alcohol use: Smoking dramatically speeds up the ageing process and will cause a number of related health problems. Drink alcohol in moderation by keeping to the rule of two standards drinks or less.

Maintain a balanced diet: Eat at least three meals each day, drink lots of water and eat a variety of healthy foods. You can speak with your doctor about how to create a healthy eating plan.

Keep your brain active: Make sure you exercise your mind by taking on challenges and doing mental activities. Do a puzzle or a crossword, learn to play a musical instrument or learn a new language.

Social connections: Spend time with your family and friends and maintain your social relationships with them. Get involved in a group or organisation to make new relationships with other people. By spending time socialising with other people, you can greatly boost your wellbeing and happiness.

Maintain a positive attitude: Keep an open mind and a positive attitude towards life and try to look on the bright side of a negative issue. This will help you to cope effectively with difficult situations.

Here is a simple Healthy Ageing Quiz you can take to determine if you are ageing well. It also provides you with tips to improve your score and increase your ability to age well. You can also download a copy of the Healthy Ageing Quiz here.

Read the full article here.

Falls are all too common among elderly people, but you can reduce the chance of your loved one falling by taking steps to identify potential risks and removing them.

Healthline have provided some useful tips to help your loved one stay safe.

• Be proactive. Some health conditions and medications cause dizziness or loss of balance and can make your loved one more likely to have a fall. A doctor may be able to assist with choosing medications that will reduce this.
• Make your home fall safe. Map out problematic areas of the home like stairs, and install hand rails or take alternative measures to make these areas safer. Keep the floor clear of shoes and anything that might be a tripping risk. Keep a wide walking path around tables and chairs.
• Stay physically active. Exercises such as walking, gentle stretching or yoga will improve balance and coordination, making your loved one less likely to have a fall.
• Be shoe smart. Choose shoes with ankle support and rubber soles. Don’t wear shoes that are too big or are loosely fitting as they present a tripping hazard.

If your loved one has had a fall in the past, use the experience as a lesson to prevent another one. If possible, make a change so that the same problem doesn’t cause another fall.

Read the full article HERE.