Whether you love the heat or hate summer, it offers many opportunities to get outside and focus on your health. From taking walks to a refreshing swim, it’s important to make the most of these summer months.
Soak Up the Sun
While it may be tough to build up the courage to get outside during the colder months, summer’s warmer temps can make it much easier. This is especially true if your senior living center offers opportunities for outdoor community involvement. You may be surprised to know that getting active in higher temperatures is actually very beneficial to you. Because of the rise in temperature, your muscles and joints also warm up faster; overall this helps to increase your flexibility and lower your chance of injury. In addition to your overall health, exercising is especially important to your mental and cognitive function. Here are some of our favorite recommendations that’ll not only get you active outside but also engage with your community:
- Go for a walk with a friend
- Observe nature or bird watch
- Plan a picnic outside with friends and family
- Go for a swim in a pool or lake
No matter what activity you pick to participate in, the important part is that you’re getting your body moving and soaking up Vitamin D from early morning or late afternoon sunshine.
Fuel Your Body, The Right Way
We’ve all heard the saying “you are what you eat.” Prioritizing your nutrition and diet as you age is essential. Your diet has a direct impact on your energy levels and as you get older, energy is already hard to come by; so, why would you want to limit yourself even more? Good food provides needed fuel that your body converts to energy. The food you eat can also help prevent some very serious illnesses and diseases, like high blood pressure and heart disease.
For starters, Vitamin D and calcium are exponentially more important as you get older. This is due to the fact that your bone density decreases as you age. In addition to Vitamin D, you should also be focused on getting enough fiber, protein, and potassium. These are all great for strengthening yourself, maintaining adequate muscle, and fortifying your body with what it needs as you age. Another great starting point is to cut out sugar from your diet. The next time you are thinking about having a sugar-filled soda, think about substituting it with a glass of water flavored with a fresh lemon or lime. We promise your body will thank you!
Preserve Your Health
Now that you’re equipped with some ways to get active and fuel your body the correct way, you have to maintain it. Staying up to date on your annual appointments as an older adult is imperative because your health needs increase as you age.
From your primary care doctor you should be getting your annual physicals, and regular colonoscopy, and bone density tests. Next on your list should be the dentist. Your teeth are also bones, so it’s important to keep them clean, healthy, and strong, especially during this stage of your life. As you age your enamel breaks down, therefore, leaving your teeth weak. The goal you want to aim for is to be evaluated every six months.
Last on your list is an optometrist. As you get older, your optical health ages with you. Let’s be honest, your eyes have been on the front line capturing all of the memories that you’ll carry with you for the rest of your life. It’s okay if they’re tired at this point, it’s actually normal! Whether you’re struggling with near or farsighted vision, a quick eye exam should get you back on track. However, sometimes these exams will uncover other age-related eye issues. Presbyopia, for example, is a common age-related condition that can affect your ability to see things up close and personal. Fortunately, if you have presbyopia, there is no need to fear as there are several options out there to treat this concern. Something as simple as making the switch to progressive lenses may be all you need to help get your vision back to normal. Consult your eye doctor about the best option for you.
While you may not love the extreme temperatures, summer is a great time to get outdoors and get active. Trying some new activities with friends and enjoying the season will not only help you avoid the isolation you may be feeling inside but also pave the way for a healthier you.