If you are a senior, your health can be the key to your happiness. But wading through all the health and wellness advice available can be exhausting. You need to take more control of your physical and mental well-being with some tech and non-tech options, but you may be wondering how to do it. Here are some of the best tips to help seniors take better care of themselves and live a better life.

Avoiding This Injury May Help You Live Longer  

Bone health is a big deal for older adults for some very important reasons. Seniors who experience a bone break are much more vulnerable to complications that can result in a disability or even death. That’s a startling statistic, but what’s even more surprising are the simple steps you can take to protect yourself from a life-changing fracture. One easy way to build better bone health is to start taking the right collagen supplements. Collagen-boosting supplements provide the additional proteins seniors need to support bone resiliency, but you want to read up to make sure you are getting a supplement that fortifies your bones and reduces joint pain. Collagen also helps maintain stronger muscles, which can help decrease your risk for falls as you get older. If you really want to help your muscles, and help yourself live longer, you need to get exercise on a regular basis. Some simple exercises are better than others at protecting older adults from falls and fall-related injuries, so be sure to incorporate these into your daily health and fitness regimens.

Adding Certain Foods to Your Diet Can Enhance Your Mind

Another major health concern for aging adults is the preservation of cognitive function. This decline in memory and brain function can come as a result of dementia, Alzheimer’s, or other sources. The good news is, however, that you can definitely take steps to protect yourself from these debilitating conditions. Those steps do not have to be complicated, either. By adding brain-enhancing foods to your diet, you can significantly reduce your chances of developing age-related decline in your memory or brain power. These foods, which include fish, eggs, and even dark chocolate, are just as good for your body as they are for your brain, so they can also help ward off other senior health issues. Fatty fish like salmon can be especially beneficial since the Omega-3s they supply basically feed your brain. If you don’t usually eat fish, you can use these simple salmon recipes to begin adding more of it to your diet. Most take only minutes to prepare, and you are less likely to get bored when you have different ways to cook that brain-healthy salmon. Try taking a multivitamin just in case there are any gaps in your nutrition. These vitamins have the added benefit of improving bone, skin, and hair health.

Staying Active Can Provide Some Surprising Health Benefits

At this point, you know what you need to do in order to avoid two of the most common senior health problems. But do you know how you can take more control of every other aspect of your life? By getting more exercise. Yes, regular exercise is important for your physical well-being. You are less likely to be injured in a fall when you work out on a regular basis, and you are less likely to develop life-altering diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

Regular exercise, however, can also be a major boost for your mental health. That’s especially true if you opt for group exercises or find ways to work out with others. That added social support can reduce feelings of anxiety and help you stick to your health goals. Plus, for seniors, the healthy social connections they form in group workouts or gym exercises can provide even more health boosts. Senior social isolation is common among older adults, but exercising with others can curb any resulting negative effects on your health and wellness. Be sure to review your health insurance policy. Aetna Medicare Advantage plans and others cover wellness programs, which can include access to fitness facilities.

Before you start any exercise routine, you should get approval from your doctor. And if you’re working out alone, it can be a good idea to invest in a fitness tracker. Not only do these devices encourage physical activity, but some of them are armed with safety features. For example, the Apple Watch Series 4 has fall detection and emergency SOS, and it can generate an ECG. Another option is the Fitbit Charge 3 which has automatic heart rate tracking and sleep tracking.

When it comes to senior health, quality of information is always better than quantity. So try to start small with the simple steps and work your way into better wellness habits. After all, some of the most basic changes you can make can have the most benefits for your overall health, and your overall happiness with your quality of life.

This article is written by Kevin Wells of seniordiabetic.com.

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