Sophie Okolo, MPH

We all grow older. This is one of life’s few inevitabilities. As we grow older, we also notice that our elderly loved ones start to hit their golden years. This can be difficult. It’s never easy seeing someone begin to experience wear and tear, more health problems and generally weariness. But there are steps you can take to help your loved one stay in the best shape possible. Here are a few tips that can help you to help them!

Healthcare Appointments

First and foremost, you need to make sure that your loved one is attending any health appointments they need. Elderly people tend to need more professional medical assistance, however, they do tend to have a harder time actually getting to their appointments. It’s not all too surprising that many will simply not bother going. Do what you can to keep a track of appointments they should be attending and do what you can to get them there, whether that’s assisting them there yourself or arranging alternative transport for them.

Exercise

It’s recommended that the average adult gets 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise a week. But so many elderly people don’t get any exercise at all. Of course, it’s unlikely that you’re going to get your ageing parent pumping iron at the gym or running marathons, but it is important that they do incorporate some exercise into their routine. If you have the time, go on a walk with them. Walking is low impact and manageable exercise that still gets the heart pumping. Plus, getting out and about in nature can be useful and enjoyable too! Another option is senior fitness classes, which are specially designed to cater to elderly people’s fitness needs. Not only will this improve their fitness, but it provides a good social opportunity, where they can mingle and spend time with others their own age. Many elderly people also enjoy swimming. This is easy on the joints and fun while providing a full body workout.

Diet

Eating a healthy diet can grow harder as you get older. Conditions such as arthritis can make chopping healthy foods more difficult, or other health conditions can make it difficult to get to the supermarket, meaning many elderly people rely more on frozen or tinned foods as opposed to fresh foods. The good news is that there are multiple healthy meal delivery services out there that can see your loved one have wholesome, balanced meals delivered straight to their door. These can then be heated up more easily, allowing them to get the nutrients they deserve without the discomfort and effort.

As you can see, there are a number of ways to make sure that your ageing loved ones are staying in the best shape possible. Each can make a huge difference to their health and their overall wellbeing, so it’s definitely worth making sure that they get out and about and maintain their fitness as best possible!