Sophie Okolo, MPH

Bodily Health

As we age, our bodies tend to get out of shape and experience a host of health symptoms or issues that will need to be managed with lifestyle changes, medication, surgery or other medical approaches. While some issues can’t be avoided, leading a healthy lifestyle in the lead up to old age can see better overall health over the years. For example, it’s important that you eat a healthy and balanced diet to provide your body with the fuel it needs to thrive. Exercise is also critical. Oftentimes, people prefer easy and supportive exercises, such as swimming, stretching, and dance.

Mental Health

Remember that mental health is important as you grow older. Mental health is just as important as physical health and it can be something that many older people struggle with through lack of awareness and not knowing the resources and support available out there. If you experience any issues such as loneliness, anxiety, fear, worry or other negative symptoms as you grow older, you should make sure to check in with your doctor. They may be able to diagnose an underlying condition and guide you on the right path to managing it and finding the support that you need. For some, this will be therapy. For others, medication. For some people, lifestyle changes will prove best. Whatever works for you, a doctor will be able to help. There are also other sources of support and programs out there from mental health charities, support groups, helplines, and more.

Housing

As you grow older, it’s absolutely essential to consider your housing options. In youth, our homes are simply something to provide us with shelter, where we can rest, bathe, eat, store our belongings and build our lives. But for older individuals, the home can quickly become something that challenges you and poses a threat. You may find yourself less able to navigate your home in the same way. Here are three options that you should consider in the lead up to old age.

Prepare Your Own Home

If you want to live independently, you may find that you need to adapt certain elements to your home. It’s best to do this sooner rather than later, as renovations can take time and it would be better for you to have them in place when you need them, rather than finding yourself on a waiting list. Some common home adaptions include moving into a bungalow, having a stair lift fitted, installing a walk-in bath and having grab rails fitted in key areas.

Consider Care Services

Often, as people age, they will require care and assistance on a day to day basis. These include monitoring or injections, or routine tasks like cooking or cleaning. You may want to start looking into senior care services and rates to ensure that you know what you may want and that you can afford the ongoing care costs.

Consider Care Homes

Another option is care homes. Care homes are spaces where older people live in communities. They often have care services, as outlined above, but also provide a sense of community that can be extremely important for the mental and emotional wellbeing of older adults. Nowadays, loneliness is common, and care homes can provide an environment with engaging activities.

Understanding Your Limits

As you grow older, you will also grow more limited in what you can do. This can be frustrating, but acknowledging and accepting changes in your body and mind can prevent injury or other issues that will simply make life harder. Hopefully, some of the information above can guide you in the right direction when it comes to preparing for old age.