Living to be a centenarian is a wonderful milestone many people don’t achieve, but with healthy lifestyle choices and adequate planning, it’s possible. Family caregivers can help their elderly loved ones boost their overall health to live to be 100 and beyond. Here are some things aging adults can do to live to be centenarians.
1. Eat Healthy Meals
Maintaining a healthy weight is the first step toward becoming a centenarian. The ideal way for aging adults to manage their weight is to eat nutritious meals and avoid sugary foods that negatively impact their body mass index. Seniors should also avoid bad carbohydrates, high-sodium foods, and red meats.
Seniors who want to remain healthy as they age can benefit in a variety of ways when they receive professional at-home care. Home Care Assistance is here to help your loved one accomplish daily tasks, prevent illness, and focus on living a healthier and more fulfilling life.
2. Stop Smoking
Smoking damages the airways and small air sacs in the lungs and increases the risk of lung cancer. Using tobacco products can also cause circulatory problems and cardiovascular disease. However, seniors who stop smoking can reduce the risk of developing these chronic conditions and increase their odds of living to be 100.
3. Manage Stress
Anxiety can have a negative impact on the heart, brain, bones, and immune system. When a senior’s health worsens, the odds of becoming a centenarian reduce significantly. Your loved one needs to manage stress by understanding his or her triggers and developing positive ways to handle negative emotions.
4. Stay Physically Active
Regular moderate exercise can boost muscle strength and enhance heart health. Exercising can also boost cognitive health, allowing your loved one to avoid many age-related illnesses and live a longer, healthier life.
Lack of physical exercise and mental stimulation puts seniors at risk of developing serious medical conditions, and they may need assistance to age in place safely and comfortably. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of elder care. Edmonton families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia
5. Maintain Strong Social Networks
Having a strong social network can boost your loved one’s confidence and make him or her feel happier. Seniors living with a sense of purpose can increase their odds of becoming centenarians. It’s also a good idea for seniors to continue dating if their spouses have passed away. Companionship and romance can have a positive effect on emotional health in the senior years.
6. Keep Working
When your loved one continues working on a full- or part-time basis, he or she could maintain good relationships, finance current living expenses, and wake up each day with a sense of accomplishment. Maintaining a sense of purpose can bring your loved one joy and increase his or her odds of living to be 100.
7. Don’t Fear Turning Old
Seniors who maintain a positive attitude about growing older can live longer compared to those who have negative feelings about the aging process. Help your loved one embrace aging by keeping him or her engaged within the community. Remaining open, happy, and excited about the future is important for healthy aging.
From preparing healthy meals to exercising on a regular basis, older adults may need help with an array of activities. If your aging loved one needs occasional help with bathing, grooming, cooking, or other basic household tasks, or if you need time to attend to important personal matters, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of live-in and respite care. Edmonton seniors can maintain their independence while living at home with the help of our reliable respite caregivers. To create a comprehensive in-home care plan for your parent, give us a call at (780) 490-7337 today.