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Plan Ahead to Create Healthful Golden Years

Conventional wisdom tells us that, as we age, we’re likely to experience more aches and pains, greater loneliness and declining health. For many, this turns out to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. A study conducted at Yale University showed that people who had negative thoughts and feelings about aging had an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s. On the flip side, a separate Yale study demonstrated that positive attitudes about aging could extend one’s life by 7-1/2 years! Optimists are much more likely to stay healthy than their pessimistic peers. Here are some other ways you can create wellness even as you age.

Exercise

Physical activity is critical for maintaining good health and staving off the negative effects of aging. Even when started later in life, exercise can lower your risk for a host of ailments, including chronic diseases, physical disability and even memory loss. And you don’t have to spend hours at the gym to get positive results from exercise. A study conducted at the University of Sydney in Australia suggested that by replacing one hour of sitting each day with walking, we can reduce our chance of early death by 12 to 14 percent. Don’t have an hour to spare? Break it up into smaller increments. Three 20-minute walks work just as well as one hourlong stroll.

Eat well

Nutrition also plays a critical role in how well we age. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, a poor diet and physical inactivity are the leading contributors to premature death in the US. Mediterranean-style diets – which place an emphasis on eating lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains and eating moderate amounts of fish while using healthy fats and oils like those found in nuts, olives and avocados – have been particularly successful in helping people age well. The Harvard Health Letter suggests following such a diet can reduce your risk for heart attack, stroke and premature death.

Save your money

The good news is that we’re living longer. The bad news is that because of this, we need more money as we head into retirement than we used to. The ability to live comfortably throughout a retirement that may be several years longer than our parents’ means we need to start saving early. If you’re already at or near retirement age, talk to a financial planner about ways you can still optimize your assets and plan ahead for a fiscally healthy future.

Stay socially active

Human connection is essential for a healthy life. People who are socially active tend to be healthier in both mind and body. A study from the Harvard School of Public Health found that people who were socially active in their 50s and 60s had slower rates of memory decline compared to those who were more isolated. Another study conducted at Brigham Young University found that the social isolation and loneliness are as dangerous to health as obesity. So, give your friends a call and head out to a movie or dinner. Take a morning stroll with your neighbor. If you find it hard to meet people, volunteer. You’ll not only make some great connections, you’ll find a new purpose in life, which can also enhance your well-being.

Keep a positive attitude

We can’t always control what happens in our life, but we always have control over how we react to adversity. The American Heart Association found that heart disease patients who had positive attitudes exercised more and had a 42 percent less chance of dying. By following the tips above and keeping a positive attitude about life, your life can remain vibrant, active and purposeful, even as you age. 

Charlesgate has Service Coordinators at each of our communities who can assist residents in achieving many of these goals. We look forward to helping you age well.