Resolutions are timeless traditions for many people around the world. The plans can be fun and light or more serious and powerful commitments. Here are some healthy New Year’s resolutions your senior loved one can make to boost his or her mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing.
1. Practice Mindful Eating
This resolution could help with weight loss, concentration, and immune function. Some of the things your parent can do to practice mindful eating include:
• Putting the fork down between bites
• Chewing more
• Eating meals at the dinner table
• Trying to identify some of the ingredients in meals and snacks
2. Sign Up for a Marathon
Taking brisk walks can boost endurance and alleviate pain and tension in muscles. Help your loved one find local marathons to sign up for, and assist with training for the big event. In addition to boosting brain health, walking in the marathon may provide a sense of accomplishment.
Some seniors have mobility issues or other health conditions that make exercise a challenge, and those seniors can benefit from the help of a professional caregiver. Tucson home care experts are available to provide high-quality care to seniors on an as-needed basis. From assistance with mobility and exercise to providing transportation to the doctor’s office and social events, there are a variety of ways professional caregivers can help your aging loved one continue to live independently.
3. Learn Something New
This New Year’s resolution can boost memory and lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Learning different things also provides an opportunity for increased socialization. Older adults can try learning how to play an instrument, speak a foreign language, or engage in a sport.
4. Stay Well Rested
Getting plenty of rest can boost energy levels and enhance overall mood. To remain committed to this New Year’s resolution, your parent will need to develop good sleeping habits, which may include maintaining comfortable temperatures in the bedroom, avoiding large meals and snacks before bedtime, and turning off all televisions, radios, and other background distractions.
5. Show Acts of Kindness
Kindness is good for emotional health. When showing acts of kindness to others, the body releases feel-good endorphins that ease anxiety and reduce stress. Your loved one can show acts of kindness by:
• Holding the door open for someone
• Giving compliments
• Doing something for a caregiver without being asked
• Being a great listener
6. Read More Books
Keeping the brain stimulated is necessary for a senior’s cognitive health. Committing to reading more throughout the year can enhance decision-making skills, sharpen memories, and reduce stress levels. Reading more books can boost brain health and lower the risk of dementia.
7. Volunteer
Getting out of the house is a good way for seniors to socialize, move around, and do positive things that enhance their quality of life. If your loved one chooses volunteering as a New Year’s resolution, help him or her find charities and organizations within the community. Volunteering can provide a sense of purpose in the senior years.
Your loved one can also perform volunteering activities, such as creating flyers or making calls for fundraisers, from home. Aging adults with health conditions that make it challenging to get out of the house can benefit greatly from the constant companionship of a professional caregiver. Whether you need respite from your caregiving duties or your aging loved one needs live-in care, Tucson, AZ, Home Care Assistance can meet your family’s care needs. Our dedicated caregivers are available around the clock to provide transportation to doctor’s appointments, ensure seniors take their prescribed medications, and help with a variety of tasks in and outside the home.
8. Practice Better Self-Care
Keeping up with doctor’s appointments, diets, social activities, and exercise routines may be difficult for seniors, but it’s necessary. To make this resolution easier for your loved one, help him or her create a realistic self-care routine. Practicing better self-care can help aging adults stay motivated, sharp, and healthy.
Some elderly people may find it challenging to keep these resolutions, but having a caregiver close by can make it easier. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of senior care. Tucson families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet your elderly loved one’s 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 stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia. Trust your loved one’s care to the professionals at Home Care Assistance. Reach out to one of our compassionate Care Managers today at (520) 276-6555.