Hi everyone and welcome to my twenty-ninth blog.

 

Recently, I have been privileged to take over a physio practice and  I have started treating many mature adults (elderly folk) at retirement villages or in their own homes. I absolutely adore this work and have so much fun, so many laughs and even a few tears with these amazing people. Their wisdom and life experiences are fascinating, and I so enjoy listening to their stories. It seems my energy is good for them, too, so, all in all, it’s a wonderful thing. Most of them are so over what people think of them, too and I just love this.

However, sadly, it is not all a bed of roses, and there are many folks with significant disabilities, immobility, and health issues. Covid confinement has also resulted in so much loneliness and this just breaks my heart.

 

Observing this and assisting those who have suffered a stroke or who have had a hip or knee replacement or fractured femur, the latter often caused by a fall, has made me acutely aware of the fact that getting old is definitely not for the fainthearted. Fortunately, I honestly do believe, after some thought and a little studying, that there are a number of ways in which we can enhance this process and make it as good and positive as possible. Obviously there are a myriad of factors that come into play and we certainly do not have control over all of them, but I really feel that we can prevent some of the issues and ward off some of the disability and lack of mobility that are common amongst so many of the elderly if we start to manage our overall health and wellness now.

Below are some of my thoughts and ideas.

 

1. Be kind to your skin

Your skin is your body’s largest organ. As we age, the strength and elasticity of our skin decrease. Treating it with care can help protect our body from the elements. It also regulates our body temperature. To keep it looking and functioning at its best we need to wear sunscreen and if necessary protective clothing when outside in the harsh sun.  Annual cancer screenings and gentle products in our skincare regime are also really important as we get older.

 

 

2. Exercise

I feel that I am beginning to sound like a stuck record as exercise seems to come up in most of my blogs, but I honestly can not stress the significance and value of exercise and moving every day. This lowers your risk of heart disease and cancer and helps you retain your mobility longer. It also lowers stress and improves sleep, skin, and bone health and mood. Vary your exercise from high-intensity training, to strength training, to brisk walking, to balance and equilibrium exercises. Your exercise should be tailor-made for you, much like your eating, and comparisons are odious. Tai Chi, yoga, and Pilates are great low impact activities that focus on improving your balance and core strength, amongst other things. Muscle strength and bone health can be maintained with exercise, and falls may be prevented. Falls are one of the main causes of morbidity and disability in the elderly.   in my opinion, we should do simple quick balance exercises every day over the age of forty-five. Chat to me if you are keen to learn more about this.

 

 

3. Eat to live

Repetition, but again, worth it.  Whenever it is possible, try to make your own food. This way you know exactly what you are eating. A plate with that quality protein, those complex carbs, mountains of multicoloured veg and some fruit and a dash of healthy fat at every meal.   Less salt, minimally processed foods, and those foods with additives, colourants, and preservatives. Drop the sugar, decrease the dairy, and, for some, be careful of gluten. This can help improve mental acuteness, boost your energy levels, and increase your resistance to illness assisting in maintaining optimum wellness for as long as possible.

 

4. Mental health matters

Accept your age and the inevitability of growing older. Flip, I find this very difficult. However, I am trying, as research has shown that maintaining a positive attitude about the ageing process may help you live longer and with greater vitality. I am also making a huge effort to embrace the wisdom that mature folk have of not caring at all what other people think. That is also not a walk in the park for me.

Spend time with your loved ones, friends, and furry friends. For some, the furry ones are both!  This may lower your stress levels, reduce loneliness, and improve your moods. Have friends who are younger than you, for obvious reasons.

Sharpen your intelligence by doing online courses, learning a musical instrument, even playing video games or games on your iPad.

This may all help make the ageing process more positive and make you feel more contented as you age.

 

 

 

5. Laugh

Another repetition, but well worth it. Laughter is the best medicine. It helps our body release its happy hormones, makes us breathe more deeply which improves the supply of oxygen to our cells and also has a positive effect on the immune system and the brain. This is the easiest one for me.

 

6. Meditate

This will improve your mental and emotional health and may improve the quality of your life as you age. I successfully meditated this week and honestly felt that on the day, I managed to accomplish so much more than I had planned to. I am hoping to make meditation a big part of my routine, slowly increasing the time spent doing this.

 

7. Get adequate sleep

This can lower the risk of heart disease and stroke, decrease stress and depression, lower your risk of obesity, and help improve focus and concentration. Many of us menopausal and post-menopausal women struggle with this. I have fallen prey to this and it is so irritating and wearying! Recently I have bought supplements to help me with this. I am waiting to see how effective they are and will keep you posted on this one.

 

 

 

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8. Hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate.

Drinking water will help keep us regular and improve our energy levels and brain function, as well as helping maintain our skin at its best, amongst its many other benefits.

 

9. Take care of your teeth.

Seriously. As you age your oral health changes and being aware of this and maintaining your mouth in an optimum condition can help prevent gum and teeth issues. Those six-monthly visits are not always what I am good at. Time to rectify,

 

10. Have your eyes tested regularly.

As we age, regular eye examinations are essential as these can identify problems such as glaucoma and macular degeneration. Those who have sight issues obviously do this anyway. Another area I could definitely improve on.

 

11. Go for regular check-ups and have your annual medical.

These are so important for preventative care, enabling your doctor to detect any early signs of disease and this helps you to maintain your baseline level of health. When these should begin is usually determined by your health history and family history and often guided by your general practitioner.

 

12, Do what you need and want to do for you to feel your best.

 If you want that facelift or Botox or any other enhancements and if that is what you need for your body and mind, go for it. It’s about you and no one else.  Grow old in the way in which you want to. Do what floats your boat!

 

I really hope that you can take something from this. Please always bear in mind that what I write about is often my own opinion, and is not always an exact precise science. It’s your body and your life, and your journey. It really is all about you.

Wishing you all a wonderful week of optimum health, wellness, and vitality.

 

Tip number twenty-eight.

Be kind to yourself, in every way that you can, at all the times that you can, in all the places that you can, and always and forever.