Staying Fit and Healthy as We Age in Bromley

Maintaining positive lifestyles are essential to staying healthy as we get older.  Keeping active, eating balanced and healthy meals and exercising our bodies and minds all help to minimise the health conditions associated with ageing.

Our experienced care staff are often asked how to prevent the problems we experience as we age.  Here at Right at Home Bromley we do not view the changes that ageing brings as ‘problems’.  Afterall, the process of ageing comes with life experiences and shared memories.  Instead, we want to encourage our clients to consider ways to celebrate and care for their bodies in order to maintain independence for years to come.  

Why maintaining a healthy routine matters

Whether you’ve always kept to a fitness regime or adopted one later in life, it’s important to maintain these good habits as you age.  An active lifestyle can significantly decrease the chances of age-related health issues occurring. Also staying active will contribute to a greater sense of happiness and wellbeing, reduce stress and boredom and depression. 

• Older people who exercise regularly can have an improved immune system and be less at risk from diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s and heart disease.

• Exercise can strengthen and tone your muscles, meaning you’re less likely to fall and hurt yourself

• Regular physical activity can keep your brain healthy and improve your mood and mental wellbeing

• Exercise helps to regulate your weight and in the UK 1 in 6 heart and circulatory diseases are associated with a high Body Mass Index (excess weight)

The key is to maintain a regular routine.  Adjustments and adaptations to your activities are vital as you age to prevent strains and accidents and thereby keep up a good level of fitness.  As we know, many older adults slow down with their levels of physical exercise.  As we get older we may find that our stamina may decrease and activities we once found easy or appealing become less so.  Some typical challenges faced by older adults include:

• A noticeable decline in muscle strength

• Experiencing a fear of falling or struggling with balance issues

• Dealing with joint pain or difficulties with mobility

• Experiencing an overall decrease in energy levels

Returning to exercising after a gap

Life events, bad health and holidays are some reasons why our exercise and healthy living routines are thrown off track.  It’s quite normal for your regular routine to feel more challenging after such a gap.  If you’d like to restart a fitness routine it’s important to rebuild your stamina bit by bit consistently. 

To minimize any health problems experienced when you restablish your routine follow these simple tips:

1. Start simply; try gentle stretches and ensure you ‘warm up’ before any strenuous exercise.

2. Reintroduce your routine gradually. Let your body tell you when you’ve done enough. Recognise your limitations and be gentle with yourself if you experience difficulties.

3. Ask for help; a healthcare assistant, physical therapist or GP can assist you by suggesting exercises that are suitable for your circumstances.

4. Find local exercise classes and walking groups. Working out with others is great for socialisation and keeps you accountable for regular participation.

5. Keep moving; whether it’s a brief stroll during your holiday or that round of crazy golf, keep the momentum going. Engaging in basic muscle movements whilst forgoing your regular routine will ensure a smooth transition back when you restart.

If your physical routine has changed after a period in hospital, you may want to investigate our ‘Hospital to Home’ service.  Our caregivers assist clients in gradually resuming their regular routines, providing tailored care and support based on individual needs.

How to change your routine as you age

Just a few adaptations and additions within your healthy living routine can improve your general health.  As we age we are naturally more prone to certain injuries and conditions.  To lessen your risk of experiencing these issues such as joint pain, stiffness and even cardiovascular illnesses it’s important to work on your physical fitness.

Maintaining your overall muscle mass is a great way to help prevent joint problems such as with knees and hips.  Eating a healthy portion of protein-rich foods such as eggs, chicken and fish will help your muscle mass consistent.  You may also like to consider a whey protein supplement to ensure that you are consuming enough protein.  Fish oils are also recommended for joint pain and stiffness.  A healthy diet is also beneficial for maintaining a healthy weight, putting less stress on those joints.  It also benefits your cardiovascular system and prevents cardiovascular diseases in old age.

Some good tips to remember for a healthy heart include

1. Reducing your sugar intake

2. Cutting down on excess salt

3. Swapping saturated fat for unsaturated fat

However eating healthily is only one part of the overall picture.  Ideally you should try to complete approximately 150 minutes of exercise each week.

Remember, any physical activity is better than none at all and light activity still counts as exercise.  Chair-based exercises such as our Love to Move group or a brisk walk around Kelsey Park are great ways to help lower your blood pressure, keeping your heart in good condition and thereby reducing the risk of heart attack.  To prevent stiffness in old age its important to add mobility exercises to your workout and flexibility exercises can be a great way to reduce the pain of rheumatoid arthritis.

How can Right at Home Bromley help you or your loved one maintain your favourite exercise and self-care routines?

Preventative healthcare is simply taking action to preserve your quality of life.  Most of the effective methods to prevent ‘old age’ problems are simple and easy to implement. Regardless of age, establishing a healthy lifestyle can contribute towards supporting your body for years to come.

If you’d like some support with creating and or maintaining a healthy routine for either you or a loved one, please get in touch.  Our friendly healthcare professionals are carefully matched with you and are more than happy to help you exercise at home, find out what classes are available in your area and will accompany you as required.  We can also help you to purchase and prepare healthy meals or attend regular health check appointments with you.

Please contact Right at Home Bromley on 020 8150 6272 to discuss a personalised care plan that suits you and your needs.  We’re happy to help!