Staying healthy as you age in Central London
Learn our top tips on staying healthy by maintaining lifelong healthy habits!
Published: 12/02/2024
Keeping up healthy lifelong habits is crucial to our continued health as we age. Healthy nutrition, regular exercise, and physical activity all contribute to reducing the effects of age-related health issues.
While it is not always feasible to stop the effects of ageing, at Right at Home Central London, we don't necessarily see all of these changes as "problems" because, after all, ageing brings with it shared memories and experience. Our experienced team are frequently asked how to prevent ageing, but we believe our goal is to inspire our clients and their families to think about how they may celebrate and take care of their bodies in order to continue being independent for many years to come.
As your body starts to change, this useful guide explains how to adapt your physical activities.
Why does maintaining a healthy routine matter?
It is essential to maintain habits as you become older, regardless of whether you have always been active or started a fitness regimen later in life. Living an active lifestyle can significantly reduce the risk of age-related health problems. Maintaining an active lifestyle can also lessen stress and increase happiness. The secret is to stick to a regular schedule in order to avoid the many signs and symptoms of ageing. Modifications to your activity levels as you age are vital.
It's common knowledge that after turning 50, a lot of older people have the tendency to become less active. We can discover that our typical fitness regimen becomes a little less familiar or comfortable as the years pass. Among the common difficulties elderly individuals encounter are:
- Noticing a reduction in muscle strength in comparison to previous years
- Feeling scared of falling or having trouble balancing
- Coping with increased joint discomfort or mobility issues
- Feeling as though one’s energy is generally declining.
It's crucial to gradually restore your stamina if you feel like you can't keep up with your prior regimen. Whatever your level of activity, from mild stretching to aerobic fitness, this guide to staying active has something to offer everyone.
Getting back to a healthy routine following a break
We acknowledge that unforeseen circumstances may cause disruptions to a regular schedule. Events such as holidays, bad weather, or illness might disrupt our daily routine. It's usual for your routine to feel more difficult when you resume your regular practice after a hiatus.
By implementing these easy suggestions, you can reduce your chance of developing common health issues:
- Keep moving: Regular activity can help you get back into your regular routine more easily, whether it’s taking a quick walk during your holidays, or doing some simple muscle exercises while you are on break.
- Reintroduce your routine gradually: Pay attention to your body, acknowledge its limitations, and have self-compassion if you face obstacles during your journey.
- Seek assistance: a GP or healthcare assistant can recommend beneficial workouts that are suited to help you.
- Look for local classes: Exercising with others can help reduce your anxiety, and also keep you accountable.
- Start simple: attempt some light stretches or physical therapy exercises. Even better, to add some variety to your routine, try some new things!
You might want to look at our hospital to home service if your physical routine has changed following your hospital stay. Our experienced CareGivers provide individualised and tailored care and assistance to help clients gradually return to their regular habits.
Adjusting your routine as you get older
Your routine can be improved with only a few easy modifications and substitutions, improving your general health. We are inherently more vulnerable to specific illnesses or injuries as we become older. It's critical to improve your physical fitness to reduce your risk of age-related health problems like stiffness, joint pain, and even cardiovascular diseases.
Maintaining your overall muscle mass is an excellent way to avoid joint issues as you age, such as hip and knee difficulties. You should consume a sufficient amount of meals high in protein, such as fish and chicken, to maintain constant muscle mass. Looking into whey protein supplements could also be helpful to make sure you're getting the right quantity of protein.
Consuming a healthy diet also strengthens your heart and helps you avoid cardiovascular disease as you age. Here are some small tips to remember to maintain good heart health:
- Limit your sugar and salt intake
- Replace saturated fats with unsaturated fats
However this is just a single component of the puzzle. Additionally, you should make an effort to work out for 150 minutes or more per week. Try these stretches instead of active ones if you're particularly concerned about joint wear and tear:
- Static stretches instead of active stretches.
- Low impact cardio rather than jogging or HIIT.
- Strolling as opposed to running.
A brisk walk is an excellent way to minimise inflammation and strain on knee joints. It also lowers blood pressure, strengthens the heart, and lowers the chance of a heart attack. It's crucial to incorporate mobility exercises into your fitness routine to avoid becoming stiff as you age. Additionally, exercising flexibility is an excellent way to lessen the pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
How can Right at Home Central London help you to maintain your favourite exercise and self-care routines?
Preventative health care is all about maintaining your quality of life. Many of the best ways to avoid "old age problems" are straightforward and simple to incorporate into daily life. Regardless of age, developing a health-conscious habit can help sustain your body in the years to come.
Please get in contact with us if you need assistance creating and sustaining a healthy routine for yourself or a loved one. Our kind and friendly homecare professionals will be pleased to assist you with exercising at home, or learning about local fitness events. We can also assist you with grocery shopping, meal preparation and scheduling routine check ups. Contact us at Right at Home Central London to discuss a personalized care plan that suits you.
