May 10, 2024
Across the world, people are living longer than ever before. However, according to the World Health Organization, “evidence suggests the proportion of life in good health has remained broadly constant, implying that the additional years are in poor health.” Taking a proactive approach to aging can help us live full, energetic, and healthy lives no matter how many years we have lived.
As the Director of Wellness at Vitalia North Royalton, I advocate for proactive aging through regular exercise, a balanced diet, and mental stimulation. Engaging in physical activity, such as walking, swimming, yoga, and strength training, helps maintain muscle strength, flexibility, balance, and cardiovascular health. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats provides essential nutrients and supports overall health. Keeping the mind active with activities like reading, puzzles, learning new skills, and socializing helps maintain cognitive function and reduces the risk of cognitive decline.
Managing stress and anxiety involves seeking social support, practicing deep breathing exercises, and setting realistic goals. Seeking emotional support and encouragement from friends, family, or a support network, as well as practicing deep breathing techniques, can alleviate stress and anxiety.
Stress and anxiety can have significant negative impacts on overall health as someone ages, including effects on cardiovascular health, cognitive decline, and sleep disturbances. Chronic stress and anxiety can contribute to high blood pressure, heart disease, and an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Financial constraints and cultural or language barriers can prevent people from keeping up with preventive care. Cost can be a significant barrier, especially for those without health insurance or high out-of-pocket expenses. Even with insurance, co-pays, deductibles, and uncovered services can deter individuals from seeking preventive services.
Utilizing preventive care has numerous benefits, such as early detection of health conditions. Screenings, check-ups, and diagnostic tests can detect health conditions at an early stage when they are more easily treatable, allowing for prompt intervention and management, potentially preventing disease progression, and improving outcomes.
Encouraging proactive thinking involves promoting a mindset focused on anticipating and addressing future challenges and opportunities, as well as offering support and resources to help others develop their proactive thinking skills.
It is never too late to invest in your health. Taking control of our well-being can be the difference between surviving and thriving, the difference between extra years of truly living and extra years in decline. Make your years count. Approach aging proactively and use those extra years to get another degree, take up a new hobby, break a record, or explore opportunities you never thought you would get to experience.
World Health Organization: Aging and Health, click here to read the full article.
VITALIA® North Royalton in North Royalton, OH offers independent senior apartments, assisted living, and memory care with a variety of services and a range of floor plan options. Amenities include restaurant dining, 24-hour bistro, concierge service, housekeeping, events and entertainment, personal care, transportation services, and more. Centrally located near Parma Hospital and Southwest General Hospital with convenient access to major shopping centers and attractions, including Ridgewood Golf Course, Southpark Mall, Sleepy Hallow Golf Course, Cleveland Metro Parks, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, and Heavily Hills Farm.
