How Elderly Can Practice Healthy Self-Care
There are a lot of buzz words in the health care industry these days, and the concept of self-care is one of them. So, what does it mean and why is it so important for seniors?
To answer the question, we first have to understand what the concept. Self-care is any attention we deliberately give to our mental, physical, emotional and spiritual selves with the intention of seeking growth or improvement for our long term wellbeing. It’s about recognizing the relationship we have with ourselves and the importance of nurturing these parts of our whole being.
Many people feel empowered when engaging in self-care activities because it means they are taking care of themselves and allowing themselves to focus on ‘me’. For seniors, the practice of self-care may be more challenging due to age-related issues such as chronic disease, immobility, loss of strength, balance and even motivation.
Tracy Brady, Executive Director of Business Development at BrightStar Care in Naples/Ft. Myers contends that these issues are the very reason why it’s so important for seniors to never give up or give in when it comes to proactive self-care. “There are simple activities seniors can put into motion as part of a self-care regimen,” Tracy says.
For example, Tracy suggests starting with a focus on diet and exercise, which can help anyone manage their weight, energy and brain and organ functions. “If seniors have certain medical conditions that limit their activities, there are alternatives such as chair yoga,” she points out. When it comes to diet, approaching better eating habits can start with baby steps, such as drinking more water on a daily basis.
Other good self-care starters include better sleep habits and personal and home hygiene. Poor sleeping habits can affect seniors’ quality of life because it can exacerbate health issues. Aside from the usual best practices regarding sleep, like minimizing distractions and avoiding caffeine, experts also assert that a careful and purposeful bedtime care routine helps with relaxation before sleeping. As our immune systems weaken in older age, it becomes more important to maintain cleanliness in order to minimize exposure to germs, viruses and allergens. So, ensuring regular showers and handwashing is good discipline for seniors, and keeping the house tidy and clean makes the personal environment a healthier place to spend time.
“Self-care can feel like you’re treating yourself by paying better attention, and this can improve mood and overall wellbeing,” say Tracy.
There are a lot of buzz words in the health care industry these days, and the concept of self-care is one of them. So, what does it mean and why is it so important for seniors?
To answer the question, we first have to understand what the concept. Self-care is any attention we deliberately give to our mental, physical, emotional and spiritual selves with the intention of seeking growth or improvement for our long term wellbeing. It’s about recognizing the relationship we have with ourselves and the importance of nurturing these parts of our whole being.Many people feel empowered when engaging in self-care activities because it means they are taking care of themselves and allowing themselves to focus on ‘me’. For seniors, the practice of self-care may be more challenging due to age-related issues such as chronic disease, immobility, loss of strength, balance and even motivation.
Tracy Brady, Executive Director of Business Development at BrightStar Care in Naples/Ft. Myers contends that these issues are the very reason why it’s so important for seniors to never give up or give in when it comes to proactive self-care. “There are simple activities seniors can put into motion as part of a self-care regimen,” Tracy says.
For example, Tracy suggests starting with a focus on diet and exercise, which can help anyone manage their weight, energy and brain and organ functions. “If seniors have certain medical conditions that limit their activities, there are alternatives such as chair yoga,” she points out. When it comes to diet, approaching better eating habits can start with baby steps, such as drinking more water on a daily basis.
Other good self-care starters include better sleep habits and personal and home hygiene. Poor sleeping habits can affect seniors’ quality of life because it can exacerbate health issues. Aside from the usual best practices regarding sleep, like minimizing distractions and avoiding caffeine, experts also assert that a careful and purposeful bedtime care routine helps with relaxation before sleeping. As our immune systems weaken in older age, it becomes more important to maintain cleanliness in order to minimize exposure to germs, viruses and allergens. So, ensuring regular showers and handwashing is good discipline for seniors, and keeping the house tidy and clean makes the personal environment a healthier place to spend time.“Self-care can feel like you’re treating yourself by paying better attention, and this can improve mood and overall wellbeing,” say Tracy.