For most of your life you have taken care of others—your children, parents, spouse, friends—but now, as a senior adult, it may suddenly have become more difficult to care for yourself.
That’s a change you may not welcome but cannot deny or ignore.
You may be dealing with a chronic illness, or struggling with mobility, strength, pain or balance issues. You may continuously feel sluggish or get stuck in the same routine day after day. All of these factors make self-care for seniors even more important.
Don’t give up on yourself. Contrary to what you may think, not all ailments are due to aging. Sometimes we simply lose sight of what it means to put ourselves first. There are things you can do to make your life better. It begins by putting your body and mind in motion with these tips for self-care for seniors.
Exercise Regularly and Maintain a Healthy Diet
An exercise program can help combat chronic illnesses like heart disease and diabetes. It can also decrease your risk for falls as you strengthen your body and improve your balance. You’ll probably find that you feel pretty good about yourself when you exercise on a regular basis, too.
Please note: Before beginning any exercise program, consult your physician.
A well-balanced diet is important for staying healthy as you age. It helps you maintain a healthy weight, stay energized, improve your organ and brain function, strengthen your immune system, and manage chronic conditions.
A consistent routine of exercise and healthy eating will give you a strong foundation to take on all aspects of life.
Get Sufficient Sleep
Poor sleep habits can adversely affect other health issues among seniors and, subsequently, their quality of life. Unfortunately, seniors often experience changes in the quality and duration of their sleep.
As people age, their circadian rhythms—the body’s natural 24-hour clock—may change, causing them to feel sleepy earlier in the evening and waking up earlier in the morning. Also, seniors may wake up more frequently during the night. Sleep apnea, or repeated pauses in breathing while asleep, leads to poor quality sleep as well, and can increase the risk of stroke, heart attack and diabetes.
Sleep tips include:
- Exercise to improve length and quality of sleep
- Turn off bedroom distractions like phones and TVs
- Avoid alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, smoking and eating large meals late in the evening
- Develop a bedtime self-care routine featuring activities that help you relax and prepare for sleep
For more information on aging and sleep, visit The Sleep Foundation.
Keep Up With Personal and Home Hygiene
As we age, our immune system is not as robust as it was when we were younger. That means maintaining personal cleanliness standards is more important than ever, as it lessens the risk of illness that comes from exposure to germs and viruses.
Skin care is also important when it comes to self-care for seniors. It’s recommended that seniors limit their time in the sun, especially during the time of the day when the sun’s rays are the strongest. Use sunscreen and wear protective clothing.
Keeping your home environment clean is also important to eliminate allergens and bacteria. Also, decluttering the home can reduce tripping hazards.
Continue to Monitor Your Health
Staying on top of health conditions can be a challenge. Diet restrictions, medications, self-monitoring and staying in touch with your physician may, at times, seem overwhelming, but they are critical to successful self-care for seniors.
Try these tips to make things more manageable:
- Use pill dispensers or medication organizers to ensure you are taking medication properly each day
- Set alarms or calendar reminders for doctor’s appointments or to alert you when it is time to schedule your next check-up
- At-home health-monitoring devices can be used to easily track blood pressure, heart rate, glucose levels and more.
Enjoy the Outdoors
Take a walk outdoors and you will improve your emotional health as well as your physical health. Studies have shown that spending time in nature can lead to a higher quality of life, improved social relationships, and better physical functioning for people over 65.
A scientific field called ecotherapy has shown a strong connection between time spent in nature and reduced stress, anxiety and depression.
Try these outdoor activities:
- Walk through a park or hiking trail
- Read a book by a stream or lake
- Watch the sunset with friends or family
- See how many unique bird species you can identify in your area
Participate in Social Activities
Isolation can be challenging physically and mentally. Open yourself up. Join an online book club, or attend a learning session at your local library. Schedule weekly phone calls to friends and family members.
Social activities help boost emotional and cognitive health. Don’t shy away from opportunities to connect with others.
Take up a Hobby
Hobbies promote stress relief, a sense of accomplishment, and improved confidence and self-esteem.
Maybe you’ve neglected a past hobby that you would like to begin again, or you can find a new hobby, such as:
- Gardening
- Cooking
- Swimming, Pickleball, or Golf
- Painting
- Creative Writing
You Are Worth It!
You have value and purpose. Make the most of your life by practicing self-care for seniors. You’ve earned it!
Back to All Posts
