National Wellness Month: Promoting Senior Health in Houston

According to AARP, the US dropped eight spots in its overall happiness rank (from 15th to 23rd worldwide). The happiest people prioritize their emotional, physical, and mental health. They socialize, exercise, and eat nutritious meals.

This National Wellness Month, take control of your own happiness and well-being. With the right Houston senior health initiatives, you can boost your longevity and quality of life. Start promoting senior well-being with these tips!

Adjust Your Diet

According to the National Institute on Aging, the MIND and Mediterranean diets are linked to fewer signs of Alzheimer's brain pathology. Both diets prioritize:

• Fish
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Whole grains
• Beans
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Olive oil

Consuming more of these foods may slow cognitive decline and reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's.According to one study, participants who prioritized these foods had lower levels of amyloid plaques. Amyloid plaques are a protein hallmark of Alzheimer's.

Try adding more fiber to your diet. Fiber can help you stay fuller for longer. It may lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes or heart disease.

Adjusting your diet may help:

• Reduce your risk of chronic health conditions
• Improve your mood
• Improve your digestion and gut health
• Reduce your risk of chronic conditions
• Promote a healthy weight
• Improve your overall well-being

Before making major changes to your diet, consult a doctor or nutritionist. They can determine if you have a vitamin deficiency and help you prioritize certain foods.

Otherwise, explore your senior living community's dining program. You can enjoy delicious, nutrient-dense meals made with your preferences in mind.

Senior Wellness Programs Houston

According to the CDC, seniors aged 65 and older should participate in these activities weekly:

• Muscle-strengthening
• Balance
• Aerobic

Schedule 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity weekly.This can include brisk walking or water aerobics.

Muscle-strengthening activities involve repetitive movements. Choose exercises that target major muscle groups, including the:

• Chest
• Arms
• Legs
• Hips
• Back
• Abdomen
• Shoulders

You can use resistance bands or lift weights. Otherwise, complete push-ups or sit-ups to use your body weight for resistance.

Consider working with a physical trainer. They'll ensure you use the proper technique, reducing your risk of sustaining an injury. 

Balance exercises can help reduce your risk of a slip-and-fall accident. Consider taking a yoga or tai chi class. These exercises involve all three types of activity.

Make exercising a fun social event. Ask your friends in Houston to join you. You can discover engaging exercise classes through your senior living community's fitness program. 

Explore Healthy Aging Activities

Social isolation and loneliness may leave you vulnerable to depression and cognitive decline. According to Michigan Medicine, one in three older adults still experiences loneliness and isolation. Chronic loneliness may increase the risk of:

• Dementia
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Diabetes
• Stroke
• Heart disease
• Early death

Try building strong, meaningful connections with other seniors in your Houston community. You can explore your senior living community's events and activities calendar for fun ideas. Healthy aging activities include:

• Hiking and walking groups
• Group therapy
• Knitting and crocheting clubs
• Gardening clubs
• Continuing education classes
• Cooking classes

Picking up new hobbies and learning new skills can encourage new neural pathways to form. This may enhance your cognitive health and boost your mood.

You'll also strengthen relationships and form lasting memories. Discover more Houston senior health initiatives through your senior living community.

Relieve Stress

Chronic stress can cause adrenaline and cortisol levels to rise. These hormones trigger the body's fight-or-flight response.

Short-term, this can help us navigate stressful situations. Long-term stress, however, can cause:

• Increased risk of a heart attack or stroke
• Headaches
• Rapid breathing
• Heartburn
• Increased risk of depression
• Insomnia
• A weakened immune system
• High blood pressure 
• High blood sugar
• Digestive issues
• Increased risk of type 2 diabetes

Insomnia can affect your ability to focus and function during the day. Inadequate sleep can also increase your risk of serious health conditions, including:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• High blood pressure
• Inflammation
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Poor balance
• Increased risk of accidents
• Weight gain

Explore relaxation techniques to combat chronic stress. Learning how to relieve stress may help you sleep at night.

Your senior living community may offer meditation sessions. Meditating may help lower inflammation and stress hormones. It could also help you fall and stay asleep.

Try adjusting your sleep environment. Otherwise, consider moving into a senior living community to rest in comfort.

Request Wellness Tips for Older Adults

Schedule regular checkups with your primary care physician or specialists.They can offer personalized recommendations based on your health needs and concerns.

For example, your doctor may recommend that you adjust your diet or stop smoking. Tobacco is harmful to every organ in the body.

Quitting smoking may help:

• Improve blood circulation
• Improve your sense of taste and smell
• Reduce your risk of stroke, heart attack, and cancer
• Lower your risk of lung disease
• Improve your ability to exercise

Your doctor may recommend that you reduce your intake of sugar and refined carbs. Drinking sugary beverages may increase your risk of type 2 diabetes and weight gain. It can also contribute to high blood pressure.

Ulta-processed foods (candy, chips, etc.) contain added sugars. They're often made using harmful, genetically modified ingredients.

After you turn 50, your body will need more of certain vitamins and minerals. These may include:

• Vitamin D
• Vitamin B6
• Calcium
• Vitamin B12

Vitamin D and calcium are important for people with osteoporosis and women after menopause.  It's found in fatty fish like salmon and tuna.

Vitamin B6 helps red blood cells carry oxygen. It also plays a role in your metabolism and neurotransmitter function. 

Older people have trouble absorbing vitamin B12 through food. It supports brain, nerve, and blood cell function.

Don't add new supplements to your regimen without consulting a doctor. They'll ensure you avoid interactions.  

Observe National Wellness Month

This National Wellness Month, take control of your health and well-being. Apply these wellness tips for older adults to enhance your mental, emotional, and physical health. Remember, you're not alone.

Our team at Copperfield Estates Senior Living offers Independent Living with Support Services in Houston. We can help you thrive while enjoying an all-inclusive lifestyle.

Enjoy our exclusive programs, including senior-specific health and wellness activities, engaging events, and chef-prepared meals. Contact us now to schedule a tour.