Getting rid of extra weight when you’re older can be a little more challenging. But getting to a healthy weight can help you look and feel better at any age. By losing weight, you can decrease your chances of developing diabetes and heart disease while giving yourself more energy. Need some pointers to help you develop your weight-loss plan?
Sign Up for Some Classes If you have a hard time getting to the gym, try signing up for some workout classes instead. Group fitness can keep you motivated to keep moving. All that exciting energy can be contagious and can drive you to exercise a little harder. You can try one of the more popular classes, like Zumba or Jazzercise, to get your heart rate up. There are also some low-impact options that are great for seniors. Know When to Schedule a Check-Up For the most part, you shouldn’t have any problems starting a new diet or exercise plan. As long as you’ve had a fairly recent physical, you’ll be fine adding some exercise or healthy foods to your daily routine. But if you’re living with a chronic illness or have not had a check-up, be smart and set up an appointment with your healthcare provider. You can discuss your weight concerns and figure out if you need to be careful when starting your new workout plans. Your doctor may also be able to refer you to nutritionists or physical therapists that can help you reach your weight loss goals safely. Carefully Clean Up Your Diet Avocado toast isn’t just for millennials. You need healthy fats to keep your heart and body strong. So think twice before you cut all fats out of your diet. Foods like avocados, eggs, and nuts can actually help you stay thinner as long as they are consumed in the right amounts. Be careful of cutting down your calories too much, too. Eating too little can actually prevent you from losing weight and cause other health side effects as well. Look for Fun Ways to Burn Calories Working out doesn’t have to burn you out. If you don’t want to waste time on a treadmill, try some more exciting ways to get the exercise you need. You can go on an evening bike ride with your partner, or play in the pool with the grandkids. If you have a dog, get in some regular, brisk walks in the park to get you both out of the house. If you’d prefer to work out alone, get some headphones so you can listen to music that will fuel your workouts. A secure stand that you can prop up anywhere will also come in handy as you follow along with interactive online training and workout videos. When you actually enjoy your workouts, you will be more likely to stick with them and stick to your plans to lose weight. Avoid Jeopardizing Your Joints This may come as a surprise, but extreme dieting and exercising can actually harm your joints. As we age, our joints become more susceptible to injury and pain, so be careful as you take steps to get into shape. Opt for low-impact cardio, and make sure your strength-training and exercise sets are balanced. Be sure to stretch and warm up before getting active, and try adding yoga to your fitness routine to increase flexibility. Don’t Get Tricked by Gimmicks When you’re looking to lose weight, it can be easy to get sucked into fads and crash diets. But as a senior, you need to be especially concerned about how these gimmicks will impact your health. So many of the weight-loss supplements on the market have no FDA approval and can even interact with other medications. Every year, thousands of people have to seek medical care due to the side effects of supplements, so be careful when planning out your weight-loss strategy. When it comes to taking off those extra pounds, these healthy options are your best bet. Losing weight takes some dedication and work, but you are more than capable. Changing your body can change your life, so start your weight loss journey today. Guest Author Hal Salazar Elders Today
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Though Americans may associate multigenerational households with other countries, during the past decade, a large number of aging parents and children have decided to share living spaces. According to Pew Research Center, about 64 million Americans are members of multigenerational homes, which may include grandparents and even great-grandparents who join daily family activities.
Inviting an older relative to live with your family may not be the right choice for everyone, but for those who wish to save money and forge better relationships between the generations, it may be a great option. Consider the following ways to prepare your house for a senior family member before he or she moves in to maximize safety and comfort in your home. 1. Removing Fall Hazards to Promote Safety Your senior parent or grandparent may be perfectly healthy and not prone to falls and trips, but he or she will still be moving into an unfamiliar space. Do your best to remove objects with sharp corners and any hazards that could contribute to a fall before the move takes place. 2. Ensuring Your New Resident Has Personal Space No matter how much your aging mother loves her small grandchildren, she likely doesn't want to see them — or listen to their squeals and screams — around the clock. Make sure that your newest resident has enough space in which to rest and relax, and ensure that he or she has a place to retreat to if the house becomes too loud. 3. Remodeling Key Rooms for Accessibility If your senior loved one has a disability or mobility issues, consider remodeling his or her room and bathroom to include accessibility features. This could mean widening the doorways for a wheelchair, putting non-skid tiles in the bathroom, or adding handrails next to the toilets for stability. If your family member has accessibility measures in his or her current home, try to outfit your home with similar ones for a smooth transition into the new living space. Get in touch with a contractor if accessibility is a new topic for both you and your relative or if you're not sure what to add to make your home easier to navigate. Of course, paying for accessibility features will not come cheap. It’s important, therefore, to also look at financing options to ensure that your loved one gets the necessary upgrades for his or her space. Find out what is refinancing, either your own home or your loved one’s, and how it can potentially cover any renovations that need done. 4. Adding Brighter Lighting to Dim Areas Even if your senior family member doesn't have poor eyesight, increasing visibility by adding brighter lights in areas such as staircases, bathrooms and hallways could prevent a painful fall. When you're considering these home upgrades, check with your mortgage lender to determine whether it's a good time to refinance your mortgage. This will replace your old loan with one that has a higher balance, and you will be able to use the difference to finance necessary home modifications or medical care. 5. Asking Your Senior Loved One for Suggestions Your senior family member will likely have a few upgrade ideas when he or she transitions from living independently to living with you. Consult with Lifestage, a senior advisor in Spokane to pinpoint areas of the transition that may be especially difficult. Remember that your senior loved one will probably have mixed feelings about leaving his or her place of residence and moving to your family home. This period will likely be difficult in various ways for both you and your senior family member, and good communication can help it happen more smoothly. Guest Author Libby Howell http://grandparent.info/ Image via Pexels
At the height of the pandemic, moves to senior communities were put on hold except in certain circumstances. Now that transmission rates are down, lives are moving forward. However, people are still experiencing some uncertainty as they try to get back to normal. Lifestage has assembled some resources to help provide a little peace of mind as we emerge from the pandemic.
Living Arrangements and Affordability Seniors have a number of living arrangement options these days, and many involve apartment-style living and cohabitation. Learn more about what’s available to you so you can make an informed choice.
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COVID-19 caused tremendous disruption of life. We’ve emerged from lockdown, vaccines are widely available, and communities are safer. If COVID-19 left you uncertain about senior living arrangements or unable to pay the bills, you certainly weren’t alone. As we recover together, know that help is available and better terms can be negotiated with lenders. Lifestage is a senior advisory agency with over 100 years combined experience in various aspects of the healthcare industry. We specialize in making a personalized match with retirement communities at all levels of care from independent living to memory care. This senior care referral service is offered at NO-COST to the family, so get in touch today. Guest Article by Harry Cline newcaregiver.org/ The New Caregiver’s Comprehensive Resource: Advice, Tips, and Solutions from Around the Web Photo Credit: Pexels |
AuthorTy Strahl is the areas leading senior adviser. Her job is to help you navigate the many aspects of aging and to help seniors who are in transition to find the right solutions for their individual needs. Archives
February 2023
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