(NC) As we age, many of us realize that we may lose some strength and flexibility. But staying active and healthy as you get older can prevent this and is easier than you think. All it takes is keeping a few lifestyle and wellness tips in mind:
Exercise your body
Getting at least 150 minutes of exercise a week including light cardio and muscle- and bone-strengthening activities is recommended and helps maintain your posture and balance. These exercises could include climbing stairs, walking, dancing or simple yoga poses, all of which you can do outdoors or indoors as the weather cools in the fall. Even practicing a few new stretches or balance exercises, such as standing on one foot, can make a difference.
Learn something new
Research shows that trying your hand at something new helps your brain forge new pathways and keeps your mind and body engaged, which is key to maintaining ones overall well-being. Consider learning tai chi, which is a gentle way to reduce stress and anxiety while improving flexibility and balance. Or you can take up a new language to exercise your mind there are apps that even turn it into a fun game.
Have a backup plan
Accidents can happen to anyone, even to healthy and flexible people in their fifties, so its important to be prepared and think ahead in the event of a fall or other accident, says Dr. Samir Sinha, director of health policy research at the National Institute on Ageing. Yet more than 30 per cent of older Canadians report not being prepared to manage medical emergencies when alone.
To help stay safe in an emergency, older Canadians can also use discreet and wearable technology like Telus Health Companion, the first personal emergency response service on Apple Watch in Canada. It offers peace of mind at home or while on-the-go with automatic fall detection and access to 24/7 live emergency support discretely from your wrist. Learn more at telus.com/companionwatch.
