6 Hygiene Tips for Seniors

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important no matter what age you are. However, as a senior you face a unique set of risks that you must take into consideration.

You’re more prone to experiencing complications from illnesses and cognitive decline. But there are steps you can take to prevent these outcomes. For instance, knowing who to call during emergencies. In the case of dental and denture care, contact this oral surgeon chattanooga for emergency dental treatment.

Eating right and exercising are two crucial steps that go hand in hand, but there are other things you can do as well. Here are 6 tips that can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle as a senior.

Stock up on hygiene supplies

When you get sick, it’s best to have supplies on hand. Depending on the severity of your illness, it can be difficult to make your way to the store and pick up the supplies you need, especially for seniors. This is why you should stock up on any supplies you need in case you get sick—aspirin, throat lozenges, decongestants, and cold and flu medicines.

It’s also a good idea to keep some more general hygiene supplies on hand as well. This means things like hand sanitizer, band-aids, toothpaste, lotions, eye drops, and more.

Stay active

Try to work some exercise into your schedule every day in order to maintain a healthy body and mind. Keeping active helps you stay at a healthy weight and strengthens your cardiovascular health.

You don’t even need to perform intense exercise in order to see benefits. Basic aerobic exercises can strengthen your muscles, make you more flexible, and help your balance, lessening the chance of falls and other serious physical injuries.

Consider enrolling in an exercise program tailored to improving the health and well-being of seniors. At the very least, aim to get on your feet and walk around for a minimum of 30 minutes per day.

Maintain a healthy diet

Along with exercise, a healthy diet is key in maintaining good health and preventing illness. A diet filled with fruits, vegetables, and lean meats like fish and white meat chicken will help to prevent ailments like heart disease while also fortifying your immune system.

Try to avoid processed foods filled with fat and sugar, as these can lead to obesity, diabetes, and other harmful disorders.

Seek out professional care

As a senior, you should be visiting healthcare professionals who will help you monitor and maintain your health. Make sure to keep up with the immunizations you need, since an illness like the flu can be particularly damaging to older individuals.

Also, schedule a yearly physical so that you can be examined by a doctor and they can check for ailments that might otherwise be hard to notice, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Don’t just visit a general practitioner, either—seek out a well-respected geriatrician, in addition to vision, hearing, and dental specialists.

Before scheduling an appointment, you should take some time to consider which insurance plans best meet your unique needs. Do some research online to find the best vision, hearing, and dental plans for seniors.

Get the sleep you need

A good night’s sleep does all kinds of wonders. When you’re asleep, your body and mind get an opportunity to rest and rejuvenate. It strengthens your immune system and reduces the chances you’ll be severely impacted by illness.

Additionally, sleep provides great cognitive benefits. Getting seven to nine hours of sleep every night can help lower your stress levels, while improving your ability to concentrate and retain memories.

Take steps to prevent illness

As you get older, your immune system tends to get weaker. For this reason, you should take extra steps to prevent any illness, which could be more damaging due to your age.

Wash your hands with soap and warm water frequently, especially before meals. Also, do your best to avoid making contact with people who are exhibiting symptoms of an illness.

Just because you’re older doesn’t mean you can’t keep improving your health and well-being. You can still make conscious choices that will help you to lead a happier and healthier life.

In particular, strengthening your immune system will help shield you from the worst effects of illnesses. If you want to learn more, consider consulting with a medical professional who can give you more advice about healthy habits and activities, as well as vitamins and supplements.