Mental and physical health over 65
How old do you feel?
The human body changes significantly with age and over time. But our minds don’t always keep up. So, how old do you feel? My favorite aunt used to say upon being asked her age, “I’m 16 and a little bit older than the last time you asked me.” She wasn’t about to spread the word that she was over a certain age and hey, that’s her right! As we age though, whether we feel 16 or not, there are realities we must face and choosing lifestyles that keep us physically and mentally active can make a big difference both now and into our 80’s.
While natural aging processes cannot be stopped, older adults can take proactive measures to support their physical health and improve their chances of recovering from falls and illnesses. Here are some suggestions and some “must do’s” for anyone over 65.
- Drink water! It doesn’t matter if you want to, more than 40% of older adults have experienced cognitive and physical decline as a direct result of dehydration. If you don’t like water, drink Snapple, or Gatorade, or Vitamin Water. Proper hydration is integral to kidney function, brain function, muscle strength and circulation.
- Move. The old addage, “use it or lose it” applies even more as we get older. That’s why it is important to get hip and knee replacements before the pain reduces mobility and changes habits that can be impossible to reverse. Exercise hurts a little while we do it, muscle weakness and atrophy hurts a lot as we become unable to do life’s simple tasks.
- Learn things. Studies show that learning a language, taking up painting or an instrument or solving puzzles improves synaptic function and reduces the plaque that builds up in brains that show signs of dementia. With apps like DuoLingo and a world of puzzles at your fingertips on the ipad, there’s no excuse.
- Talk to people who are younger (and older). People who have a wider range of ages with whom they interact show more cognitive flexibility. It makes sense, you would have to listen to new opinions, formulate different types of arguements or learn something new about a perspective on the world. Don’t have any young friends? Join a gym or a chess club and get out there and socialize.
- Stay on top of those MD visits. So many cancers are easily curable if you catch them early, from a melanoma to breast and prostate cancer, early detection is the key to survival (and full recovery) so get that physical and tell your doctor if you are bloated, tired or seeing physical changes. They won’t laugh. And if they do, get a new doctor… there are plenty out there.
Feeling old really is a state of mind in addition to a state of physical well-being. With these tips (and the sage advice of your doctor) you can stay young at heart, and head, and hips and all the rest of you.
