Are you sticking to all your New Year’s resolutions so far? As we age, some years it is easier than others to keep those promises. Even the New Year’s resolution enthusiasts have a difficult time staying on track, especially during the long Minnesota winter months. Whether your wish list for the year is long or short, benefits yourself or others, challenging or easy, it’s good to hold true to your list.
Reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that overall health and life expectancy continue to improve in recent years for most Americans. The Health, United States, 2014 annual report from the CDC included a special feature on adults aged 55-64, exploring a wide variety of trends in important health issues with this age group. Often referred to as the “Baby Boomer” generation, this age group will have a significant impact on our health care system. Within 10 years, nearly all of the adults in this 55-64 age group will be covered by Medicare, which begs the question, how does the health of the current 55-64 age group compare with the health of those who were in this age group a decade ago?
Many Minnesotans have the annual lose weight or exercise regularly at the top of the resolutions list and those goals tend to be pushed to the back burner or given up on easily. If these particular goals made your list again this year, don’t let that happen! Physical activity has many positive health benefits, including assisting with weight control, reducing the risk for many chronic health conditions including heart disease, strengthening bones, improving mental health, amongst others. The 2008 Physical Activity Guideline for Americans recommend adults perform at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity, or 75 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, or an equivalent combination. In addition to this, adults should do muscle-strengthening activity 2 or more days per week at a moderate or high-intensity level involving all major muscle groups.
Eating healthy and spending quality family time together is very important at any age. Our friends at Home Instead Senior Care Minneapolis focus on this with their Sunday Dinner Pledge program. Powerful new research shows that 50 percent of families living near senior relatives believe they do not share enough meals with these older loved ones, which in turn loses an important family connection. In an effort to drive home the importance of sitting down with your family for mealtime on a regular basis, Home Instead created this public education program. Learn more about the Sunday Dinner Pledge program, including weekly meal plans and healthy recipes. Or, read this great article that focuses on helping seniors avoid diabetes including a list of 10 superfoods seniors can say “yes” to.
Eating right and being active are not the only ways to stay healthy as we move into our senior years. Following doctor’s orders, getting an annual flu shot, caring for your senior loved one’s medical equipment, such as CPAP equipment or mobility equipment, will also ensure your senior relative is staying healthy and injury free. Caring for CPAP equipment and making sure the mask is fitting properly will also encourage better compliance with their therapy. Click here to sign up for our newsletter and receive timely information about Liberty Oxygen and Medical Equipment’s free CPAP clinics and to stay current on important information that affects your senior loved one.
Growing older naturally brings health challenges. Whatever your age, you should stay as healthy as possible. Healthy eating habits as well as having a strong core, good muscle tone and cardiovascular stamina are keys to staying fit and make great New Year’s resolutions. To help keep you successful, follow Liberty Oxygen and Medical Equipment on Pinterest where you’ll find boards pinned with healthy recipes, exercise tips and overall health information to help keep you and your senior loved one on track.
Stop in at any of the eight Minneapolis-St. Paul metro Liberty Oxygen and Medical Equipment locations and let the knowledgeable staff members assist you with your oxygen and medical equipment needs to keep a senior loved one safe, healthy and happy in 2016.
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