Trends Make Healthy Aging Within Reach for More Older Adults

Smart aging is all the rage as lifespan expectations increase and more seniors become proactive about what it takes to live well long into their mature years. Technologies, wellness practices, concierge services, and residential communities are available to support healthy aging.

The old face of growing old, i.e., nursing home isolation, is fast giving way to a new face of aging-in-place living. This new aging style finds older adults taking charge of their golden years through a healthy diet, exercise, mindfulness routines, and nurturing personal and social activities. It is all about living one’s best life at each stage rather than giving in to the notion that everything is downhill after reaching a certain age.

In this more progressive aging model, older adults work collaboratively, or at least should, with their health care providers to focus on personalized, preventive care designed to maximize independence and quality of life. Even if older adults have chronic conditions and perhaps even need help from family or professional in-home care, they can still live life on their own terms by following healthy regimens.

For most Americans, access to individualized health care is getting better in reaction to the impersonal, generic, corporate health care that became the norm from the 1970s to the 1990s. Public pressure combined with emerging tech is making health systems, practices, and products more responsive to individual health interests and needs.

High Tech for High-Touch Health Monitoring

Remote health monitoring is now within reach of many people through wearable devices and home health monitoring systems that can help seniors track their heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose levels. Smartwatches and smart patches can detect early signs of illness. Tech can also help seniors seamlessly connect with their health care team to be one click, swipe, or voice command away from remote or in-person medical or nonmedical services. Staying on top of health markers in real time can promote wellness, get ahead of potential problems, and cut unnecessary trips to the doctor’s office or ER.

Artificial intelligence virtual assistants can help keep older adults on schedule with medications and appointments through cloud-based services like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. As the aging market grows, senior-focused apps will become more plentiful and be specifically designed to help seniors achieve healthy aging.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth and telemedicine consultations have gone from a special-use case to standard practice in many instances. Telehealth offers the convenience of getting answers from doctors, therapists, and specialists on the patient’s timeline without having to leave home. This benefits older adults with mobility or transportation issues, or those living in remote areas far from medical facilities.

Seniors Are Staying Connected Through Technology

Technology helps many seniors connect with family and friends, whether through smartphones, tablets, FaceTime, or Zoom. Connecting with others is important because study after study indicates that the more interpersonally and socially engaged seniors are, the better their overall wellness and health outcomes. Ideally, some of that engagement happens in person, but if a senior has access to a digital communication device of some kind, it can be a way to keep up old connections and make new ones remotely. The point is, there are more ways than ever for seniors to stay connected and avoid isolation. All it takes is a little imagination and intentionality to age well at home.

Wellness Conveniences Aplenty

When it comes to maintaining physical and mental health, plenty of tech assistant apps can guide one in exercise and mindfulness routines. Indeed, many practices that promote good health are ancient, including meditation. Tai chi, yoga, and other low-impact rituals can be easily adapted to sitting in a chair if necessary. Fitness programs in person and online can guide and motivate seniors along the way.

Nutrition Trends in Older Adults

Nutrition can be a difference maker for healthy aging. Eating healthily can be pricey, but older adults should start by buying or making foods rich in antioxidants, probiotics, and omega-3 fatty acids. Prepared meals made with senior dietary needs in mind are readily available in certain markets through supermarkets, health food stores, and home delivery services. Growing a garden, maintaining a plot in a community garden, or participating in a community-supported agriculture program can guarantee access to fresh, healthy food at least part of the year. Also, eating out doesn’t need to mean breaking one’s diet anymore, as many fine-dining and even more mainstream restaurants now offer heart-healthy options.

Intergenerational Living

Where older adults live can determine their access to many things, including intergenerational engagement, which studies show can be an enriching psychosocial boost in any older person’s life. There are growing numbers of planned communities that encourage healthy lifestyles and intergenerational connections to support healthy aging.

Older adults are encouraged to look for community programs and activities that promote mixed-age engagement. Arts and civic organization memberships provide ready access to events that attract audiences of different ages. If mobility or transportation is an issue, older adults could consider joining online platforms with chat rooms, forums, and social networking designed with seniors in mind or that promote diverse follower engagement.

Lifestyle and Activity Support for Healthy Aging

Not every activity and hobby may fit one’s health profile, personal lifestyle, or financial budget, but enough age-wise options exist that there’s something for everyone to try.

• Educational opportunities for seniors. Lifelong learning classes are popular among seniors. There’s often a choice of virtual or in-person sessions. These courses, sometimes for credit and sometimes not, can help stimulate the mind and give older adults a sense of purpose and accomplishment.
• Traveling as an older adult. Travel groups and vacation packages for older adults are another popular activity for staying active, socializing, and revisiting or adding bucket-list destinations to one’s life itinerary.
• Volunteering as a senior. Volunteering at a school, hospital, or community center, for example, can provide an avenue for seniors to interact and forge relationships with younger generations. Participating in a mentoring program is another way to positively relate to and impact a young person.

Embracing healthy aging through a healthful and active lifestyle in later years is more achievable than ever, thanks to the wide array of nutritional, social, and recreational opportunities available. Whether cultivating wholesome eating habits, fostering intergenerational connections, or exploring enriching activities like lifelong learning, traveling, and volunteering, seniors can craft a fulfilling and vibrant chapter of life. The key lies in remaining engaged, open to new experiences, and proactive in seeking resources that support successful aging.

How Right at Home Can Help

For 30 years, Right at Home has been offering a wide range of in-home care services to help older adults age successfully and healthily at home, wherever that may be. Our trained and thoroughly screened caregivers truly live our mission of improving the quality of life for those we serve. To find out more about how we can help you or an older loved one age safely at home, use our office locator to contact the location nearest you and ask for a free in-home consultation.

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