Lifestyle Habits | 5 Ways to Improve Your Health for the New Year

Are you looking to improve your lifestyle habits at the start of the new year?

The new year provides an excellent opportunity to rejuvenate your mind and body. It’s imperative for elderly people to take care of their health — and what better way to enforce good lifestyle habits than at the start of a new year?

Read on to discover 5 ways you or an elderly loved one can enjoy a happier and healthier 2023:

Lifestyle Habits | Go to Bed Earlier

Did you know that getting an early night and rising early can extend your lifespan?

Arguably one of the best lifestyle habits to implement, going to bed earlier has an array of health benefits. It can boost concentration and memory, reduce the risk of diseases and improve cardiovascular health.

Going to bed earlier not only has physical benefits; research showcases that it can also improve mental wellbeing by reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Supercharge your elderly loved one’s life by encouraging them to go to bed earlier!

Lifestyle Habits | Do a Crossword Puzzle Everyday

Doing a daily crossword puzzle may not sound effective, but it’s incredibly beneficial for older adults. 

There are a wealth of benefits to giving your brain a mental workout. Crosswords serve as excellent stress-relievers as they offer a valuable method of relaxation. 

Lifestyle Habits | Getting your ‘5 a day’

Does your elderly loved one manage to eat their recommended 5 a day?

Medical experts and nutritionists advise people of all ages to consume 5 portions of fruit and vegetables each day. So, if you’re looking to help an elder in your care with new lifestyle habits, why not encourage them to up their fruit and veg intake? 

Drink Plenty of Water

Staying hydrated is one of the best ways to improve health and wellbeing.

Age UK notes that as we age, our sensation of thirst can reduce. This can lead to dehydration, which may result in unsteadiness — increasing your elderly loved one’s risk of tripping or falling.

To combat dehydration and its associated effects, Age UK recommends 6-8 drinks per day (200ml each, which is a normal cup or glass size). 

If your elderly loved one isn’t a fan of the taste of plain water, you can always spruce it up with a slice of lemon or squash-flavoured ice cubes.

Spend Time Outdoors

This new year, why not help improve your elderly loved one’s health by immersing them in nature?

There are a plethora of health benefits to spending time outdoors and in local green spaces. Incorporating these lifestyle habits into your daily life can benefit both your mental and physical wellbeing. 

Whether it’s taking a stroll around the block, cycling through the forest or growing fruit and flowers in your garden — time spent outdoors is time well spent.

Positively helping older people, it can help them feel relaxed, reduce stress and loneliness and connect them with nature.

At CHD Living, we offer a range of activities to maintain our company ethos of ‘Creating Happiness Daily’. The health and wellbeing of those in our care is of the utmost importance.

To find out about our various care options, please contact a member of our team.