Hi lovelies,

Making sure that you are looking after your health is important at any stage of our lives, but it becomes particularly crucial as we age. After all, this can help to prevent a wide range of age-related health conditions, allowing you to age comfortably and gracefully.

With that in mind, here are some simple tips that you can use to look after yourself as you age - or to care for an aging parent or grandparent.

Attend regular health check-ups.

One of the easiest ways to care for your health as you age is to attend regular health check-ups and screenings. This is particularly important if you’re dealing with a pre-existing condition or at risk for conditions such as diabetes or heart disease.

This way, you can gain access to support and treatment when necessary without delay. Furthermore, your doctor or physician may also be able to provide you with further advice on health aging, whether they suggest lifestyle changes or exercise plans.

Visit a hearing specialist.

According to data gathered by the National Institute on Deafness, one in three people in the US aged between 64 and 75 report experiencing some degree of hearing loss. As this can take its toll on both your mental and physical health, it's crucial that you endevor to take good care of your auditory health.

Fortunately, there are many ways in which you can do this, such as by wearing hearing protection in noisy environments and visiting a hearing specialist when you’ve noticed any changes to your hearing. For example, if you’re finding it harder to follow conversations and socialize, it could be that you need a hearing aid. If you’ve never visited an audiologist before and are unsure of how the process works, check out these hearing specialist appointment tips.

Fall in love with staying active.

Staying active can help ensure that you remain both independent and healthy as you age while also providing you with a healthy outlet for your emotions. In short, it can bring forth a lot of physical changes for a healthier mind.

However, when it comes to exercising or working out, consistency is key. You need to deviate a portion of your weekly schedule to stay fit. Otherwise, you’ll never see the full benefits. As such, it's crucial that you find an activity you genuinely enjoy so that you’re able to fall in love with staying active instead of viewing it as a chore.

Quit smoking.

Whether you’ve been smoking for decades or just a few months, being able to leave this habit behind will work wonders for your health as you age. For example, studies have shown that when you quit smoking:

Your breathing will improve within the first month
Your lung function will increase by 10% between 3-9 months after quitting
Your chance of a heart attack will drop by half after the first year

However, while the benefits of quitting smoking are clear, that does not necessarily make the process any easier. As such, you should try out different methodologies in order to find one that works for you, whether you’re using nicotine patches or seeking therapeutic help.

Stay connected to others.

Our ability to connect with others often has a direct impact on our mental health and well-being, which is why it's important that you focus on maintaining your relationships as you age. After all, many adults report feelings of isolation and loneliness in their senior years.

Thankfully, there are many ways in which you can ensure that you’re maintaining a social life. For example, you should try to meet your friends and family regularly or pick up the phone for a quick call when meeting in person is not necessary. Alternatively, you may want to pick up on ‘social’ hobbies.

Follow a healthy diet.

Following a healthy diet is also important as we get older and can once again help prevent illness. Of course, this does not mean that you have to start following a diet that is overly restrictive, but rather one that nourishes your body and mind. For example, you should try to avoid overly processed foods or foods that are high in sugar or saturated fats. You could also use this as an opportunity to put your culinary skills to the test by preparing more food at home instead of dining out or ordering takeout. This way, you can ensure your food is always fresh and healthy - aside from the odd treat here and there.