Smart Solutions for Active Senior Living

The phrase ‘life begins at 60’ has been attributed to Dr. Frieda Birnbaum, America’s oldest mum, who famously gave birth to twins via IVF when she was that age.

We are not suggesting that you become parents again, or even for the first time. But as the now prominent TV and radio personality, author, and award-winning speaker has pointed out several times since her babies were born; just because you are in your sixties and approaching retirement age, doesn’t mean that you need to slow down.

Indeed, with more time available to you and fewer responsibilities than you’ve had for decades, there has probably never been a better opportunity for you to live an active life.

Today, thanks to advances in technology, home modifications, and lifestyle support services, seniors are redefining what it means to live actively and independently well into their golden years.

In this post, we will explore some of the best smart solutions older Australians can embrace to stay independent, healthy, connected, and embrace the joie de vivre.

1. Eat Well

If you want to maintain good health and energy levels to live your best life, then it is essential to eat well.

Not only will doing this reduce your chances of succumbing to disease and illness, but it will also help you maintain a healthy weight, improve your brain function and enhance your physical appearance.

If you have the time, inclination, and ability to do so, it is well worth cooking nutritious and delicious meals for yourself every day that incorporate plenty of elements from the five food groups – namely, fruit, vegetables, proteins, dairy, and grain.

However, if you would rather not cook for yourself regularly, you should consider ordering meal delivery with MACROS. They offer fresh, portion-controlled, and dietitian-approved meals that cover many culinary genres and cater to various dietary needs.

The best thing about them is that they just need to be heated up before you eat them.

2. Be Active

In addition to eating well, it is vital for seniors to exercise regularly or at least be active because doing so will help them maintain muscle mass, improve their balance and coordination, and reduce the risk of falls.

It will also boost their mental health, help prevent age-related decline and enhance their overall quality of life.

Ideally, older Aussies should aim to do half an hour of moderate-intensity physical activity on a daily basis. Walking is one of the best activities, along with swimming and aqua aerobics. But you should also consider yoga, Tai Chi, golf, dancing, gardening, and even going to the gym.

If you lack transport or live in an area that does not have many recreational facilities, you should find several workout videos on YouTube you can watch to get your body moving.

3. Get Good Sleep

One of the best ways to live an active life as a senior is to get plenty of sleep because doing this will ensure your body has plenty of energy to do the things you want to do.

When you sleep, your body enters a process of repair and recuperation, which helps it to operate at optimal levels.

The less sleep you have, the less energy you have, and the more likely you are to be depressed and susceptible to illness. For this reason, it is important to try and get at least 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep every day.

If you struggle to sleep, there are several ways you can improve your chances of doing so. They include going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, listening to relaxing music, reading, and making your bedroom as conducive to sleep as possible.

4. Broaden Your Horizons

It is always good to broaden your horizons, and travelling to new destinations is a great way to do this.

Exploring the wider world, whether that be within your state, country or overseas, is a fantastic way to meet new people, see new places and adopt an even more positive outlook on life.

When you travel, you are automatically more active, and if you happen to be retired, you can go for as long as you want to!

In addition to broadening your horizons, travel is an excellent way to boost your happiness, spark creativity and reduce levels of stress.

5. Be More Social

We all like our own space every now and again. But it is also great to socialise and the more you can do it, the more active you will be.

Human contact is important because it makes us feel connected and valued, and it allows us to revel in the emotions of friendship and love. So, if you have a wide network of friends and family, try to catch up with them on a regular basis.

For those whose circles aren’t so big, try searching online or contacting your local council, men’s shed, church group or Country Women’s Association. Your suburb’s library should also be a good source of information on social activities you can do.