4 Crucial Health Tips for Seniors
As people age, they can become more prone to illness if they are not vigilant about maintaining health. It’s vital that senior citizens follow these four crucial health tips.
1. Get a Flu Shot and Pneumococcal Vaccine Every Year
If you or a loved one is 65 or older, flu can be more serious that just sneezing a lot and running a fever for a few days. Flu can be life-threatening at any age, but the risk of complications advances as people age, because their immune systems are weaker.
In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 71%-85% of people who die from flu annually are 65 years or age or older.
Senior citizens should get a flu shot every year in the autumn to protect against the chances of getting the flu. Your physician should also recommend a pneumococcal vaccine, which will protect against pneumonia, among other pneumococcal complications.
If you’re physician doesn’t recommend either one, ask. Be proactive about your health!
2. Get Preventive Screenings
If you’ve contracted a disease, you’ll have a better prognosis if it’s detected early. As a result, everyone should have preventive screenings, as recommended.
Women, for example, should get regular mammograms to screen for breast cancer.
Both men and women should receive regular colonoscopies after the age of 50, as colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths.
Other preventive screenings may be advisable for you, due to family history and other factors. Be sure to check with your physician.
3. Exercise and Stay Active
Many people exercise less as they get older. But exercise is key to maintaining good health as one ages. Without exercise, people lose flexibility and stamina. Loss of flexibility can cause the elderly to trip. Falls are a leading cause of injury and even death among people 65 and older.
While losing flexibility and becoming frailer is a normal part of the aging process, it can be minimized by a good exercise program. Everyone should exercise at least 150 minutes per week, in a combination of heart-healthy (aerobic) exercise and strength- and flexibility-building exercises.
4. Eat Healthily
Eating right can keep you in good health. It can ensure that you receive enough protein, vitamins and minerals for your body to fight off infection, keep your bone density healthy, and maintain peak health.
Eat fruits and vegetables at every meal. Be sure to get enough calcium via milk, cheese, yogurt and cottage cheese. Eat meat and other protein sources, such as legumes (beans).
Do You Know an Elderly Person Suffering from Neglect?
Keeping seniors healthy and safe is everyone’s responsibility. But unfortunately, too many seniors in the care of others can become victims of negligence and even abuse. If you or a loved one has been a victim of nursing home neglect in southern California, we can help.
Ellis Injury Law has been investigating and successfully litigating elder neglect cases in Los Angeles for more than 20 years. Let us help you if you or a loved one has been harmed in a nursing home or other care-taking environment.
Contact us today at 310-641-3335 for a complimentary consultation with a Los Angeles nursing home neglect attorney. We will advise you about your case at no cost to you.
More Information on Healthy Living Habits for Seniors:
- United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What You Should Know and Do this Flu Season If You Are 65 Years and Older. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/
- United States Department of Health and Human Services. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Health Tips for Older Adults. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/health-tips-older-adults