Healthy lifestyle tips for older people. How to meet old age healthy. Take care of your health

From this article you will learn:

What are the characteristics of older people?

What are the health indicators for older people?

What can affect the mental health of older people

What is the social and physiological health of older people?

Is it possible to restore the health of older people?

As people age, they increasingly realize that the most important thing in life is health. When illnesses creep closer and closer, people begin to think about health more and more often. How to feel the best way despite your advanced years? How to stabilize your psychological state and not lose heart? Follow a certain algorithm and you will feel much better.

Features of the health of older people

Exists many criteria that affect the health of older people. Firstly, hereditary predisposition to certain diseases or, on the contrary, their immunity. Secondly, a person is significantly influenced by the Lifestyle, which he led during his life, in what conditions he lived.

The reserves of the human body are much greater than the average mortality threshold. And at the same time, a reasonable attitude towards old age, psychological comfort and careful care for the elderly truly work wonders, reviving them to life.

Due to the slowdown in recovery and metabolism processes in old age, the following occurs:

the gastrointestinal tract, musculoskeletal system, the cardiovascular system, organs of vision, hearing, etc.;

immune status drops sharply;

the person becomes forgetful, thought processes slow down, relatives note changes in character.

If an elderly person falls ill, you need to be extremely careful, because there is a high probability of rapid complications. And this will entail a long recovery period.

What are the health indicators for older people?

From a socio-psychological point of view, there are 5 types of human adaptation:

Structural installation. The most favorable adaptation option for an elderly person is when he calmly perceives his situation and is friendly towards his neighbors. He understands his position as a given, as a certain stage of his life, summing up, death does not scare him, and the person maintains enthusiasm and an optimistic attitude. Feels a sense of trust in loved ones.

Installing dependency. Such people are comfortable only in the usual family circle, they take a passive side, are dependent on others, do not finish what they start, and cause self-pity.

Protective installation. Excessive external activity is a characteristic feature of people of this type. It serves as a kind of protection for them against internal doubts and fears, including the fear of death. Such people know their worth and are completely immersed in professional activity.

Installation of hostility. Older people of this type are characterized by increased grouchiness. It is very difficult to please them; such old people are constantly dissatisfied with something. They have a short temper, with a hint of rage and anger. They perceive the world in a “black light” and are negative towards themselves and their weaknesses. Envy of their lost youth haunts them at every step, they are afraid of death.

An attitude of hostility, but directed towards oneself. This category easily falls into deep depression, and the reason may simply be a lack of sympathy from loved ones. They do not resist their old age and face the trials of fate inactively, arousing pity for themselves. With death, in their opinion, relief will come, and suffering will remain in the past.

Only the life position of the person himself can influence the general condition of the body and its worldview.

What can affect the mental health of older people

Mental health in older people depends on:

social status;

psychological state;

biological features.

The psyche of elderly people is significantly influenced by their limited ability to move freely, constant pain, and dependence on outsiders caring for them.

Additional blows include the death of loved ones and a sharp change in socio-economic status during the transition to retirement or disability. All this is accompanied by a feeling of loneliness, a feeling of dependence on the immediate environment, isolation from the outside world.

Mental and physical health closely interconnected and influence each other. Elderly people suffering from somatic diseases are more susceptible to depression. At the same time, if you do not remove a person from this state, the disease will begin to progress sharply.

Inappropriate addresses to the older generation of people are quite common today. And this seriously undermines their psychosomatic state. It can even lead to consequences such as depression and dementia.

Therefore, try to pay attention to your elderly as often as possible. Your caring attitude can instill in them a spirit of confidence in the future as well as a positive outlook for the future.

Dementia- a syndrome accompanied by a sharp depression of the central nervous system. Mental functions weaken, memory decreases, a person’s behavior changes, he is no longer able to fulfill his daily needs. Basically, this pathology occurs in older people.

According to statistical studies around the world 47.5 million people suffer from dementia. In the near future, according to experts, total number people with dementia will rise to 75.6 million by 2030 and 135.5 million by 2050. Geographically, residents in low- and middle-income countries are more susceptible to dementia.

Within state support people with this pathology need to be remembered and those who care for older people with dementia. Since this is serious work that requires a special approach, emotional endurance and resistance to stressful situations.

Economic problems arise from financial investments in providing medical care, social and factual.

Depression is a severe manifestation of psychological disorders in older people. Unipolar depression affects 7% of all elderly people, of which 5.7% of total disability among people over 60 years of age. Unfortunately, depression is not always diagnosed on time, and currently it receives insufficient attention from medicine due to the fact that it is usually accompanied by other pathological conditions of the body.

What affects the social health of older people

With age the elderly person’s social circle is significantly narrowed, and his social activity drops sharply. This happens due to:

Firstly, older people, finishing their professional activities, sharply narrow their circle of contacts. Only a small proportion of older people maintain contact with their work colleagues. And these are those self-sufficient people who know their worth and want to maintain as much independence in life as possible.

Secondly, over time, friends, colleagues and associates of older people pass away. There is also a process of old people moving in with relatives, and communication at the proper level is no longer possible. Elderly people increasingly isolated from society as a whole. Elderly people begin to urgently need to communicate with their relatives. The most interesting thing is that many older people do not want to remember old age, and therefore avoid contact with peers. Especially with those who like to complain about their illnesses and infirmities. This category of old people chooses a circle of the younger generation for communication. Along the way, they often discover a disrespectful attitude towards the elderly, their uselessness and lack of demand by society.

Happening emotional shifts in elderly people amid isolation from society. They are often haunted by a decline in vitality, a negative attitude, and uncertainty about the future. Elderly people are haunted by the thought of death, and the passing of their friends and acquaintances only once again serves as a vivid reminder of this. It is not possible to make up for the loss of a relationship with this person. In Asian cultures, such as China or Japan, older people hold the title of patriarchs, elders, and thanks to this they participate longer in society.

Third, old man gives away preference for solitude, but not active communication. Since he is tired of stupid conversations, they seem empty to him, he independently protects himself from such conversations. Therefore, the circle of communication of an elderly person becomes very narrow. It can only include the closest relatives, acquaintances and a few friends.

Fourth, old age cannot but worry the elderly. The social circle of older people is influenced by many factors. Typically people over 60 years of age start complaining about their health and age, while still looking quite strong. One of key points are marital relations. After all, the death of the closest and loved one inexorably leaves deep wounds in the psyche of an elderly person. And it often happens that this person gives up leading household. He becomes dependent on his family and friends, his character and emotional background changes.

What is the physical health of older people?

The aging process occurs throughout life. Each person is in the hands of his own health. From how much healthy image The life a person led in his youth depends on the physical condition of his body in old age. All bad habits, such as smoking, drinking alcohol, poor and unbalanced nutrition, physical inactivity, lead to premature aging of the body, and in extreme cases, to death.

A person develops many chronic diseases against such a detrimental background. Diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic upper respiratory diseases and mental health conditions account for approximately 77% of all conditions and 86% of deaths in the European Region. The situation in socially disadvantaged sections of society is aggravated.

We must remember that It's never too late to think about a healthy lifestyle and eliminate the most bad habits. This will significantly reduce the possibility of premature death (up to 50%) and improve the overall quality of life. According to research, older people who regularly engage in feasible activities physical exercise, suffer much less from somatic diseases. Such pathological conditions most often lead to early mortality: coronary heart disease, hypertension, stroke, type 2 diabetes, colon cancer, breast cancer.

People who take an active life position and pay attention to their physical body, have an optimal level of cardiorespiratory and muscular conditions, correct weight and body structure. And the structure of biomarkers becomes favorable for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and strengthening of bone tissue.

Generally, a healthy lifestyle can eliminate or, at least, delay the development of type 2 diabetes.

Health problems faced by older people every second person

Balance disorders

Most older people have movement coordination disorders and problems associated with dizziness ( vertigo). At the first symptoms of these pathological conditions, you should immediately seek help from professionals. Injuries due to a fall can be a complication of incoordination. According to statistics, every year more than a third of older people over the age of 65 lose their balance and fall.

Memory problems

Reasons of this state In older people, there may be a lack of water in the body, poor nutrition, sleep problems, as well as other diseases, for example, Alzheimer's disease. However, such a process in an elderly body is not a normal option. Therefore, it is important to seek medical help in time.

Malnutrition

Necessarily into the diet elderly person should include the optimal amount of fiber contained in raw vegetables, fruits, and grains. This helps prevent congestion in the intestines, improving peristalsis. Also, an elderly person should drink enough fluid, since salivation decreases with age. To maintain normal life functions, an elderly person must follow the principles of proper, nutritious and balanced nutrition.

Lack of exercise

Exercise is essential elderly people. They are a means of preventing many age-related health problems. Physical education also has a beneficial effect on a person’s psychology; he or she develops a life-affirming outlook on the world and a cheerful state of mind, has a positive effect on brain function, and increases the body’s endurance.

Sleep problems

In older people sleep patterns are disrupted for several reasons. There may be frequent urination at night, which interrupts a person's sleep.

This phenomenon greatly undermines proper sleep. Due to this experts recommend the following:

sleep in a well-ventilated, dark, quiet environment;

adhere to a certain sleep and wakefulness schedule; if you are tired, you should rest a little, listen to yourself;

do not watch television programs at least an hour before bedtime;

If an elderly person is overexcited, you should calm him down, help him take a bath, or play a soothing melody.

All this contributes to the absent-mindedness of an elderly person, which can be aggravated by decreased vision. That's why Get checked regularly by an ophthalmologist. This especially needs to be done if symptoms such as blurring of nearby objects appear. Visit your eye doctor at least once every six months. In order not to complicate the life of your elderly, it is advisable not to rearrange the furniture in the room where the elderly person spends most of his time. Also make sure it is well lit. In this case, the elderly person will easily move around in a familiar environment.

Hearing impairment

Elderly people have a hard time suffering from diseases of the hearing aid. They become hot-tempered and irritable because they feel helpless. Great help The hearing aid helps in this matter. Buy it for your elderly relative and do not forget to check it in good condition in a timely manner. When communicating with such a person, always speak clearly, slowly and in low tones. Give the elderly person the opportunity to visually observe your face, as they often read information from the lips and facial expressions of the speaker.

Loss of smell

To replenish your olfactory functions, use enough spices while cooking. For safety purposes, install smoke detectors and a stove with an interlock system in your home. This will shut off the gas supply to the burner. After all, an elderly person with a weak sense of smell may not smell gas.

Changes in tactile sensations and loss of fine motor skills

Nice hugs are able to give an elderly person a feeling of need, love and your care for him. To make him feel more confident, buy dishes with comfortable handles. After all, in old age it is more difficult to do some delicate work, and they can injure themselves inadvertently.

Health promotion for older people. Recipes for longevity

For the full functioning of an elderly person, there are a number of health promotion measures. This includes morning cold and hot shower , And daily walks outside, preferably in park areas, and regular exercise.

Always remember that your body requires a complete, balanced and varied diet. If necessary, you can include dietary supplements based on herbs in your diet.

Here are some examples of natural healing recipes:

Infusion of rye stalks and chickweed herb will give your body a charge of vivacity and give strength. Pour two tablespoons of herbal mixture into one liter of boiling water. Infuse the herbs for forty minutes and then strain. It is enough to drink half a liter of this infusion per day to obtain the desired effect.

Decoction of sunflower roots. Take one glass of roots, having previously crushed them, and fill it with three liters of water. Bring the resulting mixture to a boil, and then strain. This decoction is drunk for two days. The used roots can be reused to prepare this decoction by boiling for 5 minutes. The third and last time you need to boil for 15 minutes.

You should drink this decoction for no more than two months, and the break is six months. For better results from consuming the decoction, it is recommended to avoid spicy, sour and fatty foods.

Bran play a very important role in the diet of an elderly person. It is enough to take one tablespoon of bran and pour it with water (500 ml). Boil for 35 minutes, stirring the mixture regularly. Add a few tablespoons of honey to the prepared product. Use ready-made bran four times a day, 50 grams.

Oat drink- a wonderful remedy with general strengthening properties. Rinse the oats in cool water and add five glasses of water. Next, you need to put the mixture on low heat and boil until half the original volume of liquid has evaporated. Strain the oat broth. You can add a little milk and boil again.

Sea kale- Very useful product, rich in trace elements, minerals and iodine. In addition to its qualities that have a beneficial effect on the general condition of the body, seaweed has excellent cleansing properties. It will help get rid of waste and toxins in your body. Some time after consumption, you can already feel a surge of vitality, positive emotions and energy in your body. It is served to the table both dry and canned.

Horsetail is also a powerful detoxifier. It is consumed mainly as a tea drink. Brew according to traditional way, as a simple tea, after cutting and drying horsetail. Add honey to the finished drink to taste and enjoy the tea ceremony.

Birch buds Since ancient times, young leaves and sap of this tree have been used as a strong cleansing agent for the body, which removes toxins from the body and has a general strengthening property.

Tincture based on May nettle(300 g of raw material per 0.5 liter of vodka) tones all body systems. First, keep the tincture for one day on the window, then for eight days in a dark place. The dishes must be sealed. Next, the tincture is filtered and squeezed. Take it as a medicine, one teaspoon in the morning or at night.

mistletoe normalizes metabolic processes in the body. Preparation: pour one tablespoon of dry mistletoe with boiling water (0.5 liters) and leave in a water bath for twenty minutes.

Hawthorn fruit decoction(0.5 kg) and chokeberry(0.3 kg) is able to strengthen the myocardium. To prepare the decoction, the fruits are ground, and a small amount of water must be added to the resulting mass. Place on low heat and heat to 40° C. Next, squeeze out the juice from the mixture, in which one tablespoon of golden mustache is stirred. It is recommended to use one tablespoon three times a day for medicinal purposes.

Keep your mind young

Therefore, while learning something new, reading educational literature, receiving up-to-date information, painting wonderful pictures, thinking about interesting topics, You not only improve your intellectual abilities, but also keep your body strong and healthy.

Think positively

Conscious behavior and thoughts can work wonders. Do not focus your attention on negative phenomena in your life, but on the contrary, think positively. This way you attract more happy moments into your life. A positive attitude in life will help you cope with the ailments of old age and feel in harmony with the world around you.

Contact your doctor promptly

At the first signs of diseases characteristic of old age, immediately contact a medical facility. And they will help you cope with the disease in the early stages of development.

Control your illnesses

If you keep the entire process of treatment under control, success will certainly come from them. The main thing is, do not make your own adjustments, do not cancel what you think are unnecessary medications. Take them exactly on schedule. Always keep your blood pressure levels under control. The outcome of the disease depends only on your trust in the doctor, the prescribed course of treatment and constant monitoring on your part.

Keep a daily routine

In a dream, a person restores his physical and mental strength. Therefore, the rest regime should not be violated under any circumstances.

Take your vitamins

Currently, the market has a wide range of dietary supplements based on herbs, as well as vitamin complexes created specifically for older people, which allow them to replenish missing microelements and vitamins.

As people age, they agree that for happy life an important condition will good health. How to preserve it until old age? It has been proven that the state of health depends on the lifestyle a person leads. There are rules that, if followed, will help you feel good and keep your body vigorous for many years. After all elderly age should not prevent people from being happy and enjoying life.

1. Scientists have proven that if people do not lose interest in mental activity, then old age is postponed for some time. Reading, creativity, crossword puzzles, chess and checkers are useful. You should be interested in something new, keep abreast of world events, develop and learn what has not yet been explored, and not sit on the couch.

2. Negative thinking can worsen your health. You should not look for all sorts of signs of disease in your body and fear the arrival of old age. After all, the materiality of thought has been proven. If you convince yourself of something for a long time, it can actually happen.

Look at your age positive side. After all, free time has appeared and it needs to be devoted to some interesting things. You can enthusiastically grow vegetables and flowers in your garden plot. Or you can go on a trip to places that have long attracted you. Pay attention to your grandchildren. Or do some handicrafts.

3. Move more. You can simply “run away” from most diseases of the century. You can increase your daily activity by walking, regular walking and recreational physical exercise. And cycling and swimming will strengthen the muscles of the whole body and will help maintain its slimness.

4. Communication with relatives and friends will preserve mental health. And going to various exhibitions and concerts will help lift your spirits and connect with culture.

5. Refusal bad habits will prevent the occurrence of many dangerous diseases that occur in older people.

6. Contact doctors in a timely manner. If any unfamiliar symptoms begin to bother you, you should immediately visit a specialist. All diseases are effectively treated in the early stages. Keep your illnesses under control, don't start them.

If the doctor has prescribed treatment or procedures, you should strictly follow his recommendations and follow the medication regimen. Do not resort to self-medication and advice from friends. Only a specialist can know all the intricacies of the course of the disease.

Prescribed medications should not be canceled, even if there is a visible improvement in health. The disease may strike again, but at a worse stage. Check your blood pressure regularly. If you take care of your health, you can minimize the risks.

7. Eat right. In old age, all processes occurring in the body slow down. This also applies to digestion. If you constantly overeat, you can clog your intestines with toxins. The immune system will weaken, dark circles will appear under the eyes, the complexion will deteriorate and wrinkles will be more noticeable.

In addition to all this, your health will also suffer. IN daily menu There must be cereals and vegetables containing fiber. They allow you to maintain normal digestion and cleanse your intestines in a timely manner. Choose healthy foods that are free of dyes and preservatives. Simple food is much healthier.

It must be remembered that metabolism in old age is no longer so active, so it is worth reducing the calorie content of the daily diet. This will help avoid obesity. The daily norm is 2300 kcal for men and up to 2100 kcal for women. It won't hurt to take a course of vitamins several times a year.

8. The daily routine is also important. In old age, proper sleep is also necessary, lasting at least 7-8 hours. The body needs this time to rest well and fully recuperate. If you are worried about insomnia, taking sedatives and walking before bed will help.

It is not difficult to follow these tips, because even at an advanced age you can enjoy every new day.

A survey was recently conducted among people over 60 years of age on the topic: “What advice would you give to today’s young people?” It seemed like a completely simple question, but some of the answers were quite unexpected.

1. People always say: “ Good job one that you enjoy every day.” This is an FALSE STATEMENT. A good job is one that you can tolerate most workdays and still pays all your expenses. Almost no one has a job that they can adore every second of.

2. Years pass in the blink of an eye. Don't marry young. Live life to the fullest. TRAVEL. Take action. It doesn't matter whether you have money or not. Pack your bag and go where you can afford. Until you have children, don't spend money on things. For any things. See the world. Point to a point on the map. And go ahead!

3. Don't take things too seriously. Even if at some moments life seems hopeless and hopeless, try to laugh at all this ass and at how you got into this.

4. A friend is someone who will come to the rescue, even if you call him at two in the morning. The rest are just acquaintances.

5. The most important person in your life is a person who agrees to share his life with you. Think of it this way.

6. You won't notice how your children grow up. So spend as much time with them as possible.

7. No one has ever died with the regret of not working enough in their life. Be hardworking, but don't put work before family, friends and, ultimately, yourself!

8. You can live a long life, or maybe a short one - no one knows. But be that as it may, you need to take care of your health when you are young.

9. If you are tired of your life, just stop, think about the present moment, enjoy everything that is beautiful and truly important. Take a deep breath, relax. And understand that everything is relative.

10. Eat and exercise like you're a diabetic with a heart condition - you'll never become one.

11. We only have one life. Don't wake up one day and realize that you're already 60 and haven't achieved anything you've dreamed of your whole life.

12. This may not be as deep advice as others, but still: brush your teeth regularly, dental problems are terrible.

13. Do not follow all advice as biblical commandments. You can ask someone you respect for advice, then re-evaluate your situation and make your OWN decision.

14. Things are just things. Don't hold on to material objects, hold on to time and events.

15. The damage you received today will make itself felt in old age. Even if you think you have completely healed them. BELIEVE IT!

16. Appreciate every moment and every little thing. When you're young, you always want everything at once. But why not appreciate every little moment? We are not on this planet forever, and the greatest pleasure we can afford is to enjoy every moment. Instead of typing messages, pick up the phone and talk to someone in person. Visit your mom, for absolutely no reason, just like that. Soak up every moment.

17. Pay all your bills and stay out of debt.

18. Jealousy destroys relationships. Trust your soulmate. If not her, then who can you trust?

19. If you have an impossible dream, you should still at least try to get closer to achieving it. Because with age it will become even more impossible.

20. When you meet someone for the first time, realize that you KNOW NOTHING about that person. You see his nationality, gender, age, clothes. Forget all this. You don't know anything. Those stereotypes that are shoved into your head because our brain loves to categorize everything limit your life.

Aging is a long process that begins with a gradual decline in the functional capabilities of the human body. There are three stages of this period: old age - 60-74 years, senile age - 75-89 years and longevity - 90 years and older.

With age, there is a loss of psychological flexibility and ability to adapt; interest in the new, unknown is replaced by a desire for stability and reliability. Awareness of the inevitability of aging, associated with loss of social status, physical limitations and mental changes, leads older people to a narrowing of their social circle, a feeling of inferiority and uselessness, and sometimes to severe depressive states.

Psychological portrait of an elderly person:

Research and everyday practice show that there are some characteristic features of the lifestyle and behavior of an elderly person:

self-isolation from the social environment as a result of loss of social fullness of life, limitation of the quantity and quality of connections with society;
loneliness– it is in old age that the loss of friends and relatives occurs, old friends pass away, children begin to live their own lives, often separately from their elderly parents. An elderly person is deprived of the opportunity to communicate, receive all possible assistance, and constantly move and act;
decreased interest in life arises as a result of a lack of social contacts, indifference to oneself and the world around them;
psychological protection, which fetters the mind, feelings, and vital functions, normally allows a person to find temporary peace of mind, but in old age it can cause harm, as it leads to a desire to avoid new information, other life circumstances that differ from established stereotypes;
caution, thrift, thriftiness- as a result of a peculiar sense of time. An elderly person always lives in the present, his past, memories, as well as the future are always with him, in the present. Certain actions are planned in advance, the elderly person prepares for them mentally;
inability to perceive new things due to the fact that older people are trying to create something like a lost paradise from their youth, worrying and regretting it; concentrating on the past, they do not notice the present, thereby losing the future, ceasing to develop as a person;
touchiness, irritability, capriciousness, grumpiness, greed etc. – those negative traits character that was masked in youth manifests itself clearly in old age;
anxiety and suspiciousness arise due to lack of confidence in one’s abilities;
negative emotions And depressive states arise as a result of excessive immersion in illness.

However, you should not build a psychological portrait of an elderly person only due to negative characteristics psychological characteristics elderly. Research by domestic and foreign scientists indicates a variety of manifestations of an old person’s positive attitude towards life and society.

The following successful socio-psychological ones can be identified: types of old age(I.S. Kon):

First type- active creative old age, when older people, retiring for a well-deserved retirement, continue to participate in public life, in educating young people, in providing all possible assistance to those in need - living a full life, without experiencing any handicap.

Second type– is characterized by the fact that the elderly begin to engage in activities for which they previously did not have time: self-education, rest, entertainment, etc., this type of elderly is characterized by good social and psychological adaptability, flexibility, adaptation, but their energy is directed only at themselves.

Third type- occurs predominantly among women. They find the main application of their strength in the family; they have no time to mope or be bored. However, as psychologists note, life satisfaction in this group of people is lower than in the first two groups.

Fourth type typical for people whose meaning in life is taking care of their health. Various forms of activity and moral satisfaction are associated with this. However, at the same time, there is a tendency to exaggerate one’s real and imaginary illnesses and increased anxiety.

Main factors contributing to aging:

lack of a clear rhythm of life;
narrowing the scope of communication;
withdrawal from active labor activity;
"empty nest" syndrome;
a person withdrawing into himself;
feeling of loneliness;
a feeling of discomfort from a confined space and many other life events and situations.

Many of these factors can be prevented or overcome relatively painlessly by changing your attitude towards the aging process in general.

Quality of life for the elderly should contribute to a person’s desire and ability to lead an active lifestyle and longevity. It is formed both with the participation of the state and the person himself:

worthy pension provision;
housing conditions must meet the requirements and living conditions of an elderly person, depending on the degree of loss of self-care ability;
accessibility of the environment (public, transport infrastructure, healthcare facilities and social protection and etc.);
availability of information;
protecting the rights of older consumers;
availability additional education;
accessible and high-quality medical and social services;
healthy lifestyle ( balanced diet, physical and mental activity, psychological and emotional stability).

Criteria for the quality of life of the elderly:

satisfaction of needs
physical well-being
mental wellbeing
social well-being
life satisfaction

Feeling of well-being or the feeling that “I’m doing well” related to issues such as:

housing
activity
health
family relationships
meaning of life

Factors shaping the quality of life of the elderly:

feeling “that everything is fine with me”
meaning of life
sense of value

The quality of life of older people largely depends on the ability of others to communicate with them, on knowledge of the features of care, as well as on the ability to provide an elderly person with psychological support and help organize leisure, labor, rational nutrition and equip the home in accordance with the needs of an elderly person.

Those who provide care to older people must remember that each person's life path is unique and that their past activities are worthy of respect. Now helpless and weak - this man in his youth and maturity loved and was loved, studied and worked, raised children. A person’s awareness of his value to his family, relatives and society will prolong his active life and brighten up his old age.

One cannot help but recall the words of the outstanding scientist Dmitry Likhachev: “old people live longer where they are respected, where they feel better, where, as it seems to them, they are more useful with their advice.”

With age, many people begin to either be careless about their health, or, conversely, pay excessive attention to it. If your elderly parents are among them, then we offer you simple tips, how to help them lead a healthy lifestyle and observe moderation in taking medications.

Neglecting your health

Why do many older people begin to neglect their health, deny illnesses and avoid doctors? There may be several reasons:

reluctance to acknowledge your age and the limitations it imposes;
the habit of not paying attention to the signals of your body;
subconscious fear of finding out your diagnosis and facing the need to go to the hospital;
mistrust of doctors;
the desire to consider oneself young and healthy for as long as possible;
subconscious desire for illness (for example, it is “convenient” to have high pressure, if it can be used to manipulate household members).

If your elderly relatives, for one reason or another, avoid the clinic, sit in front of the TV all day and eat unhealthy food, you need to take urgent action. Explain to your mom or dad why it is so important to you that she or he feels good and remains healthy and vigorous for many years to come. Find a doctor or clinic that the older person can trust. Convince him that old age is not a death sentence, and that a balanced diet, physical activity and supervision by a competent doctor will allow him to remain active for many years.

Where does the love for drugs come from?

Many retirees take the exact opposite approach. They line up to see doctors early in the morning, take handfuls of pills and never miss the opportunity to complain about a bunch of illnesses. And there are reasons for this behavior too:

the desire to attract attention to oneself, to arouse pity;
boredom and lack of communication (conversations in line and dialogues with the doctor become an outlet);
fear of the future and the desire to undergo treatment “with reserve.”

In medicine, there is even a name for this behavior - hypochondria, that is, suspiciousness, searching for non-existent diagnoses, heightened perception of ordinary symptoms.

If your parents sometimes act like hypochondriacs, find out the reason and take action. If the culprit is boredom and a narrow social circle, find interest groups for them, involve them in household chores and raising grandchildren, send them on vacation more often, or even invite them to get a pet. Spend more time with them, have heart-to-heart conversations, even if you don’t really want to listen to a retelling of the next melodrama or advice on caring for violets. Take your parents with you to nature, to the cinema, to the theater - let them feel in the thick of life for as long as possible. And then the desire to entertain yourself by going to the doctor and taking medications will naturally disappear.

Motivation for a healthy lifestyle

Well-being at any age depends on three factors:

objective health status (presence of chronic diseases, characteristics);
nutrition;
presence of bad habits (smoking, drinking alcohol);
physical activity.

Unfortunately, not all older people have acquired healthy habits in at a young age and therefore, by inertia, they continue to lead an unhealthy lifestyle. However, it is never too late to change your regime and menu, give up cigarettes and glasses, if there is sufficient motivation for this.

Unfortunately, for older people such motivation is not always found. “I don’t have enough left”, “It’s too late to change something” - this is what you can hear in response to a proposal to start a healthy lifestyle.

However, age is just a number, and this is confirmed by hundreds of elderly athletes, scientists, businessmen, volunteers, teachers who change our world for the better every day. Many people only in retirement find their dream job, meet a life partner, find harmony and the meaning of existence. But even if your mom and dad aren't planning great things in retirement, you can still convince them that staying healthy and active is important. Healthy pensioner:

can help his children and grandchildren;
can continue to work while maintaining income and making savings;
will not become a burden for loved ones, because neglect of health sooner or later leads to illness;
will remain active longer, will be able to do everything that interests him;
will extend years of life.

So, the first thing you need to do is make sure that your elderly relative really understands the need to take care of their health and takes an active position in this matter. Otherwise, the sports equipment you bought will remain gathering dust in the corner, and your fitness subscription will lie unopened.

Old habits and ways to break them

When both you and your parents are ready to commit, you can begin making gradual lifestyle changes. First, find out what needs to be changed, and our simple tips will help you with this.

Assess your level of physical activity. Do your mom and dad exercise? How many steps do they walk a day? Do they attend physical education classes for pensioners, which are probably available at the nearest physical dispensary? Do they have exercise equipment at home: a treadmill, an exercise bike? A fitness bracelet will help you evaluate and further track your results. Buy this inexpensive gadget and sync it with your smartphone. This way you can find out how many steps your mom and dad have walked every day.
Rate the menu. Many older people are accustomed to saving on everything and do not allow themselves to buy products that they consider expensive. In addition, many healthy fruits and vegetables - Chinese cabbage, avocado, mango, pomelo - are unfamiliar to them, so they don’t buy them either. At the same time, pensioners willingly buy and eat the same sausage or “cheese product”, which, by the way, are not cheap, as usual!
Assess your health status and the amount of medications you are taking. Many people have been convinced for years that they suffer from a certain disease because some therapist once suggested this diagnosis. Conversely, some serious conditions go undetected. At this stage, find a good clinic and conduct a full examination of your dad or mom’s body. At the same time, find out what medications they are taking. Often, pensioners continue to take pills “just in case” after recovery has occurred. And this can drag on for years! Another common practice is to start taking medication on the advice of a neighbor or a random interlocutor in line to see a doctor. Manufacturers of dietary supplements are also making good money from pensioners, who persistently offer their products by phone or going door to door. Most likely, most of the pills that older people take out of habit can be stopped. Instead, you can start taking really healthy ones. nutritional supplements prescribed by a competent doctor.

Buy fruits and vegetables, especially those that before parents haven't tried it. Teach them how to clean and cook them. Buy a supply of vegetables and fruits regularly. It is convenient to do this with the help of a delivery service - they now operate in all major cities. Give them a good food processor and vegetable peeler.
Buy fitness gadgets. These can be the already mentioned bracelets, as well as smart watches, pedometers, electronic scales, and home exercise equipment. Show parents how to use them.
If you have a problem with smoking or alcohol, solve it urgently. Allen Carr's book will help you with this. The easy way quit smoking" and groups that work on his program. To treat alcoholism, it is better to consult a specialist.
Go through your first aid kit, throw out expired medications, as well as anything unnecessary, so that you are not tempted to take a pill or two from scratch. Instead, purchase healthy nutritional supplements that your doctor recommends.
Involve parents in running, cycling or Nordic walking. It is better if you do this with the whole family: this will create additional motivation.
Sign up your parents for fitness and help them overcome embarrassment, if any. It is better if at least for the first time you train together. Choose moderate exercise: swimming, aerobics, simple yoga, as well as “Healthy Back” classes, which are offered in many fitness clubs. It would be even better to hire a personal trainer to work with your parents on individual program. Or you can become such a coach yourself.
Encourage parents to be as active as possible. Traveling, walking, volunteering at a local dog shelter, community service, creativity - all this will help you maintain motivation, improve your quality of life and leave no free time for TV, tea with sweets, sitting on a bench and other unhelpful things.

There is nothing more important and valuable than the life and health of mom and dad. However, when it comes down to it, it can sometimes be very difficult to break long-term habits of junk food and a sedentary lifestyle. Start small, be persistent, spend more time together, and you will see your elderly parents feel better. Believe me, they will surprise you with deeds and actions that not all young people can do!