How you take care of yourself after age 65 is actually quite different from what you do before you get to that age. For many people, it is a turning point, and a time when things really start to change biologically speaking.
The good news is that if you’re in this position, then this article is here to help. It looks at some of the ways you can really look after yourself once you hit this milestone.
So, what should you be doing?
Get Regular Checkups
One thing you might want to do is schedule regular checkups. These tell you if you have any growing issues that might become bigger concerns in the future.
The nice thing about medical checkups is that they can be a way to keep track of your biomarkers. These are signs of how healthy you are, and they can be modified by lifestyle, so you can check you’re eating the right things and doing enough exercise.
Join A Community
Another thing you’ll want to do is look for the best retirement communities in your area. Joining these will help you make friends and avoid being lonely, which can be dangerous as you get older.
Being a part of a community provides social support and purpose. It is also good for releasing feel-good hormones, which support health and healthy aging.
Manage Medications Better
At the same time, you’ll want to talk to your doctor about how you manage your medications. Sometimes, you can be over-prescribed, which means you are taking too many pills, many of which aren’t helping you.
Getting the right dose at the right time is critical. You want to know whether you’re on the right track, or whether you need to change tack, based on feedback from medical professionals. Usually, you can swap one drug for another, or simply use lifestyle interventions to reduce dependence.
Protect Mobility Through Safety
On a more practical note, it’s wise to look for ways to protect your mobility through safety. If you can stick to a consistent routine and modify your home to make it less likely that you’ll fall over, you can be on your way to success.
Engaging in balance exercises can also help. Research shows that these strengthen balance muscles and parts of the brain responsible for keeping you upright, cutting the chances of a fall by more than a third.
Monitor Your Vision and Hearing
You’ll also want to pay special attention to your vision and hearing. Naturally, these can decline with age, so it is worth staying on top of them while you can.
Hearing is particularly important because hearing loss can lead to depression and social isolation. People who can’t hear are less likely to want to engage with others at social gatherings.
Review Finances
Lastly, you’ll want to review your finances to ensure you have the money to take care of yourself as you get older. If you’re 65 and don’t have a large pension pot, you’ll need to look for new income streams.
