The month of January inspires people to pursue healthier and happier lifestyles. Have you set your New Year’s resolution to embrace a healthier and happier you? If you’re looking for ideas to start the new decade off right, consider making a New Year’s resolution that is realistic, manageable, and easy for the whole family – including your senior parent – to follow. We at SYNERGY HomeCare of Corona, Riverside, and Anaheim Hills recommend 5 manageable New Year’s resolutions for seniors and families to embrace in 2020:
- Eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and healthy fats.
- Focus on fruit. Keep fruits visible. Stock a bowl of apples, oranges, or bananas on the kitchen table or counter. Wash fruits before putting them away – this eliminates a step and makes grabbing the healthy snack easier. Try variety – dried fruits such as raisins, cranberries, and apples are great for a mid-day snack, and frozen fruits are great for morning smoothies.
- Vary your veggies. Incorporate colorful vegetables into every meal. Make eating vegetables easy – pre-cut and package bell peppers, carrots, or broccoli so that you can easily enjoy them on a salad, with hummus, or in a veggie wrap. Use frozen vegetables for dinner side dishes if you don’t have time to clean, chop, and steam – frozen vegetables are quick, easy, and just as nutritious as fresh vegetables.
- Make at least half your grains whole grains. Replace your white bread or bagels with 100 percent whole wheat bread or bagels, choose brown rice as a side dish, or try whole wheat pasta with your favorite spaghetti sauce. Looking for a healthy snack? Try lightly salted popcorn or 100 percent whole wheat or rye crackers.
- Incorporate calcium-rich foods. Choose fat-free (skim) or low-fat milk and yogurts. Top fruit salads and baked potatoes with low-fat yogurt instead of sour cream. Look for reduced-fat or low-fat cheeses.
- Go lean with protein. Choose lean or low-fat cuts of meat and trim or drain fat from meat and remove poultry skin. Eat salmon, trout, or herring twice a week. Incorporate beans, peas, nuts, and soy into your dinners. Unsalted nuts and seeds are a high-protein snack. Turkey, roast beef, tuna, and peanut butter are high-protein options for sandwiches.
- Get moving.
- Exercises such as tai chi, water aerobics, walking, and stretching can help you control your weight, build your muscles and bones, and improve your balance, posture, and mood.
- If you can’t set aside a block of time to exercise, do short activities throughout the day, such as three 10-minute walks, or do yard work or household chores.
- See your doctor regularly.
- Schedule annual wellness visits with your and your senior parent’s doctor. Your aging parent may need to see their primary care physician more regularly for health screenings, tests, and medication review.
- Get enough sleep.
- With aging come changes in sleep patterns, which make it difficult for seniors to get 7-8 hours of sleep a night. Ways to improve sleep include avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine, keeping a consistent sleep schedule, and limiting evening screen time.
- Hire professional help.
- Help your senior parent live safely and independently and provide yourself peace of mind by hiring a SYNERGY HomeCare of Corona, Riverside, or Anaheim Hills in-home caregiver to provide support to your aging parent. SYNERGY HomeCare’s caregiving services are versatile, flexible, and customized to your family’s needs. SYNERGY HomeCare’s services include personal assistance care, errands and transportation services, nutritious meal planning, preparing, and cleanup, light housekeeping, companionship services, and more to ensure your senior parent leads a healthy and independent life.
About SYNERGY HomeCare of Anaheim Hills
SYNERGY HomeCare of Anaheim Hills is the name you can trust in Anaheim, Anaheim Hills, Yorba Linda, Tustin, Santa Ana, Orange and Placentia for personal home care. SYNERGY HomeCare of Anaheim Hills is part of a national franchise of non-medical home care offices dedicated to providing exceptional and affordable service to anyone of any age. SYNERGY HomeCare caregivers are available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, to those in need – including seniors, expectant moms, those suffering from sports injuries and debilitating illnesses, and more. SYNERGY HomeCare of Corona & Riverside can be found online at http://www.synergyhomecare.com/agencies/ca/anaheim-hills/ca25 . The location also hosts active social media pages on Facebook and Twitter. Ken and Anna can be reached at 714- 706-1613 and [email protected] .
