September 2020

When we think about aging, many negative connotations may come to mind. Some may think it means declining health, moving slower (both physically and mentally), and becoming a burden to loved ones. However, we should focus on healthy aging and creating environments for people to thrive as opposed to decline. 

There is no typical older person and our environments can play a factor in how well we age. Healthy living, healthy relationships, and healthy attitudes are all important components to healthy aging. While some 80-year-olds have levels of physical and mental capacity that compare favorably with 30-year-olds, others of the same age may require extensive care and support for basic activities like dressing and eating.

We know that healthy habits and behaviors over the course of a lifetime contribute to how well we spend our senior years. Staying involved in your community, managing health conditions, understanding your medications, and remaining active can contribute to a productive life.

Staying physically active is key to living a healthy lifestyle. You don’t have to join a gym to stay fit. Walking, playing tennis and golf, swimming, and yoga are great ways to maintain a healthy body and mind. If you or a loved one lives in a retirement community, group fitness classes are typically available for residents. Not only are these activities good for your physical health, they are good for mental health and fighting depression.

Older people can be more prone to falls, so another aspect to staying well is keeping your home safe. Installing grab bars in the shower and next to the toilet can help prevent serious injuries and allow you to remain independent. Village Pharmacy has many home safety items in stock from Nova including shower stools, grab bars, and raised toilet seats to name a few. Call us to find out how we can help you or your loved one stay safe at home.

No matter your age, staying connected to others has multiple benefits. Social connection can lower anxiety and depression, helps improve our immune system and leads to higher self-esteem and even regulates our emotions. In a recent study of older people, loneliness was associated with a higher risk of blood pressure. By not connecting with others, we put our health at risk. During this time of COVID-19, it’s a greater challenge to see people, so if you have older people in your life, encourage them to stay in touch with others, even by phone. Hopefully, restrictions will be lifted in the coming weeks and loved ones and friends will be able to gather together once again.

Once we can all enjoy being out and about without fear of sickness, volunteering at local organizations is also good for mental and physical health. Pender Adult Services offers the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). Seniors can help others by being a reading buddy for K-12 students, run errands for other Seniors to help them remain independent in their homes, or volunteer with Meals on Wheels. Making a difference in someone else’s life can help improve your own. Visit the RSVP website for more ways to help. Just an hour a week can make all the difference to someone in need.

Access to healthy food is important in all stages of life. As the saying goes an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Apples are wonderful fruits for those who are struggling to maintain their blood sugar or for those with high cholesterol. The soluble fiber found in apples can help lower cholesterol. They also provide a good source of potassium, antioxidants and vitamin C. Leafy green vegetables, berries, fish, greek yogurt, and dark chocolate should also be on the weekly grocery list for seniors. And if you drink coffee, you’re in luck. Drinking coffee can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, heart and respiratory diseases, stroke, diabetes and infections. However, for those of you who have limited mobility or transportation needs, organizations like Meals on Wheels offer well-balanced meals to adults through its home delivery service. 

Finally, getting your medications synchronized and packaged in our med-minder packets is easier than ever. Our Sync My Meds program is an easy and convenient way to align your medications for pick up on the same day each month. Make fewer trips to the pharmacy and ensure you don’t run out of your medications. We’ll contact your physician when needed, fill the drugs you need, and have everything ready on the same day each month. If you have any new medications prescribed during the month, we will fill enough of it to sync that medication with the other meds on your sync date. When all of your prescriptions are ready, we’ll give you a call so you can come pick them up or take advantage of our free delivery. We can also package your medications in our Med-Minder packets so you know exactly when to take each medication and you don’t have to ever question whether you’ve taken your medication or not. 

Keeping our customers healthy is our primary goal. Call us or stop by and see us soon!