Goodbye 2022! Hello 2023. Six New Year’s Resolutions for Older People.
December is the perfect time to reflect on how the year has been and to start setting resolutions to make sure that you make the most out of all that the next year has to offer. Resolutions can take many different forms, and everyone’s will be different.
For older people, the new year can be a great time to set resolutions which will help them to stay happy, healthy and active. Resolutions don’t have to be big. They can be anything from making sure that you spend more time with loved ones to going out for a short walk each day.
Whatever your resolutions are for 2023, we hope you have a Happy New Year. Here are six things that we think make the perfect new years resolutions for older people.
Revisit an old hobby
Why let old hobbies fade away? Maybe you loved drawing in your younger years or you have a love for literature and you’ve not picked up a good book for a while. Rekindling an old hobby can be a great way to enjoy spending your time in the new year. Why not get a family member involved and teach them a new skill too? It’s a great way to pass the time and even bond with a loved one.
Stay active
Staying active as you get older is very important and can help to ensure that we stay fit and healthy. You may want to make it your new years resolution for 2023 to spend a few minutes each day stretching, walking to the local corner shop or practising some other light fitness activities. You don’t have to exercise alone either, your carer can help you to stay fit and healthy. You could also invite a friend or family member along for a walk with you and you can have a catch-up as you go.
Train your brain
Keeping your body active isn’t the only important thing – exercising your mind is just as important in staying happy, fit and healthy. Why not set a resolution for 2023 to train your brain? Whether it’s completing the newspaper crossword, working through some Sudoku’s or even using technology to play some puzzle games online, mind exercise can be a fun way to keep yourself feeling on the ball.
Get enough sleep
Lots of older people are early risers, but it’s a common myth that they need less sleep than younger people. Maybe you don’t need to sleep as much as your teenage years anymore, but getting enough sleep will help to make sure that you stay energetic throughout the day. Make it a resolution to sleep for 7-8 hours a night.
Make sure your home is safe
Lots of older adults can experience falls in their own homes, so one beneficial resolution for 2023 could be to make sure that your home is safe to help to prevent them. Ways to make your home safer can include adding night lights to each room to help you to see better at night, installing grab bars in your bathroom and adding a rail to your stairs. You may want to ask a friend or family member to lend a hand.
Think about later life care planning
Planning is part of everyday life; life events can be uncertain, we never know what might happen in the future. If you want to feel confident about your future it might be worth exploring your options now. So much can happen so quickly: an illness, a life-changing medical event, a life-changing diagnosis – but you can put a plan in place for your care before your relatives are forced to make a decision for you.
It also pays to plan your care because you can put financial plans into place that will enable you to have the type of care you would like the most. If that wasn’t enough reason to plan care early, it also provides you with the time to gently discuss care plans with your family, and to research your options thoroughly so you make an informed choice about your future, not a rushed decision in an emergency.
Read more: Why it is never too early to start planning for your future care.
There are lots of options for care and support including care homes, live-in care, assisted living, home care and home helps. Which type of care is right for you will depend on your needs so the first step is getting a care assessment. You can arrange this very easily. You may also wish to discuss care with your GP, friends and family.
Want to know how to choose the right care for a loved one? If you’d like to discuss your situation, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact us for a free, no obligation discussion.
Ashridge Home Care is a multi award winning, family owned, specialist live-in home care provider. Based in the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire providing bespoke home care services across the South East of England.