What are five strategies for growing old healthfully?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

• Choose nutrient-dense foods.
• Be physically active. Walk, run, dance, swim, bike, or row for aerobic activity. Lift weights, do calisthenics, or pursue some other activity to tone, firm, and strengthen muscles. Practice balancing on one foot or doing simple movements with your eyes closed. Modify activities to suit changing abilities and preferences.
• Maintain appropriate body weight.
• Reduce stress—cultivate self-esteem, maintain a positive attitude, manage time wisely, know your limits, practice assertiveness, release tension, and take action.
• For women, discuss with a physician the risks and benefits of estrogen replacement therapy.
• For people who smoke, discuss with a physician strategies and programs to help you quit.
• Expect to enjoy sex, and learn new ways of enhancing it.
• Use alcohol only moderately, if at all; use drugs only as prescribed.
• Take care to prevent accidents.
• Expect good vision and hearing throughout life; obtain glasses and hearing aids if necessary.
• Take care of your teeth; obtain dentures if necessary.
• Be alert to confusion as a disease symptom, and seek diagnosis.
• Take medications as prescribed; see a physician before self-prescribing medicines or herbal remedies and a registered dietitian nutritionist before self-prescribing supplements.
• Control depression through activities and friendships; seek professional help if necessary.
• Drink six to eight glasses of water every day.
• Practice mental skills. Keep on solving math problems and crossword puzzles, playing cards or other games, reading, writing, imagining, and creating.
• Make financial plans early to ensure security.
• Accept change. Work at recovering from losses; make new friends.
• Cultivate spiritual health. Cherish personal values. Make life meaningful.
• Go outside for sunshine and fresh air as often as possible.
• Be socially active—play bridge, join an exercise or dance group, take a class, teach a class, eat with friends, volunteer time to help others.
• Stay interested in life—pursue a hobby, spend time with grandchildren, take a trip, read, grow a garden, or go to the movies.
• Enjoy life.