Heart health, driving safety, aging, and independence may seem like they’re part of a random word association game, but these concepts are all key to ensuring older adults maintain a healthy aging process. We all want our older loved ones and the older patients we care for to continue having a fulfilling life where they engage in the community and activities they enjoy. Making healthy choices to improve heart health contributes to better overall health and wellness. Developing healthy habits can also help an older adult stay in the driver’s seat longer and contribute to their overall road safety.
Older adults are at a greater risk of injury when in a crash and may have a longer recovery period from these injuries. They are also likely to experience lasting impacts on their daily activities because of those injuries. In general, older adults are more fragile than other drivers, leading to a higher risk of serious injuries or fatalities in a crash.
We’ve compiled resources healthcare providers, caregivers, and family members can share with older adults to help them improve their heart health, their overall health and wellbeing, and their road safety, whether as drivers or pedestrians.
Healthy Eating.
Finding heart healthy recipes that are also tasty has become easier with the rise in cooking shows, food-based social media channels, and the blogosphere, but sometimes it’s hard to dig through all the commentary and get to the recipes. Fortunately, there are some great places online where the recipes are readily available, research-based, and free for you and your loved ones to use.
- MedlinePlus.gov (from the National Library of Medicine): https://medlineplus.gov/recipes/
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: https://healthyeating.nhlbi.nih.gov/
- The American Heart Association: https://recipes.heart.org/en/
Healthy Moving.
If your patient or loved one is starting an exercise program for the first time following an injury or illness, or maybe just trying something new, there are some great resources on getting started with moving and stretching. As you may be aware, older adults may be able to live longer and healthier lives when they increase physical activity, and the positive impacts are seen in moderate-intensity activities as well, according to recent research. Make sure to speak with a doctor or healthcare provider before beginning a new exercise activity.
- How Older Adults Can Get Started With Exercise from the National Institute on Aging: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/exercise-and-physical-activity/how-older-adults-can-get-started-exercise
- Staying Active in Cold Weather: A Safety Guide for Older Adults from the National Council on Aging: https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/medical-alert-systems/staying-active-cold-weather/
- Fun Ways for Older Adults to Stay Physically Active from the National Institute on Aging: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/exercise-and-physical-activity/fun-ways-older-adults-stay-physically-active
- How much physical activity do older adults need? From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/older_adults/
- ¿Cuánta actividad física necesitan los adultos mayores? https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/spanish/cuanta-actividad-fisica-necesitan-los-adultos-mayores.htm
- Get Fit for Free from the National Institute on Aging: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/exercise-and-physical-activity/get-fit-free
Healthy Connections.
Staying socially connected to loved ones and the community has implications for our mental, emotional, and physical health. This was backed by a report on the Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation from the Surgeon General’s Office.
- Best Practices for Helping Older Adults Stay Socially Engaged from the USAging: https://www.usaging.org/Files/N4A%20engAGED_Best%20Practices%20Brochure-508.pdf
- Participating in Activities You Enjoy as You Age from the National Institute on Aging: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/healthy-aging/participating-activities-you-enjoy-you-age
Healthy Thinking.
Cognitive changes can be a part of the aging process, and some of us experience problems with memory and other cognitive abilities. While regular exercise, maintaining social connections, and mental stimulation like Wordle or Sudoku can all help improve cognitive function, another arrow we can add to the quiver is mindfulness and meditation. In a recent meta-analysis, researchers have shown how mindfulness training can help adults and older adults have better executive functioning and memory.
- Five Ways Mindfulness Helps You Age Better from Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/five_ways_mindfulness_helps_you_age_better
- Relaxation Techniques: What You Need To Know from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/relaxation-techniques-what-you-need-to-know
- Mindfulness for Your Health: The Benefits of Living Moment by Moment from the National Institutes of Health: https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2021/06/mindfulness-your-health
- Meditation: A simple, fast way to reduce stress from the Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/meditation/in-depth/meditation/art-20045858?p=1