Be Kind to Your Future Self
Right at Home-Alabama
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Dec 06, 2024
Alabama - Gulf Coast
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Be Kind to Your Future Self
It’s
always tempting to live in the moment—to think about today rather than plan for
tomorrow. But that’s a recipe for disappointment when it comes to preparing for
our older years.
Experts
have developed many innovative experiments to encourage younger people to plan
ahead for the changes of aging. There are “aging suits” that use technology to
simulate the muscular, visual and thinking changes we might face. Facial aging
apps can give young people a glimpse at how they might appear in their later
years—in a sense, allowing them to “meet” their older selves.
A
good way to motivate ourselves to prepare for our later years is to consider
ourselves in a continuum of ages, each stage influencing the well-being of the
next. And consider this: At every age, and in the face of any challenges, you
will still be you! Your priorities may change, but in general you’ll …
·
Treasure your independence.
·
Want to do things you enjoy.
·
Want to be free to be … you!
Fortunately,
today we have lots of information on raising the odds we’ll get those wishes.
Have you heard of “cohort studies”? This research observes large groups of
people over a long period of time. Looking at the data allows experts to
provide us with a road map for making choices when we’re young for which our
older selves will thank us!
Take care of your overall health. That’s a pretty tall order. But there
are a lot of things we can do when we’re young that raise our odds of
independence when we’re older. When we’re healthy and young, regular health
care appointments might not seem like a priority. But an individualized health
plan, as well as prompt attention to any problems that arise, can have
long-term positive effects.
Stay active.
We might say, “Well, I’m too busy now. I’ll start working out when I retire.”
But science tells us that exercising when we’re young is an important head
start in preventing disease and frailty. People who have been active their
whole lives are stronger when they’re older. Building a foundation of strong
muscle and bone early on creates reserves for when it’s harder to stay fit. And
don’t forget that the heart is a muscle, too. Find activities you enjoy and
make time for them.
Make good lifestyle choices. Bad habits also have a lifetime effect. Experts from
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University looked at data
from a number of cohort studies and said, “Maintaining five healthy
habits—eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, keeping a healthy body
weight, not drinking too much alcohol, and not smoking—at middle age may
increase years lived free of Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and
cancer.”
Think safety.
There’s a stereotype that younger people like to take chances—is that true of
you? Consider that some activities could have consequences that last well into
our later years. An automobile accident, a climbing fall or skateboard wipeout
could create disabling injuries that continue to affect us as we age. For
example, cohort studies show that head injuries increase the risk of
Alzheimer’s disease. Wear your seatbelt, get a bike helmet, and practice sports
safety.
Prioritize brain health. It’s impossible to look at brain health separately from
overall health. All the factors above protect the brain from injury and
shrinkage. But we also need to give our brains a good workout—and the earlier,
the better. Much important brain development happens when we’re young. Luckily,
most beneficial activities are fun—including studying a musical instrument and
learning a language. And the brain needs sleep: Several recent, large cohort
studies show that over time, getting fewer than six hours of sleep per night
raises the risk of Alzheimer’s by 30%.
Make future-oriented financial decisions. Here’s another area where planning
ahead will really pay off—literally. It’s hard for most younger people to save
money, but even a small savings plan allows time to work its magic. If your
employer offers a retirement savings plan, take advantage of it. Do your
homework and talk to an independent financial advisor, even early on. Picture
your older self enjoying the benefits of what might feel like a sacrifice now.
Think about where to live. If you’re considering settling down in a “forever home,”
consider whether it could continue to meet your needs even if you were living
with disabilities. Or would you have to move, thereby giving up years of
established social ties and your familiar spaces? Maybe you’re planning a big
remodel. If you’re investing in a new kitchen or bathroom, think ahead and
install doors wide enough for a wheelchair, and an accessible shower and
kitchen counters.
Educate yourself about senior support services. Younger people who are providing care
for aging parents or other loved ones may be getting these lessons already!
Even if this isn’t you, it’s good to know about assistance you will (and won’t)
be able to access down the road. Some older people decide to live in a
retirement community or supported living environment. Those who value staying
in their own homes can hire professional in-home care to preserve their
independence and help them do things they want to do, despite their age or
health challenges.
Cultivate a beneficial attitude about aging. Yes, it seems to be a pattern that the
younger generation makes disparaging remarks about their elders. We’re
certainly seeing it these days with slurs against the baby boomers—who
themselves lived under the slogans of “never trust anyone over 30” and “hope I
die before I get old.” But consider that a definition of ageism might be
“prejudice against your future self.” Numerous cohort studies reveal that young
people with a negative attitude about older adults are less likely to
experience healthy, happy later years.
It’s
time to retire the term “anti-aging.” People do grow older and, as the old
saying goes, consider the alternative! Instead, the goal is to promote healthy
aging as best you can, while being prepared for health challenges, so your
older self can look back at the you of today and say, “Good job!”
Right at Home offers in-home care to seniors and adults with disabilities who want to live independently. Contact Right at Home with locations in Daphne and Mobile, Alabama at 251-459-8671 or at RAHsouth.com for more information.
- To view the original version of this article visit www.rightathome.net/blog/planning-for-the-future
- Seniors Blue Book was not involved in the creation of this content.
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