Exercise
Check out your local YMCA or YWCA. Ask about Senior Citizen discounts. If you live in an apartment community or neighborhood, you may have access to a swimming pool and exercise room. Get a friend and start to use them. Senior Centers offer a variety of opportunities to exercise - both individually and with friends. And, then there is the best exercise of all and it's free to everyone - walking. Experts suggest thirty minutes of brisk walking every day. It's good for your heart and your spirit. We have more in-depth information on exercise in our section Exercise for Health and Wellness.
Eat Right
It hasn't changed! Eat fruit, vegetables, and fiber. Eat other things in moderation. A little red wine may be good for your heart. Take a multi-vitamin if your doctor agrees. Drink lots of water. For more information on healthy eating check out our section on Healthy Eating and Making the Right Choices. There is also a wealth of other healthy eating information on the web that can be found using a search engine.
Want to meet new friends, have a nutritious noon-time meal and learn what other opportunities are available in your community for fun, assistance, and community service? Want to see what's available in your county?
Don't Smoke
We all know about this one!
Want more information on this deadly habit and how to quit? Great!
- American Heart Association on Smoking
- Products to Help You Quit Smoking
- Second Hand Smoke: Are You At Risk?
- Smoking Facts and Statistics: The Hazards of Smoking
- Strategies to Quit Smoking
Keep Socially Involved
Experts will tell you that having friends and people that will support you is critical to good mental health. Good mental health directly affects physical health. So, it is important to continue to connect with friends and family on a regular basis.
If you would like to meet new people, Senior Centers are excellent places to start. Get involved in community activities such as Senior Games or volunteer for your favorite charity. A faith community may provide you with social interaction as well. Use your imagination and find the best match for you to help you keep engaged with others.
If you are disabled or if your mobility is limited, the computer can offer you a way to stay connected and to keep the ties to friends and family strong. Many Senior Centers have computers available and provide instruction on their use. Public libraries also offer free computer access. Don't become isolated. Reach out.
North Carolina has a statewide health information and resources website. It provides direct links and is connected to a major health information database. Information can also be found in Spanish. This site is a joint project of UNC and the National Library of Medicine.
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