According to the CDC, healthy aging is “maintaining good physical, mental, and social health and well-being as we grow older.” Helping seniors age well requires more than just diet and exercise; it takes the right routines and support network to fully address their needs.
Since healthy aging can start at any age, covers so many factors and looks different for everyone, where do you even begin?
Marina del Rey is full of resources just for seniors to support both their physical and emotional wellbeing.
The Best Resources to Help Seniors Age Well in Marina del Rey
Marina del Rey is full of support resources for seniors—both emotionally and literally. From specialized handyman services to counseling that really understands their needs, here are a few of our favorites:
- Talk it Over
If a senior in your life is feeling down, one of the best ways to help them is to give them someone to talk to. Therapists and other mental health professionals can be profoundly helpful for older people, giving them an outlet to discuss how they’re feeling and work through anything that might be stressing them out. They’re still people, though, and they do have their limits—such as the fact that very few of them have personally experienced aging.
That’s why it’s so helpful to connect your loved one with a peer counseling group like Wise and Healthy Aging. Peer counseling is a system where seniors help each other, offering a friendly ear and the kind of comforting support that can only come from someone who truly understands. Some older people prefer to get support one-on-one, while others prefer to talk it over in a group setting—it’s all about what they need.
Peer counseling can also be a meaningful way for your loved one to give back. When they’re in a good place emotionally, many seniors find it deeply rewarding to pay it forward, giving other older people the same kind of support they relied on.
- Find Their Balance
Tai Chi is a form of moving meditation that uses slow, deliberate movements to promote a deep feeling of inner peace, strengthening the body as it calms the mind. This low-impact workout is helpful for people of any age, but it’s particularly useful for older adults because it greatly improves balance and stability.
Why is that? If you’ve ever lifted weights, you know it’s far more difficult to do reps slowly, and that doing so works the stabilizing muscles. In Tai Chi, every single movement is done slowly, so it goes a long way toward building and maintaining the muscle groups most devoted to balance and stability. On top of that, the deliberate and intentional style of movement helps improve seniors’ awareness of their own bodies, and that translates to better coordination and less chance of tripping.
Even better, many schools such as Westside Tai Chi do classes in local parks when the weather permits (which is quite often in Marina del Rey). That means Tai Chi is very often a good opportunity to get outside and appreciate nature.
- Give Them Support at Home
Most seniors would prefer to age in place, but their home itself can be a barrier to doing so. The majority of falls happen in the home, especially when improvements haven’t been made to support seniors’ changing needs.
The good news is that a few minor upgrades can have an outsized impact on fall prevention. Adding nightlights close to the ground, removing area rugs or re-stretching carpet, and a well-placed handrail can help your loved one continue to enjoy their home for a long time to come.
Many of these upgrades can be performed yourself, but some benefit from an expert approach—especially hand rails and grab bars, which need to support seniors’ body weight. Seniors At Home Solutions is a great resource for this. They’ll work with your loved one to find the best location for grab bars, one that’s both comfortable and safest. Their lead time is generally less than a week, and installation takes only 45 minutes on average.
Home Care Helps Seniors Age Well
The right support is key to helping seniors age well, and there’s plenty of it here in Marina del Rey. By staying movement in ways that improve balance, creating the right home environment and finding a shoulder to lean on, older adults can thrive.
Sometimes, though, healthy aging goals need more direct support; that’s where the professional caregivers at FirstLight Home Care of Marina del Rey come in. Our warm, attentive team members can support your loved one with the activities that keep them healthy and fulfilled, whether that’s nutrition, hygiene and mobility or just supportive companionship when they’re trying something new.
Whatever your loved one needs to truly age well, we’re here to support them. Reach out today to get started.
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