It’s important that we take care of ourselves – physically and mentally – no matter our age. But as we get older, we become more vulnerable, and can no longer shake off ailments as easily as we used to. Leading a healthy lifestyle can become more difficult as we become older; we might be living with a health condition, poor mobility or we just might not know just what our bodies need to stay happy and healthy. This is why we are committed to ensuring our residents lead as healthy lifestyles as possible.
At The Beeches care home we focus on mind, body and soul to ensure our residents are maintaining a healthy lifestyle when living in a residential care home.
What is a healthy lifestyle?
There are a number of factors which contribute to a healthy lifestyle, so balance is crucial if we are going to succeed. If you visit the ‘Live Well’ section of the NHS website, you can read a full breakdown on each of the healthy lifestyle considerations.
Our elderly bodies and minds change with age, but the overall requirements of a healthy lifestyle do not.
What does a healthy lifestyle really look like?
- A balanced diet
- Getting enough, good-quality sleep
- Exercising regularly, however you are able to do so
- Managing your weight
- Keeping your brain active
- Maintaining your mental wellbeing
- Avoiding or stopping smoking
- Monitoring or reducing alcohol consumption
Quite often our mental health is overlooked when we think about what a healthy lifestyle looks like, but it is just as important to our overall well being as our physical health. If you are in the process of looking for a care home in Bury St Edmunds and the surrounding area, you should look into homes which encourage a lifestyle which ticks both the mental and physical well being boxes.
Supporting elderly residents with their physical health
At The Beeches nursing home we know how important our residents’ physical health is, and we are able to support them with elements of everyday life that they might no longer have been managing if living independently.
A healthy diet
As soon as your general health, mobility or mental capacity starts to decline, maintaining a good diet can become quite difficult. Food shopping becomes challenging, kitchen appliances become hazards and if your loved one is looking for dementia care in Ixworth, then the need to eat may not be remembered at all.
By living in a residential care home, if your relative is living with dementia, or is just struggling with day-to-day life, having all of their meals and dietary requirements taken care of will be a huge relief.
At The Beeches care home we provide nutritious, balanced, home-cooked meals to all of our residents to ensure that they are well-fed, getting the nutrients they need, and ultimately, staying as healthy as possible.
Staying active
Physical activity is probably the first thing that springs to mind when we think about a healthy lifestyle, but the elderly may struggle to find the motivation, or know how to attempt physical exercise if their mobility is worsening with age.
Getting active, and staying active is beneficial for a number of reasons:
- Helps with strength and flexibility
- Can improve mobility
- Great for a healthy heart
- Boosts your immune system
- Releases endorphins
- Improves mental health
Exercising for someone who is elderly or living with dementia at The Beeches might seem like a daunting prospect, but we ensure regular exercises, tailored to everyone’s physical ability to help build our residents’ confidence. Our residents participate in group exercise classes such as seated aerobics for a fun, communal activity that also keeps them healthy!
Mental health considerations
There are lots of ways we can improve, or maintain our elderly residents’ mental health, and perhaps now after two years of the pandemic, this is more important than ever. Our mental health can be impacted in lots of different ways, and according to Age UK, one in three older people are feeling more anxious now than before the COVID-19 outbreak.
At The Beeches care home, we priorities our residents’ mental well being by:
- Encouraging connections between peoples, be that residents or staff
- Preventing loneliness (read one of our previous blog posts on Loneliness Awareness Week here)
- Proving company and holding conversations
- Encouraging lots of communication
- Holding activities to keep the brain engaged
- Staying physically active
If your elderly loved one is still living independently, their mental health could be a huge concern to you. If the time is right, looking for a residential care home or dementia care home could give you the peace of mind that your loved one is being provided with all of the company, friendship and activities that they need to maintain their mental health, and that overall healthy lifestyle that is so important.
How can The Beeches care home help?
At The Beeches in Ixworth we are passionate about providing the best level of care to every single one of our residents, and we know that no two residents have the same needs. There is a strong connection between mental and physical health, but we do believe that both are as important as each other.
If you are concerned about the wellbeing of a loved one, and think that they may no longer be leading a healthy lifestyle due to age, mobility or a health condition such as dementia it could be time for them to move into a residential care home. At The Beeches, we will gladly talk you through the process of moving into a care home, to put yours and your loved one’s minds at ease.
Please don’t hesitate to call the team on 01359 230 773 or visit the website www.thebeeches-ixworth.co.uk