5 New Year’s Resolutions for Older Adults

1. See your doctor

It’s important to have a yearly checkup. Checkups help your provider spot health issues earlier, when they are easier treat. Your doctor will review your medications to ensure they are current and still needed, and address any other health concerns you may have.

2. Quit smoking

It’s not easy to quit, and you may want or need assistance. Ask a friend to quit with you, join a support group, or look into cessation counseling. Some may find the use of nicotine replacement products helpful while trying to quit.

3. Get moving

A major benefit of regular physical activity as you age is that it can help you live independently. But that’s not all. Short-term benefits include improved sleep quality, reduced anxiety, and lowered blood pressure. In the long term, staying active can prevent chronic diseases (such as dementia and heart disease), increase your bone strength, and increase your balance and coordination, which reduces your risk of falls.

For adults 65 and older, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends 150 minutes of moderately intense activity. That’s 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Try walking, cycling, water aerobics—even raking the leaves or pushing the lawn mower count.

• On two of those days, include strength training activities—weightlifting, using resistance bands, or performing bodyweight exercises like wall pushups or yoga postures
• Incorporate activities that improve your balance—yoga, tai chi, walking backwards, or balancing on one leg

4. Make and eat healthy meals 

Good nutrition is especially important for older adults. Eating well can increase your energy levels and help you fight off illness or recover from an injury. A balanced diet includes fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low fat dairy, and protein from lean meat, seafood, beans, and tofu. 

Unsure where to start? Check out some of these recipes:

• Slow Cooker Vegetable Turkey Soup
• Old-Fashioned Vegetable Barley Soup
• Chicken Mole With Tortilla Strips
• Buffalo White Bean Hummus with Oven Baked Sweet Potato Chips
• Sautéed Zucchini, Tomato and Chickpea Ragout

5. Hope for the best, but plan for emergencies

Emergencies happen. From natural disasters to health scares, make sure you’re prepared this year:

• Gather water, nonperishable food, flashlights, batteries, extra clothing, a blanket, and a first aid kit, and store them in an easy-to-access area of your house or car. 
• Develop a health emergency action plan – where you should be brought, what supplies need to be taken, a list of current medications, contact info for your health care providers and emergency contacts, insurance information, etc.
• Talk to your neighbors and make a plan to check in on each other