Just as we child proofed our home for our children when we get older we more or less need to do the same thing. Many seniors choose to move out of their larger homes to senior communities or smaller homes with everything on one level for convenience. Many look for communities where the grounds are maintained because lets face it after a certain age shoveling all that snow and mowing can really be too much. The older we get the harder those steps are to climb and I find myself huffing and puffing and pulling like crazy on the handrail now. I’m grateful my laundry room isn’t in the basement as many are around here. I’m truly grateful I’ve lived 56 years, but it certainly doesn’t get easier.

When senior proofing our home one very important area to check are carpets and rugs to make sure there are no loose coverings because that’s one of the most hazardous and common ways that elderly people can trip, slip or fall.  A clear path is desirable and furniture should be conveniently placed and objects shouldn’t be just left  lying around. Rugs should be removed at the earliest opportunity, or placed somewhere in the room that is very rarely used so they are just there for decorative effect.  Carpets should be checked every three to six months to make sure that all fittings are still firmly in place.  Make sure you replace or tighten any loose fittings and then check them again after a couple of weeks to make sure that they are still firmly in place.

Accidents happen a lot with our pets and their toys also so if you’re elderly you need to keep an eye out for that stray toy or bone unless you have a special room designated for your pets playtime. I try to keep our dogs toys picked up, but I have tripped over them numerous times lately and I’m indeed grateful my falls haven’t resulted in any major sprains or breaks. We seniors also need to watch our weight because more than any other age group it negatively affects us the most. We all know that as we get older, our metabolism slows down making it harder to  burn calories so it’s easier to add those pounds and a lot harder to shed.

Yes, we all know we’re suppose to have a regular balanced nutritious diet, but that certainly doesn’t mean we can’t splurge and eat some of those no no foods we so love every now and then. We just need to remember that being overweight can put unnecessary stress on the joints so it accelerates the affects of arthritis, osteoporosis and other bone and muscle disorders and illnesses. It can also bring about the onset of diabetes, which is more common in seniors than in any other age group. Too many seniors give up their freedom as soon as movement becomes too painful by resolving not to move or to remain in bed and of course that’s not good either.

From the age of 65 and above 20 minutes of exercise three times a week is the recommended amount for seniors.  While 20 minutes every day may be good for some seniors, twenty minutes over a period of a week is better for others. You know your capabilities better than anyone else and so you are perhaps better equipped to decide what form your exercise plan should take. Even if you choose not to exercise every day, you should at least walk around the house or venture into the yard a couple of times just to stay mobile. The effort is ultimately worth it, no matter how painful it may be, if you can still move.  Our neighbor is 83 or84  and he reminds me of the energizer bunny he just keeps going and going and going. We are living longer so we certainly want to be in the best shape possible to enjoy these years.