Healthy Aging

With age comes an increased risk for falling, but falling is not a normal part of aging. Most falls are predictable and preventable. Many falls are the result of health or lifestyle factors. Older adults can live longer, healthier lives by staying socially connected, increasing their levels of physical activity, eating well and taking steps to minimize risks for falls. Stay on Your Feet (SOYF) is a falls prevention strategy used across Northeastern Ontario to help older adults stay active, independent, and on their feet. We support older adults by advocating for age-friendly communities, and providing support and education regarding falls prevention, healthy eating, exercise, vaccinations and much more.

Let's Be Active

Daily physical activity is the cornerstone to healthy aging and maintaining your independence. The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) recommends that adults 65 years and older should participate in at least 150 minutes of physical activity a week to achieve health benefits. These should also include strength training and balance activities.

Let's Be Social

As older adults, keeping in touch with the important people in your life can help to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation that can lead to depression, and mental and physical decline. Engaging with others fosters a sense of belonging to a group, improve self-esteem, can help to build relationships, and improve your mental health. It can be difficult to maintain close relationships with old friends, especially as we age. Pick up the phone to connect with new and old friends or use social media apps such as Skype, FaceTime or Zoom. Setting up a regular schedule for a good old-fashioned phone call is a good way to keep connected on a regular basis with those close to you.

Additional Resources:

Cyber-Seniors provides FREE technology support and training for older adults.

Let's be Strong

Safety at Home

Most falls occur in or around the home. This can happen for a lot of reasons. But often the fixes are easy if you know what to look for.

Keeping all walkways, ramps and stairs clear of clutter, wet leaves, snow, and ice.
Ensuring adequate lighting.
Removing unnecessary carpets.
Keeping emergency phone numbers beside the telephone.

Not sure where to begin? Check out the Home Safety Checklist to assist you in making your home a safer place to live.

Managing Your Medications

Drug interactions around prescription medications and over the counter drugs can cause drowsiness and dizziness, which can lead to a fall. It's important to always keep an updated list of prescription and over-the-counter medications with you. Try to have all your prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy, so your records are in one place. This will alert the pharmacist if a newly prescribed drug might cause an interaction with medications that you are currently taking.

Here are 5 helpful questions to ask your primary care provider about your medications:

Have any medications been added, stopped, or changed, and why?
What medications do I need to keep taking, and why?
How do I take my medications and for how long?
How will I know if my medication is working, and what side effects do I watch out for?
Do I need any tests and when do I book my next visit?

Nutrition

As you age, your body needs less food, but may need more of certain nutrients, such as vitamin D and calcium. Eating a variety of foods can help you to do just that. Here are a few tips to consider:

If your sense of taste or smell has changed, try different spices and herbs to add more flavour, instead of salt.
If some foods have become more difficult to eat, try choosing and preparing foods differently. For example, try cooking vegetables instead of eating them raw.
Alternate a cooking day with a friend. This allows you to share the task of making meals and gives you the chance to try each other’s recipes and food traditions.
Visit Unlock Foods or call Health 811 to learn more about eating as you get older.