When should you start thinking about healthy ageing? You don’t need to wait for a particular birthday or until something goes wrong. Whether you are 55, 65, 75 or older, there are almost always steps you can take to protect your health and independence.
It is easy to understand why healthy ageing may not feel like a priority.
We may feel well and assume there is nothing we need to do. We may be busy with work, family or other responsibilities. We may avoid health checks because we’re worried about what they might find. Some people feel uncomfortable talking about ageing because it seems negative or makes the future feel uncertain.
In reality, though, it’s not unusual to quietly worry about our future health. Common concerns include:
Losing strength or mobility or having a fall
Developing a serious health condition
Experiencing changes in memory
Feeling less confident and losing contact with other people
Needing help at home
Losing control over personal decisions.
Thinking about healthy ageing does not mean expecting these things to happen. It means giving yourself the best opportunity to remain well and to respond early if something changes.
“There is no wrong age to start thinking about healthy ageing and no point at which it is too late to benefit from the right advice. Begin with what matters to you, understand your current health and choose one realistic step that you can maintain.”
- Dr Richard King, Medical Director and Founder of Significare
When’s a good time to start?
Our health is shaped throughout life, so the journey towards healthy ageing often begins earlier than we realise. You know your personal journey better than anyone, so think about the following and how these factors are changing as you get older.
Your Strength: Muscle strength helps us stand up, climb stairs, carry shopping and complete everyday tasks. We naturally lose some muscle as we age, and regular activity helps us maintain and improve our strength.
Strength building activities don’t always require a gym. Depending on your health and ability, you might be maintaining your strength through gardening, carrying shopping, climbing stairs, using resistance bands or exercising at home. It’s never too late to think about improving your strength and an appointment with a physiotherapist is a great place to start this, safely.
Your Balance: When our balance is good, we move confidently and lower the risk of falls. It’s important to look for signs that our balance is changing. This can happen because of muscle weakness, problems with hearing or sight, certain medicines, pain and some health conditions. If you start to feel unsteady, have a discussion with a health professional, particularly if you have fallen or nearly fallen. There are exercises you can do to improve your balance and confidence, and it’s important to get advice that meets your particular needs.
Your General Health: We don’t always connect general health issues with healthy ageing, but some conditions mean we become less mobile or less active, even temporarily. Regular health checks can help identify risks and give you the opportunity to take action before a temporary change becomes more permanent.
Your Mental Wellbeing: Mental wellbeing matters at every age. As we age, we might be affected by a range of challenges and changes, such as retirement, bereavement, caring responsibilities, illness or the disruption of moving home. If you’ve always managed your mental wellbeing without help, you might feel that you should still be able to cope on your own, but talking to someone can help you with anxiety, low mood or loneliness. If you feel your mental wellbeing is impacting your daily life, seeking support can help you get back on track.
Pay Attention!
The first step to ageing healthily is to pay attention. Noticing how your health and wellbeing is changing as you age will help you take steps to stay healthy, mobile and independent. Accessing specialist support, such as physiotherapy or other healthcare services, can keep you on track. If talking to a healthcare professional feels a step to far right now, talk to friends of a similar age or close family members: sharing our experiences with others is a great step to thinking about what matters to us, and whether it’s time to make a change.
At Significare, we are developing a more personal approach to healthcare for people aged 65 and over. Our private healthcare service helps people understand their health, access appropriate support and maintain independence for as long as possible.
Our Health Assessment is a thorough review of your personal health and wellbeing, and helps you understand how to manage your ageing journey. Carried out in your own home, you’ll receive a detailed report to help you decide your next steps.
Please use our Contact Form to get in touch if you’d like further information.