Cut Your Chances of Needing Long Term Care

Planning for long-term care is something we should all be doing, whether you are in your 20s or your 60s, and it entails more than just saving money. While putting money towards retirement and your future health care is a great thing to do as soon as you possibly can, there are other ways to help plan for long term care and possibly even reduce your risk of needing care at all.

Make Health a Priority

Focusing on your health is important to helping reduce your risk of issues that often contribute to the need for long-term care. Chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and other health incidents are some of the most common reasons that people need long-term care and putting effort towards your health can significantly cut the chances that you will develop those diseases later down the road.

When it comes to your health, most people know that healthy eating and dieting play key roles. Unfortunately, most people don’t actually follow the general recommendations for eating healthily and getting regular exercise, which is a large component of why chronic diseases continue to increase in prevalence across the United States.

High cholesterol, smoking, high blood pressure, and obesity are running rampant throughout the United States, and to help control these risk factors for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, consider following these steps to help you put more focus on your health and give your future self an advantage.

Steps to Better Health

1)    Eat more fresh foods – Recent studies have found that processed foods make up the large majority of the American diet. These foods are filled with added sugars, unhealthy fats, and all sorts of chemicals that don’t benefit the body in any way. Rather than choose foods that are in boxes or bags, opt for fresh foods instead. Incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet, as those foods contain high amounts of antioxidants which help combat free radicals, the source of many diseases.

2)    Exercise regularly – Exercise doesn’t have to be a tough regimen at the gym, but rather it can involve some low-impact activities like walking daily or swimming a few times a week. Strength training is great for the body, too, so try to focus on both that and cardio. Exercise not only strengthens your body, but your mind, too, giving you better protection against the risk of mental diseases.

3)    Socialize – This is especially important for retirees, many of whom spend most of their time being idle at home. Not only is sitting for long periods of time detrimental to our health but so is going without mental stimulation. Join a local organization like a book club, a volunteer group, or a meet-up that aligns with your interests. It will help keep your brain sharp and your mood up.

Adding these important components of health into your lifestyle will help you improve your mental, physical, and emotional health and set you up for better health as you age. To learn more about ways that can help you improve your long term health, read this post.

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