Getting to retire after years of working serves as another chapter in someone's life. It frees you from the burdens of having to work from 9 to 5, and every day is a day off. You can now spend a lot of time doing the things you like with your loved ones and friends. However, there are things that you may want to look out for.
Health is one of the things that you need to prioritize as a retiree. When we get older, we get more at risk of contracting more illnesses that may harm us in the long run. We must regularly take necessary precautions to keep in good shape and prevent getting ill.
Here are a few things you can do to take care of your health as a retiree or senior.
Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
The most basic means of keeping good health is to practice a lifestyle that keeps you healthy. It seems essential, but it helps in the long run given the right conditions. What conditions, you may ask? You see, there are a variety of healthy lifestyles. The same thing does not necessarily benefit everyone. You have to customize according to what you need.
The first plan in having a healthy lifestyle is your diet. Being mindful of your health means considering what you consume regularly. And as we get older, with the changes occurring in our bodies, we may no longer consume particular food as it may do more harm, especially when taken in large quantities.
Here's what to do: consider some factors to think of while selecting the food you can consume, such as your current condition, especially if you are suffering from a medical condition where you may be unable to eat. Another thing you can do is to look up the primary recommendations on health-related websites. Common ones are foods rich in nutrients but have low to no calories, cholesterol, and fat. Drinking water is also urged.
Another essential thing to do is exercising. It would help if you were physically active to help improve your health. Of course, workouts for seniors may be vastly different than that of younger adults, but there are still several exercises you can do that help with strength, balance, and flexibility.
The CDC recommends that older adults spend at least 150 to 300 minutes[1] a week on physical activities. Some of the exercises you can do are walks, stretches, and even other cardio activities like jogging, cycling, and swimming.
Opt for Health Care Plans or Programs
One of the things you can do to secure health care is to get a health care plan or join health-related programs. These often serve to assist in terms of financial or educational purposes. Several programs are specially made for seniors. The government or private companies often offer these programs.
Perhaps one of the best examples of this is an insurance policy. Insurance helps you by protecting expected or unexpected financial necessities that you may not afford out of pocket. There are several types of insurance, including life insurance, car insurance, and even pet insurance, but the most popular one is health insurance.
As of 2020, 91.4% of Americans have health insurance. This is for a good reason, as the insurance policy helps pay for any medication and treatment you may need. This is especially helpful to those suffering from one or more severe illnesses.
If you do not have said policy yet, it's about time to get one. Make sure to be transparent to the insurer by stating your medical conditions and the drugs or treatments you need or may need to consume. On the other hand, you are covered when needed if you already have a health insurance policy. If you need to make changes in your coverage, you can update or renew the policy.
Another option to take is assisted care. Suppose you live alone and feel like you may not be that capable of doing daily activities due to medical circumstances. In that case, you can have a caregiver hired to take care of you or sign up for an assisted living home where you can be assisted with your everyday needs and activities.
Set A Budget for Health Expenses
Whether it's medication, a check-up, or health-related payment, you must always set a budget for anything related to your health. Even with a healthy body, you may sometimes find yourself in a pinch when you need a few extra dollars for emergencies or when you unexpectedly feel ill. But how much should you save? That depends on how you go about with your healthcare.
One of the matters to take into consideration is fixed payments. A health insurance policy is an example. How much you pay monthly should be immediately saved. Another is medication. If you take prescription or maintenance drugs, you need to consider your dosage and how often you should purchase them. Emergency funds are also essential. In case of unprecedented incidents, you could always have an amount of money to spend on.
Besides budgeting, you might also want to get cheaper medicines to help save money. One solution is to buy a generic brand or visit local pharmacies instead of big ones. You could also use a drug discount card, which you can get for free online from drug discount services, giving discounts on thousands of drugs.
To Sum It Up
As we get older, we need to be more and more observant of our health. With this, we need more ways to keep ourselves healthy and strong. Keeping a good lifestyle, looking for healthcare programs, and budgeting for health-related needs are must-do to enjoy our days, not worrying about anything.
https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/older_adults/index.htm
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This is a question we often hear from active seniors who attend workshops and educational events.
The low Income Housing Tax Credit program is managed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Through the program, owners of multi-family homes designated as tax credit properties, to low-income residents with reduced rent. Senior apartments that advertise the word "affordable" are generally tax credit apartment communities. You will also often see the words "Income Restrictions Apply". Each tax credit senior apartment community has different income requirements so it is important to ask when contacting them.