Seniors need to take care of themselves, even if they live in a nursing home and are getting used to being cared for by others. Self-care is something that people of all ages can easily forget about. People often spend time and effort caring for and helping other people. It’s easy to put your children, your partner, or your friends’ needs ahead of your own.
But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take care of yourself. Self-care is the act of taking care of your physical, mental, and emotional health on purpose. Your health as a whole is affected by the choices you make, the habits you form, and the things you do. It helps you avoid getting sick or take care of your body if you do get sick. As you can see, if you live in a nursing home, this is crucial. Read on to find out more.
Get Enough Sleep
Have you heard that a lack of sleep affects more than just your energy levels? Lack of sleep can have more far-reaching consequences than just making you cranky the next day. Consistently aiming for seven hours of sleep per night should be a top priority because getting a good night’s sleep has been linked to a plethora of health benefits, including reduced risks of major diseases and enhanced immunity.
Exercise
The most important thing you can do for yourself is to work out regularly. No matter what kind of exercise you like best, it’s good for you in many ways to work out. Strength training not only makes you feel better physically, but it can also help you feel less stressed, improve your mood, and make your immune system stronger.
Your exercise routine might be different now you’re older compared to how it was when you were in your 20s and 30s, but that’s okay – as long as you’re still doing something, like yoga, swimming, walking, or even lifting weights. The great thing about living in a nursing home is that there are sure to be many classes and opportunities to stay physically fit.
Be Social
A lot of the time, self-care can take the form of getting some alone time or ‘me time’. You might want to be in your room reading a good book, or perhaps you just want to go for a peaceful walk around the grounds. However, once in a while (and more if you can do it), you need to try to be more social.
Isolation is bad for your mental health, and even in a nursing home full of people, it’s something many older residents can feel. By making an effort to join in with group activities and to talk to people, you’ll not only get healthier, but you’ll make friends, and you can share any problems you have too, especially if your care is not good enough, and you need assistance from nursing home abuse law firms.
Take Care Of Your Hygiene
It’s easy to let things lapse when you’re living in a nursing home, and you don’t have visitors every single day. Possibly you’ve started spending less time getting ready in the morning and more time lounging about in your pajamas.
Keep up with your own personal hygiene by performing the important things, like keeping clean, and the little things, like getting a haircut and putting on some cosmetics. Maintaining a standard of cleanliness that you can be proud of is essential to your mental and physical wellbeing. Spending a few extra minutes in the morning getting ready can improve your mood for the rest of the day.