New Year’s Resolutions for Seniors in 2023

Jan 10, 2023
resolutions for seniors

New Year’s resolutions often go down the drain after a few weeks or months, but there are some that seniors can make that will be easier to keep because they will make life better and maybe even longer. Take a look at the possibilities for seniors in 2023!

Resolutions for Seniors

Live with purpose –

Retirement seems like heaven until boredom sets in. One way to banish boredom and embrace a fulfilling life is to find a purpose. For many seniors, volunteering is a wonderful way to fill the hours and help a cause, while others may prefer a hobby or hands-on pastimes like knitting, woodworking or painting. All it takes is a little effort to define a passion and open new doors to a purposeful and gratifying retirement. Learn how to keep this New Year’s resolution in our blog, “Why Living with Purpose is Good for Every Senior.”

Learn something new –

Another wonderful New Year’s resolution to consider is life-long learning. No matter how many academic degrees one has, there is always room for more knowledge. For some, learning is spurred by curiosity about a specific subject or topic. For others, it may be tied to another pursuit, such as a trip to another country or a new hobby. Or maybe there is a need to brush up on skills like computer use or speaking a new language. The sky’s the limit with life-long learning, such as through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Michigan which also offers trips, lectures, interest and study groups, and special events.

Concentrate on fall prevention –

If you want to live an independent and healthy life, one essential goal should be fall prevention. Falls among seniors are among the most common reasons for debilitating injuries and death in the U.S. each year, but there are simple steps to take to minimize risk. In our blog, “Healthy Senior Living: Fall Prevention and Response Strategies,” we look at the sad statistics, but also proactive ways to address fall prevention and response including exercise to improve balance, clearing up clutter and other hazards, improving lighting, and emergency preparedness.

Eat healthier –

It’s a fact that poor nutrition shortens lifespans so making simple dietary changes can help to make good nutrition a habit rather than an occasional accident. Start with understanding the revamped nutrition labels on all packaged foods as described in the Food and Drug Administration’s document, “What’s New With the Nutrition Facts Label?” This will help to avoid added sugar, unhealthy fats, excess sodium and other undesirables described in the spectrumhealth.com article, “Top 10 food ingredients to avoid.”

Next, take a look at the types of foods seniors should eat to provide the nutrients they need in the health.harvard.edu article, “Healthy eating for older adults.” If losing weight is part of the plan consider using the 80/20 rule which can help promote better nutrition with enough flexibility to enjoy an occasional guilt-free treat. Find out all about it in the today.com article, “Is the 80/20 diet rule healthy? The pros and cons of the eating plan.”

Socialize more –

In retirement seniors often realize they didn’t just lose their workload, but also their circle of workplace friends as well. As time goes by, seniors often lose other friends who pass away or move and soon their social life is down to nothing. But staying social is key to health and longevity so making a New Year’s resolution to connect or reconnect with friends new and old is a great way to stave off isolation and loneliness, two of the greatest risks to seniors. Seniors can join local clubs or fitness centers, attend worship services, make a list of old friends and call a different one every day, or consider a move to a senior living community like Ganton’s Countryside where socialization is as easy as saying “Hello!”

Play every day –

Remember how fun it was to play? Well, playing is still fun, but only if you do it. Make a New Year’s resolution to play online games alone or with others such as those in the mentalup.com article, “Free Brain Games for Seniors,” schedule play dates with grandkids for games of Scrabble, Bingo, or hide-and-seek, or for those who like a challenge take up tennis, learn ballroom dancing, or try karaoke at a local pub. For even more great ways to play, check out the National Institute on Aging’s article, “Fun Ways for Older Adults to Stay Physically Active.”

Ganton’s Countryside is a great place to pursue your best life in retirement. For more information about Countryside, please call Margaret Nagel at (517) 206-5000 or download our brochure to learn about our care levels, cost, and amenities.

assisted living near me

Recent Posts

8 Ways an Independent Living Community Supports Your Lifestyle

What do you want out of retirement? The freedom to roam? Relief from all the responsibilities of owning a home? Time to pursue self-fulfillment? Exceptional services and amenities? No matter how you perceive your desired retirement lifestyle, take a look at some of...

Health Changes to Look for When Visiting Mom Over the Holidays

The holidays are a wonderful time to get together with family and friends, but they also offer an opportunity to assess the health and well-being of a senior loved one. This is especially true if it has been weeks or months since the last visit since changes will...

Dementia: Understanding Sundown Syndrome

Dementia is a devastating diagnosis with many implications, not the least of which is a condition known as sundown syndrome. Also called sundowning or sundowner’s syndrome this condition generally strikes late in the day as the sun goes down but can occur anytime...

5 Tips for Better Mornings with Arthritis

“Arthritis” is an umbrella term for a variety of diseases and conditions that cause joint pain and inflammation.  While people of all ages can have arthritis, seniors often expect arthritis to occur as they age and when it does, mornings can be especially painful....

Why Everyone Needs an Advance Directive

Do you know what will happen if you are suddenly incapacitated and cannot make decisions for yourself? While it’s human nature to adhere to the “that won’t happen to me” mindset, the reality is that no one knows what the future holds. That’s why every adult needs an...

5 Decorating Tips for Your Senior Living Retirement Home

After years of living in a family home, moving to a senior living community and starting anew means decorating a new senior living home, something that can be a fun and exciting experience. But where to begin? Whether the new home is a house, condo, cottage or...

The Alzheimer’s Disease Challenges Women Face

Alzheimer’s disease is devastating and its prevalence is on the rise. According to the alz.org report, “2023 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures,” in 2023 there are about 6.7 million Americans age 65 and older with the disease, and as the population ages, that...

Home Safety for Older Adults: A Checklist of Top Considerations

Home safety for older adults is top of mind concern for loved ones and adult children. According to the AARP Home and Community Preference Survey,  79% of seniors (ages 50 and above) prefer to live at home as they age, but only about 34% recognize they may need to...

When One Partner Has a Dementia Diagnosis and the Other Doesn’t

A dementia diagnosis is a devastating event in any marriage and one that really changes everything going forward. Suddenly there are so many unknowns, so many new concerns, and so much sadness that the healthy spouse may be overwhelmed. One of the greatest of the...

What Services Do Memory Care Communities Provide?

Making the decision to move yourself or a loved one to a memory care community should be a well-informed one. All memory care communities are not created equal, but the best have several things in common. When comparing memory care communities be sure to include the...

Share This