Schedule your evening routines to support your senior health.
As well as morning and noon schedules, it is helpful to plan ahead to make your dinner and evening routine healthy and safe. Making choices that prioritize your safety and allow you to rest well are impactful.
This blog is the 3rd part of a 3 part series celebrating 100 senior care blog posts, and 100 senior living tips for a healthy day!
This blog is educational information. I am a physical therapist, however I am not your personal physical therapist, and you should be sure to follow any instructions from your personal health care team! See the medical disclaimer.
72 For evening meal preparation, if it’s difficult to stand for long, chop vegetables and do your food prep seated at the table. 73 Use large grips and gripper accessories to help open jars, especially if your wrists are painful or weak. (affiliate link) 74 Make a habit of including fresh and cooked vegetables with dinner. 75 Try eating fruit for desert instead of baked goods. 76 Routinely eat lean meats or beans as your main course for dinner. 77 If you are trying to cut back on calories, measure or weigh your meat and grains. 78 Set out a healthy evening snack ahead of time to prevent unhealthy choices. 79 Reduce drinking during the evening for better sleep. 80 Don’t eat too late as it may contribute to indigestion during the night.
Health tips for the bedtime routine:
81 Develop a pre sleep routine that is calming, including music, reading, diffuser scents, or prayer. 82 Make sure your pajamas don’t drape around your ankles, increasing your risk of falling. 83 Use an electric toothbrush, especially if you have shoulder or wrist pain. (affiliate link) 84 Use an electric razor for greater safety. 85 Make sure cords for chargers and self care equipment are not in the path of your feet to get in and out of bed. 86 Have easy access to lighting for safety with getting up during the night. 87 Make sure your bed height is safe for getting in and out of bed. 88 Make sure your bed is not mushy enough to allow you to slide off the edge when sitting. 89 Take time to write down a list of blessings.
General tips that support senior health:
90 Avoid storing heavy cleaning products up high. 91 Avoid storing regularly used products in difficult places to access. 92 Update and clean eye glasses regularly. 93 Update hearing aids, and make sure you have extra batteries on hand. 94 Routinely check the tread on all (but especially) walking shoes. 95 Discard old shoes that are unsafe. 96 Update cane tips, and any other medical equipment regularly. Make sure to read the details and get the correct size. (affiliate link) 97 Use a quarterly cleaning schedule to keep your home clean and organized. 98 Have an emergency plan for weather. 99 Always ask for written instructions after every health visit for best adherence. 100 Healthy choices add up, but give yourself grace when needed! Every day is a new day to begin again 🙂
“OUT OF SIGHT IS OUT OF MIND”
John Heywood
If you need instant download forms to keep yourself or loved one health organized, check out the senior care health organization super packet on Creative Home Therapy @Etsy.com.
Clinicians, become more influential in fall prevention by taking this course: Fall Prevention Specialist Certification at Pesi. (affiliate link) I am frequently referring to the information I learned to help my clients stay safe. I chose to be an affiliate for Pesi because this course was so helpful to me. Use this link for a great discount!
Being an organized senior or caregiver will certainly lead to a safer and smoother health experience! Here are a few posts regarding home safety to assist as well:
Seven At-Home Balance Activities
I would love to hear what you think! Do you have any other tips for caregiver or senior health and organization? Subscribe to my blog for a FREEBIE starter packet of printable handouts for healthy living and patient education!
If you have found this post impactful, please like and share so it can help others as well!!