Lifestyle ... Active Leisure
Seniors' dependence, inactivity increasing, says NOURISH AMERICA
Non-Profit Offers the 60+ Crowd Tips to Buck Trend
OJAI, Calif., May 19, 2010 --- The 2010 Census is projected to report upwards of 56 million Americans aged 60 and over, which is approximately one-fifth of the total population. As this segment of America grows, it will be challenged with an equally steady growth of health and wellness issues to contend with. Michael Morton, executive director of Nourish America, a national non-profit organization committed to improving the health of those in need, has seen a marked increase in the number of seniors that are facing physical ailments, depression and loss of the needed energy to remain active in life.
To address the increased need for senior health support, Morton co-founded the Nourish America Senior Health Project. Offering free community education events, Nourish America provides seniors with the knowledge and tools they need to maintain their own health. “Through a combination of outreach activities and no-cost distribution of an all-natural immune health supplement, we’ve had some success at helping seniors stay healthy,” says Morton.
Morton says that based on feedback from the outreach efforts, Nourish America is offering seniors the following simple tips to maintain their quality of life while maximizing independence:
- Get your grain. A 2008 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is estimated that a mere 18 percent of Americans 60 and older meet the dietary recommendations for daily grain intake. “Nourish America is based on the knowledge that well-nourished people have fewer illnesses,” says Morton. Seniors can easily add more whole grains into their diets through a wide variety of easy-to-prepare everyday foods, including brown rice, oatmeal and popcorn.
- Adopt a pet. “I’ve noticed that seniors living alone sometimes experience a sense of isolation, which can lead to feelings of depression,” Morton reports. Studies show that when seniors establish an owner-pet relationship, their feelings of loneliness dissolve and the pet-related activities such as walking, feeding, grooming and playing improve their overall well-being.
- Get the most out of errand-running. Run a shopping errand, participate in social dialogue with others and get some exercise by walking around a favorite shopping area. Staying active, both physically and socially, is a key element to a healthy lifestyle. Morton reminds seniors that if transportation is an issue “some local authorities offer free or reduced bus fares for senior citizens and travel tokens for people with disabilities.”
- Take stock of your medications and supplements. One out of five hospital admissions for elderly patients is related to an adverse drug reaction or negative effects of taking too many medications. “Before a doctor’s appointment, remember to place all of your prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and nutritional supplements in a bag and take them with you,” Morton advises. Your doctor should know what you are taking and the pharmacist can check the labels on the bottles and boxes and let you know if some might be harmful when taken together.
- Activate your mind. Keep your mind working by doing crosswords, solving word scrambles or tackling Sudoku puzzles. “The old adage, ‘If you don’t use it, you lose it’ especially applies to seniors’ brain health,” Morton says.
Nourish America is an award-winning 501(c)3 organization committed to improving the health of those in need through the supply of high-nutrition products such as multivitamins, calcium supplements, nutritional supplements and nourishing food. Each day, Nourish America supports the nutrient intake of 30,000 children, 34,000 low-income seniors and 12,000 National Guard men and women across the United States. Nourish America also provides nutritional support to evacuees, victims and emergency workers during domestic disasters. Nourish America has received high ratings four years in a row for its fiscal management from Charity Navigator, the nation’s leading charity watchdog organization. Independent audits of Nourish America’s finances show that more than 94 percent of all donations go directly to programs and those served. Donations can be made online at www.nourishamerica.org.