As you age, taking proactive measures by establishing a health directive helps ensure your wishes are followed for medical treatment. Though it's natural not to want to discuss health directives as an aging adult, establishing these documents can actually help provide peace of mind for both you and your loved ones.

This article will explore tips to help you stay strong and independent as you age, and what you need to know about health directives.

Tips for Staying Strong and Independent

We all want to age well, but how exactly do we do that? Taking matters into your own hands and adjusting your lifestyle habits can help you stay strong and independent as you age. Though many factors impact how you age, maintaining healthy lifestyle habits can play a big role in supporting a healthy aging process.

Below, consider these simple lifestyle tips to help you stay strong and independent as you age:

• Move, move, move: Regular activity and movement support several aspects of health, including physical health and movement. Stay active whenever possible by selecting activities such as walking or water aerobics to promote cardiovascular health. Strength training a few times a week can also help you maintain healthy muscle mass as you age.
• Get involved: Social activities and maintaining good relationships are important for keeping your mind healthy as you age. Get involved with friends and family, local volunteer groups, or part-time jobs to stay mentally active.
• Watch what you eat: Great nutrition is also essential to supporting healthy aging. Consider consulting with your doctor to discuss your specific dietary needs based on your medical conditions and to create a personalized healthy diet plan.

What Is a Health Directive?

A health directive is a specific legal document that outlines your wishes for medical care should you be unable to express them. Depending on each person's situation, health directives can take many forms.

Some examples of health directives include living wills and designating a healthcare proxy. These directives give clear directions to family members and medical staff about your desires for medical care if you are unable to express them (such as in the event of an accident, terminal illness, etc.).

Why a Health Directive Matters

Implementing a health directive may not be the most exciting task, but it's important. For aging adults, creating a health directive gives you the power and control to express precisely what you want if you are one day unable to do so.

In addition, putting health directives in place can help support your caregivers and loved ones, taking pressure off them to make decisions on your behalf. A health directive clearly outlines your wishes for medical care and will be followed by medical staff.

Health directives can be adjusted or updated at any time. If you change your mind about your wishes as you age, you can update these documents to reflect your current wishes. For aging adults, a health directive helps ease worries and ensure that your medical wishes are respected.

Find a Location Near You

Preventive health care is the key to staying healthy and independent as you age. Find a location near you to find a doctor who can support you in staying healthy, strong, and independent as you age. Healthy aging isn't about luck — it's about planning ahead and preventive health care. Reach out today to learn more and to take a tour.